Catching up : team trials and teva

After Steamboat, I jumped out of the Demshitz van and back into my car for the rest of the Colorado tour. I headed to Glenwood Springs to get some practice in for team trials while Demshitz continued their "tour de stouts". Glenwood was great because I got to meet up with Karl Moser- a friend from Uganda who I hadn't seen since his wedding last fall. It was terrific catching up with Karl, and having them there as a friend and coach. KArl is also a phenomnenal freestyle kayaker- and I was able to learn a lot having him around. Karl and I both did well in prelims, myself placing 5th on a big aerial backstab, and Karl placing 4th with a flurry of moves and combinations.

Karl cleanblunting his way into Semi Finals

The Glenwood wave is a manmade feature that goes almost across the whole river. The levels kept changing throughout the weekend, making it difficult for everyone. Unfortunately, Both Karl and myself struggled as the wave greened out in Semi finals the following day, each placing 10th, and not making it to finals. In finals, Each of the women flushed off the wave without scoring any points on their first rides- but managed to pull off some moves in their 2nd and third rides. The Overall results for the womens world freestyle team in 2009 were Emily Jackson, Ariene Levkenecht, Elaine Campell and Jessie Stone. Congrats to all the women on the team, and those who competed- it was a tough competiton and everyone did well. The final team for the Men was Brian Kirk, Stephen Wright, Johnny Meyers, Chris Stafford and Rush Sturges. EJ will also be competeing at worlds, as last years champion, he has a buy that places him through the competiton despite his 8th place finish.

spectators at team trials

The other great thing about Glenwood was meeting new people, such as the Palmer family- a kayaking family who welcomed Karl, Myself, and many others into their home during team trials and beyond. Its people like the Palmers that make the kayaking community so friendly. The Palmers werent the only ones to show support, as many people from the Glenwood community also stopped by to cheer on the boaters and get a glimpse of what was going on.

While at team trials I ran into a friend of mine from college completely by chance! It was great to get to catch up with him, and several other friends, which I did by visiting in Aspen. After that, there seemed to be Colby Alum popping out of the wordwork in almost everytown i went to! Such a small world, really.

After team trials it was off to the Teva Mtn Games in Vail for more Kayaking and a chance to catch up with friends. Teva is probably the biggest of the games on the tour, and it encompasses much more than freestyle boating, though freestyle is one of the more popular events to watch.

The crowd gathers for a freestyle showdown. Photo Ron Fisher. 

 The Mtn Games bost a variety of sports, from Rock Climbing and Mountain Biking and a mud run,  to a Hill Climb and Big Air competition for Dogs. There is something happening pretty much every minute of the weekend, making it fun for competitors and spectators. There are also tons of vendor stands demo-ing new preformance enhancing, hyrdrating products.

Mud Run. Photo Ron Fisher

The Mtn games kicked off with the homestake creek race, an extreme kayak race down a steep, techincal grade 5 creek known as Homestake. 

Scouting Homestake. 

It is a tough race, and i was happy to take pictures. Kiwi Mike Dawson won it for the Men, with another Kiwi, Nikki Kelly barely taking it for the women, Tanya Faux in a close second. 

Teva Athlete Mike Dawson ploughs through the waves to first place. 

American Adriene Levkenecht took third for the women. Tao Berman and Pat Keller placed not far behind Mike in 2nd and 3rd. There was definitley some carnage, with a broken boat, a dislocated shoulder and one swim- reminding everyone how challenging the race really is.

Caspar Van Kalmthout boofing at Homestake. 

The freestyle events turned into a bit of a Jackson showdown as Jackson unveiled their new boat, the redesigned superstar for 2009. The boat is shorter, with more volume, and loops to huge new heights, as demonstrated here by Jackson team paddlers Stephen Wright and Dustin Urban. 

Stephen with a massive Space Godzilla

Dustin bringing new meaning to the term "Aerial Loop" 

The women were going almost as huge as the men, despite not having new Jackson boats to play in, showing why freestyle is one of the more popular events to spectate at the mountain games. 

Adriene Levknecht throws down in her Biscuit. 

Of course, The Teva Mtn Games wouldn't be Teva without a party- completed Friday night with an "Under the sea ball" and more fun times had by all through-out the weekend. 

 Josh and I make the most of a photo op before heading out to the ball. 

Sunday finished off the kayaking events with the 8 ball competition- a type of downriver race boater cross, complete with Human obstacles. All in all, a great weekend.