Lyons to Ottawa

After a terrific time at the Teva Mtn Games, it was off to Lyons Colorado for the much smaller, more local friendly Lyons Outdoors Games. To be honest, it was one of my favorite events on the entire Colorado circuit this spring. The smaller feel was friendly and inviting, and the games still provided a tough creek race on the South St. Vrain, a steep class 4+-5 creek, (won by Tao Berman, with Pat Keller coming in a close second) as well as a boater cross, slalom race and an amateur, cadet and pro rodeo. That isn't even including the non kayaking events- sadly, i did not make it off the river long enough to see the moutain biking or chainsaw events- maybe next year! 

Lyons was good fun- i ended up competing in the Not so Pro (Ho) rodeo instead of doing the pro womens. I had a great time, and had a suprisingly good ride for me- with a loop, a space godzilla, and i think they even scored me on an accidental cartwheel! The Not So Pro Ho rodeo was myself, Taylor Cote and Jessica Yurtinus. Having three of us meant that the womens class was separate from the amateur mens- and we all had a lot of fun. I narrowly beat Jess for first place- earning my first ever kayak rodeo winnings!!! 

The hole in Lyons was forgiving, if a little flushy- and great for trying and learning moves. After the rodeo i sat for ages working on cartwheels and loops- just trying to get more consistent. The feature even inspired Pat Keller to get back in a "playboat" of sorts- borrowing one of the locals RPMs and throwing down. Its not everyday you get to see someone Tricky Woo an RPM... The weeend was pretty friendly all around- with locals climbing right out on the rocks to take pictures of their kayak heros as they played and practiced- a nice campsite to stay at- and good burgers at Oskar Blues restaurant. 

Pat Keller Throws around an RPM while its owner watches. Photo Adriene Levknecht. (for those of you who don't know, an RPM is twice the length of todays playboats, making it twice as hard- or more- to use) 

After Lyons, it was off to Salida for FIBark - or the First In Boating on the ARKansas river. FIBark, is i believe the oldest whitewater festival in the states. I decided not to compete in any of the events, but had a great time hanging out and getting to see Salida. There is a ton of great boating in the area- from the Pine Creek (where the Pine Creek race is held) to easier sections like the Numbers, the Fractions and Browns Canyon. 

BoaterCross on Pine Creek. 

I think the Salida/Buena Vista area is my favorite in Colorado- friendly, nestled in the Mountains, and still easily accessible. FIBark was also fun because i got to meet up with John Harvey and Lisa Sewell, friends from PA. I got to run the fractions with John, and then later got to run Browns canyon with another friend who showed up- Amy Jimmerson. It was great to get to catch up with Amy a bit- and Browns canyon is a beautiful, classic grade 3-4 Must Do run in the area.  That evening there was one of the most spectacular sunsets i have seen which we got to enjoy, sipping beer back at the put-in to Browns. It was, alltogether, a great last weekend in Colorado. 

Sunset at Browns Canyon. 

Immediately after Salida- I set off on an epic drive across the states and Canada to head towards the Ottawa river. I stopped to spend a day in Larned, Kansas with my sister and her boyfriend Fraser as they travel across the US from East to west on their bicycles (check out their blog www.144spokes.blogspot.com) . Kansas was hot and humid- but it was great to see Iz and catch up a bit. 

Catching up with Iz in Larned- at Fort Larned- a historial landmark and living history museaum in Larned, Kansas. 

I took a few detours getting there, thanks to my GPS- but got see some random things along the way! Here is a photo of a homemade statue in the front yard of some guys farm in the middle of Kansas. There must have been 50 of them! 

As hot and humid as Larned was, the people there were super friendly- a local pastor let us spend the night in his (AIR CONDITIONED! ) Church before we all headed out early the next morning. Iz and Fraser started biking around 4:30 am to try and beat the heat and the headwinds, while i stayed and tryed to do some interneting until 6 am or so. As i was leaving Kansas, there was an amazing rainbow- reminding me of Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ- "Somewhere over the Rainbow, way up high,.. " 

After Larned my drive continued on, with a breakdown in Bevier, Missouri, where i had the pleasure of meeting and dining with a new friend George while my alternator was replaced, a quick trip to Chicago to see an old friend, Lots of traffic and U- turns before finally arriving on the Ottawa river just in time for an '80s party at Wilderness tours. 

I drove up to Ottawa to meet up with my parents- who were on there way for a canoe club trip. Getting to spend a week on the Ottawa playing at corner wave, and hanging out with new and old friends made it one of the best weeks of my year- I only wish i had spent more time there! (and eaten more putine! Mm french fries and gravy) I got to try out the new Jackson Star on my last surf session, and have to admit that i had a great time. The boat was fast, loose and fun on a wave, while still responsive and stable. Im excited to see what the athletes do with it in Switzerland.. IT was Canada day while i was in Ontario, adding even more to my trip than kayaking. I got to spend some time catching up with one of my college roomates and wandering around the beautiful city of Ottawa, in adidtion to kayaking. Life doesn't get much better then that. 

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. 

off the wagon

So i've been way behind on blogging these past few weeks- not having a computer makes america, the land of wireless internet endlessly frustrating. The past two weeks have been busy: from Vail for the Teva Mountain Games, to Denver and Aspen for fun, to Lyons, CO for the lyons rivers festival, and then to Salida for FIBArk this weekend. Lots of new friends, reunions with old friends, festivities and kayaking to blog about!

I'll be sure and do proper updates soon- with photos and all, but for now, check out www.whitewater-koa.blogspot.com for updates from Teva, along with www.mikekayak.blogspot.com and www.teampyranha.com . Jeremy Laucks put up a video edit from our Cali trip online, www.chasingrain.com .

Chur Ball!

east meets west

Here are a few photos from our last day in Cali.  Jared, Dave, Jeremy, Nicole and I met up with Graham and a few other friends to get some paddling in together before we headed back east to Colorado to continue our tour. The boys and Nicole went to do the Summit run section on the S. Yuba river, which ends with the drop East meets West. I opted to run shuttle and take some photos while they fired it up. It sounded like a great last day in Cali, with a beautiful day, clean lines and good friends. 

Jared boofing the curler leading in to East Meets West

Nicole running the brown. 

After paddling, we loaded up the van, had dinner and headed out to Buena Vista for the Colorado segment of the tour. It was a bit disappointing to leave the sunny warmth of Cali- as soon as we hit Colorado it started raining- turning into snow at higher altitudes. 

We started out in BV for the rodeo and paddle fest- a massive gear demo out of CKS. I did my part and tried to sell a few Pyranha boats, sending out demos and answering the questions I could.  BV is a cool little town, and absolutely gorgeous. The playpark is in a valley, and when the clouds finally cleared out, there was a phenomenal view of the mountains. We got to stay in a friends house right in the new developing community of South Main in BV, in walking distance of the playpark. 

My shoulder was still a bit sore so I decided not to compete in the Rodeo. I went out and played a bit the next day though- the hole was at a fun level and it was good to get a little playboating practice in. I couldn't believe how small and responsive my playboat felt after paddling the midsize diesel for the week. 

Here are a few photos from our last day in Cali.  Jared, Dave, Jeremy, Nicole and I met up with Graham and a few other friends to get some paddling in together before we headed back east to Colorado to continue our tour. The boys and Nicole went to do the Summit run section on the S. Yuba river, which ends with the drop East meets West. I opted to run shuttle and take some photos while they fired it up. It sounded like a great last day in Cali, with a beautiful day, clean lines and good friends. 

Immediately after BV we headed out to Steamboat for another rodeo and the fish creek race. Demshitz did well- Jared took 3rd in the race behind Holcombe and Sam Sutton, with Fusilli finishing right  behind him in 4th. 

Fusilli racing down fish creek. The water was frigid! 

Jared punching one of the holes on Fish Creek. 

The race was exciting to watch- there was one swimmer, and the safety guys threw a rope across the river trying to help out, without alerting the top. Nikki Kelly raced down and the guys managed to lift the rope right in time for Nikki to duck under it. It didn't seem to phase her much, as she still finished in 2nd place. 

Nikki ducks under the rope in the middle of her run on Fish Creek 

Kelsey Thompson on the Fish Creek race

The rodeo followed that afternoon, With Jared finishing 6th and Fusilli 4th. Dave took 4th overall, and Jared 5th- a respectable showing for sure.

Fusilli throwing down in the Rev

We stayed over in Steamboat another night and had a fun play session at the wave- a manmade feature located right in the middle of downtown Steamboat. 

Coming from the East Coast, its remarkable to see that practically every city out in CO has its own whitewater playpark. Come on East Coast- it is time to catch up! 

After Steamboat, we spent the night in Breckinridge with Carly, Dave's sister. I picked up my car and headed off to Glenwood for team trials, leaving Demshitz to run stouts before heading to Glenwood for the weekend.