Since I have actually been able to do several runs in the past few months in my Hero and All Star, I thought this a perfect time to write a little something on the boats, the different rivers I visited and how they compared on each run. So here we go:

All Star- Wow, in 20 years this is the first boat I have ever paddled where it is just right as it comes. No need to spend days and days outfitting…just unwrap and hop in. Perfect for road trips, this boat is easy to handle and has all the comfort any boater could want. The edges are great for carving to set up on the corners, yet wide enough for creating a stable platform to land on after tricks. This is great when you have generated speed in completion of each move. The volume is distributed in the right places therefore quite impressive in helping to retain balance on the surface, while allowing for better resurfacing as well as over-all river running. Thus aiding in better consistency in hitting bigger tricks and showing others what you are going to do next time when you roll up in the hole. With the Happy Seat and Happy Thruster combo keeping my skinny legs in the thigh hooks, making snappier loops was a synch. My favorite thing about the boat, however, is the downriver capability from just turning rapids to throwing big Macho Moves. By allowing me evenly distributed volume, stable ends and great inside comfort, this boat can throw some of the largest downriver moves I have ever been able to accomplish. Look out for new write-ups on the Triktionary.

Hero- This boat is absolutely perfect for the Southeastern United States. The boat is one of a kind combing 7’ 6” short length, speed, edge control and volume in the perfect mix. It is love at first SIT, as you will be in awe from the moment you settle into the boat. My advice, however, seek guidance on the outfitting system to help you understand how comfortable it can truly be. The boat touches on all major points of the body giving you the perfect contact. From the Sweet Cheeks & cushioned feet bulkhead to the backband system and hip pads, you will understand what I am talking about. The boat is firm, squishy and makes you feel like you can kayak all day without feeling the need to get out and stretch. There was one thing that I found surpriseng: To be so short, the speed of this boat was impressive. Its small length does however allow for turning on a dime making fast, tight technical moves easier to execute.
Easier to Hit = Better Lines. Well placed volume lets you sit a bit higher on the water not only giving you a better view point of the next feature, but also making resurfacing a breeze. The bulkhead system is meant to give way upon pinto impact, which worked great for me when those unfortunate lines snuck up. The relief of full impact and pressure on the ankles was well worth it.

As for life, it has been busy. With less kayak time due to lack of water this past year, it has given me the opportunity to focus on and make headway in several of my many projects. With NAWFest,  http://www.nawfest.com) behind me after having been the main focus of my time and energy for the past few months, I can breathe a bit easier, but not for too long before it all begins again. If you missed the festival, make sure to check out the pictures and see what all is going on. It is truly a lot of work but we have a great vision and ambition for what we want it to become. Come throw it down and earn some money if you think you can. With new gadgets come more projects making progressions. The Team rEvolution website is really coming along as it will soon be posted sometime in mid-summer for everyone to check out. But I must admitt, most of my year was dedicated working on the biggest, most difficult project of all…the Triktionary, World’s First Comprehensive Online Freestyle Trick Dictionary. It will soon reach a point where it will be updated frequently as key elements have put themselves in place to make it better. From new video cameras in HD, water levels staying good in the Southeast to old footage sent by Jackson athletes such Nick Troutman, Dustin Urban, Greg Parker, Jonathan Shales and others, the Triktionary is becoming the spot to view some of the more difficult tricks caught on film. If you are interested in contributing, please send anything you can to  Flyinskeleton at cs.com. Going hand in hand with the Triktionary- Freestylekayakmoves.com is starting up and helping out with multiple examples of the moves. Besides that I have been busy working on some designs for Gaia Paddlesports’ Stow Float, a few more to be designed, soon to be out and some art designs for Shred Ready new custom graphics line. You can check out the art at Custom Helmet Art. If you are interested in getting one, please contact Team rEvolution member, Charlie Simmons, to help you along.

As for boating, it was great as we hit up Big Scirum that comes in right before Ender Hole. Even though it usually comes in at 3-4.5 feet on the Locust Fork gage, it finally hit 24 feet. Big Scirum is one of funniest quick runs in the state of Alabama. The day before we were on some of the Bama Boyz had to hike out due to extremely high levels. I met up with Timmy and broke out the headcam. This footage will soon be available on Alabama Whitewater as it will give first timers a first-person view of the drops. Each time I go boating, I hope to continue to update our home states river pages. After 2 runs we ran over scouted Blackburn, a little on the high side and thanks to upcoming trees, we really needed a crew of three. From there we went over to Fall Branch and shot the headcam of the drops and removed a few logs. This river is surprisingly fun and not very far away from my home.

After a great day of running Big Scirum we went to a fun, wide, play river know as the Mulberry Fork of the Warrior and it is one of the most popular rivers in the state and my personal favorite freestyle run in the Southeast. Comparable to a mini version of the Dries of the New it is challenging enough for the beginner/ intermediate paddler but in chance leaves something great for advanced paddlers as well. The run is short but has some of the most pristine surfing waves in the Southeast United States and a few surfing holes that dot the run at different levels. The waves were good on these days were called Joe Momma’s Hole, Lunch Stop (2.6- 5.2 ft.), Dessert Wave (5.5- 8.0 ft.), Mary’s Hole (1- 8 ft.), Doo Doo Hole (4- 6.5 ft.), Mini Garb (6- 8.5 ft.), Secret Wave (4- 6.5 ft.), Corner Pocket Wave (11- 15 ft.), Hawaii 5-0 (.3- 10.5 ft.), Joe Momma’s Butt (5- 12 ft.), Last but not Least/ Cat Gut (.3- 10.5 ft.). This river is truly one of a kind and one of the best unknown spots in the southeast not to mention all the different things we have seen floating down the river which over the years have included: trees, chicken house, BFI garbage cans, unopened cans of Slim Jims, oil canisters, kegs, boats, broken canoes, railroad ties, refrigerator, freezers, houses, big f trees, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls and many others. Make sure to go to Alabamawhitewater.com and look at the full write-up. I hope you all enjoy the pictures and videos from the week.

What: Rally for River Recreation
Where: Quinn’s Pond, at the end of Pleasanton Avenue, between Idaho River Sports and the Greenbelt
When: 6 to 8 pm, Thursday, June 11
For what we hope is the first annual kickoff to the paddling season on the Boise River, the City of Boise and the Friends of Parks is calling for as many paddlers as possible to show their support by participaing in a photo shoot in Quinn’s Pond on Thursday, June 11, at 6 pm.

The photo shoot will be followed by a short update from Boise City Mayor Dave Bieter on the status of the Ray Neef, MD, River Recreation Park and some exciting announcements. While some details are still being coordinated, the group is contacting food vendors, entertainers and retailers to support the event, set up displays and participate.

Parking access will be available from 31st Street and Regan (two blocks North of the Idaho River Sports parking lot), and the announcements will take place from the dock furthest from the Boise River in Quinn’s Pond.

Idaho River Sports is donating raffle prizes for those who participate in the photo shoot.

For more information:  beth at markley.com, 208-484-4424.

 http://www.youtube.com/v/acThzDuBoPE&hl=en&fs=1

This just in from Lizzy: http://www.lizzyenglish.blogspot.com/

Regreatably a flood in 1992 wiped out the hole but the memories live on.

Bob McDougall at 83 Wenatchee Rodeo.

85 Wenatchee Jeff Garren  

Cameron O’Conner, John Abbenhouse, Mark Fraas & Bob McDougall at 83 Wenatchee Rodeo

Cameron O’Connor getting rafted in  at 83 Wenatchee Rodeo.

Don Sessions doing a face plant at 83 Wenatchee.

                                     Frank Meyer at 85 Wenatchee Rodeo

Jim Grossman & Bryan Tooley horsing around at Wenatchee Rodeo 85

                                       John Abbenhouse entering at 85 Wenatchee Rodeo.

Jordan Van Voost entering at 85 Wenatchee.

Mark Fraas sidesurfing as the cameras roll - 83 Wenatchee Rodeo

Mark Singleton in a Millenium Falcon at 85 Wenatchee Rodeo

Scott Shipley in Snap Dragon Hole on the Wenatchee at age 14?

Bob McDougall hole riding winner at 85 Wenatchee Rodeo

Check out Ben Davis’ blog on 10 reasons why the Raven Fork is a worthy paddling destination

http://www.ben-davis1.blogspot.com/

Way back in the day I used to specialize in low water big drops, and even in my “old age” this one was right up my alley. After Cody, Bett Adems, and I explored the upper gorge of what will be known from know on as skate park creek, Cody insisted on hiking into the lower gorge to show me Mega Ramp falls. With rain pouring down and light waining everything I saw in the drop exuded perfection and with the rain then visably raising the level of the creek I knew that the following day could be the perfect opportunity to probe the giant ramp. With an all important Ashland showing of Hotel Charley Vol. 4 to attend that same evening, I knew we would have to get to the creek at the proverbial butt crack of dawn in order to run the drop and the down stream gorge and still make the 7 hour drive to Ashland, OR by show time.

At 6 am Cody, Bett and I were joined by videographer Ryan Scott and Pro Photog Lana Young to make the return trip to Summit creek. Visual inspection revealed that the creek had doubled in flow and the once paltry flow was now roosting over the massive drop. Although the entry to the falls had cleaned up considerably, there was concern that the thick flow was now vaulting over the transition and landing abrubptly on the flat slab below. Cody decided against probing the drop but was eager to help with safty and cameras. After a few more test logs I was confident in gaining the transition and rocketing cleanly into the pool below.

Avoiding the acceleration of the leadin flume I ferried into the drop at the lip and tried to hold my speed to a minimum. I went dead vertical right away and rocketed at 32 feet per second squared towards the flat slab 18 meters below. As hoped and anticipated the transition was as perfect as anything dreamed up by Tony Hawk and turned out to be the smoothest 20 meter drop that I have ever run mooking off the trani into a 40 foot dart move into the pool below. The descent was so clean that Cody quickly followed with and equally spectacular and clean descent. Cody and I then proceeded down the rest of the gorge below the falls that was something like nearby Little Goose Creek (aka Kenobi gorge).

Big props to the whole crew for their commitment to expanding the boundaries of the sport in the already ultra-classic Columbia River Gorge!

Photos by Lana Young  lanayoung.com)

Christie Glyssmeyer had a clean run of Metlako Falls, setting the new women’s waterfall record at 82 ft. Metlako Falls is the first major waterfall encountered along Eagle Creek Trail of Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge

Lauren Burress throws a monster loop in drop number 6 in the Pueblo Whitewater Park while training for the upcoming Wild Wild West Fest Rodeo.