FEATURES
The Tao of Tao Berman 50
He is the kayaking prodigy whose talent and ambition have done more to put whitewater paddling in the spotlight than anyone else. So why do so many people hate Tao Berman? BY KEVIN FEDARKO

Iron Maiden 56
Hawaiian princess Lokelani McMichael has completed the Ironman Triathlon eight times. Don't let the bikini fool you: She's one tough wahine. BY GEOFF VAN DYKE

Hot Wheels 58
Here they are, the 10 fastest road cars of all time, from the rare McLaren F1, at the top of our list, to the Ford GT, America's hot new supercar. PLUS: Detectors that will let you fly under the radar, and the 10 best movie car chases of all time. BY EDDIE ALTERMAN

Owen Wilson 68
He's shared the screen with Jackie Chan, Gene Hackman, and Bill Murray. But it wasn't until Starsky & Hutch that Owen Wilson shared top billing with a '76 Ford Gran Torino. BY ALEX WILLIAMS

American Thunder 72
Drop a V-8 under the hood, plaster the trunk with decals, and what have you got? The classic American muscle car. PLUS: Five new monster trucks. BY EDDIE ALTERMAN

The Battle of Baghdad 76
One year ago the war came down to one untested American officer trying to get a crucial supply convoy into the Iraqi capital. Success would mean nothing less than the fall of Baghdad and the defeat of Saddam. BY DAVID ZUCCHINO

Kiss the Sky 82
Think skydiving is something you do once -- on a dare? Not these folks. See what drives a group of adrenaline junkies to jump out of planes over and over again. BY JASON DALEY

ADVENTURE
The 100 Best Trips on the Planet We've found the 50 best full-service outfitters in the world for everything from skiing the South Pole to trekking in Peru to biking across Italy. 18
Young Gun One of the new wave of young climbers, 22-year-old Britton Keeshan hopes to become the youngest person to conquer the highest peak on every continent. 32
Books A harrowing tale of survival in the desert. PLUS: The environmental wars heat up. 34

PEAK PERFORMANCE
The Best Shape of Your Life Our workout can kick your workout's ass. Whip yourself into shape in just four weeks with this unique fitness program -- the most effective you've ever tried. 36
Health News Altitude training without leaving home, a guide to preparing for your first triathlon, and Dr. Bob Arnot answers your health questions. 46
Allergy Cures Allergies plague 36 million Americans every spring -- and millions more who don't even know they have them. There's no reason you have to be one of them. 48

STYLE
Perfect Tans Suede desert boots add casual class to anything from jeans to light-colored suits. Plus: Choose the right suede jacket for you. 88

TOOLS & TOYS
Tech Preview A first look at cutting-edge innovations coming in 2004, from "video iPods" to a TV that prints digital pictures. 97
Tony Hawk The globetrotting skateboarder does some of his best tricks with his digital gear. 100
Handheld GPS We test and rate the greatest and latest in portable GPS systems. 101
Cameras A comprehensive guide to finding the right camera for you. 102
Mountain Rescue One of the world's best backcountry skiers on the right gear for getting out of an avalanche alive. 104

MISC.
Real Heroes Chris Graves always wanted to save lives. One day he got the chance. 124
Mail 14
Contributors 16