What They Want

By Claire Martin

Michelle Yeoh, actress (Tomorrow Never Dies, Supercop) and martial-arts expert:
"I'd like to take my niece and nephew on an African safari ... and feed them to the lions," she says. "Just kidding! Seriously, I'd like to visit the Mala Mala Game Reserve in Mpumalanga, South Africa." (The Texas-based outfitter African Itineraries charges $2,475 for a five-day safari in the lesser-traveled, 45,000-acre neighbor of Kruger National Park. 800-334-0228.)

Mike Richter, NHL All-Star goalie and ten-year veteran of the New York Rangers:
"There's really not a piece of gear that I don't want," says Richter, who adds that one highlight of his honeymoon last year was receiving a pair of Smartwool socks just before the trip. "Problem is, I'm cheap. I've tried for several years now to buy a good whitewater boat for my wife for Christmas, but she keeps saying 'The one thing I don't want is for you to buy a kayak for yourself under the guise of something for me.' so I've been trying to get my mom or my brother interested in the Jive from Necky." (The eight-foot, four-inch boat is versatile enough to do tricks and to run Class IV water. $895. 604-850-1206.)

Picabo Street, 1998 Olympic skiing gold medalist:
"I'm thinking about learning how to surf, so aside from the usual stocking full of candy — preferably plain M&Ms — I really want a surfboard like Rusty's cool new Double Wing Swallow C-5 with the removable fin system." (This high-performance shortboard comes in a variety of sizes, but rusty recommends the six-footer. $415 619-578-0414.)

Dan Patrick, ESPN SportsCenter anchor:
"I'm a tough person to buy for because I don't like to change things," says Patrick, "I'm still wearing the old three-stripe Adidas shoes. The other day some kid told me I was cool because I had the 'shell toes.' I said, 'Oh.' But I would like to go fishing for silvers and kings on the Ho River in Washington. I usually just go with whatever my brother tells me to buy, and I've heard him mention Abel reels." (The Abel Super 8, a hand-finished 8.1-ounce piece of aluminum, comes with your choice of rosewood, ebony, zebra, or walnut handle and goes for $585. 805-484-8789.)

Scott Sipley, seven-time U.S. kayak slalom champion:
"Aside from a gold medal at the next Olympics, all I really want is an all-expenses paid vacation to run Niagra Falls. I want to travel in a tiger-striped Plymouth Valiant with 2x4 racks that carry my usual Dagger Redline, but made from old colorless plastic and with the classic river-runner electrical tape stripes on it. The rack should also have a Cannondale Super V Raven 3000 (the one with the carbon-fiber frame) with the optional banana seat, fenders, gas tank, and wheelie bars, but no bell — that would be silly. The Valiant's dashboard should have a protective carpet covering and the trunk should be fully stocked with everything I need for the trip beyond my paddling gear: one case Thomas Kemper root beer; one box Twinkies; one pair Adidas Sambas; one well-worn black T-shirt from the last Johnny Cash tour; one pair fluorescent-green hornrimmed sunglasses; one pair neoprene boxers — the kind you never have to change, ever — one Lifesavers-patterned sleeping bag; one Pluto-shaped pillow; one 200-foot-long bungee cord fitted with ankle holsters; three books on tape — no self-help — my mom's raspberry chicken with extra onions, one portion; the Dolly Parton-Kenny Rogers Christmas album; and one roll duct tape." (For that gold medal, call the International Olympic committee at 011-41-21-621-6111. As for the rest, you're on your own.

Copyright 1998, Outside magazine