Friday, June 20, 2008
Aaaawwwwwwwww! Marriage Proposals and More
Jonathan and Jacquelyn got married two weeks ago. Jonathan proposed to Jacquelyn here at the Center, where they met, last summer. With a little help from the kayak staff, the proposal went off without a hitch and Jonathan played this video at their rehearsal dinner. Take a look. If that doesn't make you saw aawwwww!, I'm not sure what will. I'm also not sure what the "more" is in this post but Marriage Proposals and More just sounded like a better title. Lets remember, this blog is about all the happenings here at the Center; the random, the lovely, the bizarre, the great and the everyday moments that take place at this unique facility just a few miles from downtown Charlotte. Take It Outside! Jonathan and Jacquelyn did.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Who's Your Daddy!
Happy Father's Day to all, especially to those who are actual daddies. Hope everyone is treating a father figure in their life to something special today. We've been treated to a few special things ourselves this weekend.
First, we experienced the largest days of instructional programs in the history of USNWC Instruction. Our instruction staff has been hard at it since March working through instructional philosophies, rethinking their approach to kayaking, boating on their own and teaching a ton. After such a busy day, the staff spent the evening with Fergus in a continuing education class on swift water rescue. Everyone is looking forward to our biggest season yet.
If you haven't heard or read the posts below, our instructor trainer and head instructor, Fergus, was recently out in Colorado. He competed in the Teva Mountain Games Homesteak Race sponsored by Dagger. Having placed 8th after his first run and 12th overall, Fergus made a good showing for the US National Whitewater Center.
Chris Wing has been officially representing World Kayak throughout his time in Colorado but unofficially he has been representing the Center in proud form. His coverage of the Teva Games and participation in the 8-Ball race and freestyle rodeo have been spectacular. This weekend Wing-hole has been at FibArk in Salida. Just this morning, he placed 3rd in the Expert class.
Our own Daniel Stewart placed 1st in the same competition today. Daniel waited until the last minute to make plans to go out west and now he is kicking some behind and taking names.
Jon Angermeier has been picked up by Riot kayaks. Soon you'll see him firing up the Green Narrows in his big Magnum and throwing down at the center in a shiny new Astro.
Our flatwater programs, both guided trips and rentals, have been taking off at astronomical rates. Next weekend is another Microbrew Catawba River Tour which will be sponsored by Highlands Brewing Company. Tickets sold out this weekend. We'll open up more trips as soon as we line up more sponsors.
All of this activity with staff and programs makes me think the summer season is off to a great start. I'll even go so far to say as we are killing it. And in a finer moment I may puff up a little and ask, Who's Your Daddy?
First, we experienced the largest days of instructional programs in the history of USNWC Instruction. Our instruction staff has been hard at it since March working through instructional philosophies, rethinking their approach to kayaking, boating on their own and teaching a ton. After such a busy day, the staff spent the evening with Fergus in a continuing education class on swift water rescue. Everyone is looking forward to our biggest season yet.
If you haven't heard or read the posts below, our instructor trainer and head instructor, Fergus, was recently out in Colorado. He competed in the Teva Mountain Games Homesteak Race sponsored by Dagger. Having placed 8th after his first run and 12th overall, Fergus made a good showing for the US National Whitewater Center.
Chris Wing has been officially representing World Kayak throughout his time in Colorado but unofficially he has been representing the Center in proud form. His coverage of the Teva Games and participation in the 8-Ball race and freestyle rodeo have been spectacular. This weekend Wing-hole has been at FibArk in Salida. Just this morning, he placed 3rd in the Expert class.
Our own Daniel Stewart placed 1st in the same competition today. Daniel waited until the last minute to make plans to go out west and now he is kicking some behind and taking names.
Jon Angermeier has been picked up by Riot kayaks. Soon you'll see him firing up the Green Narrows in his big Magnum and throwing down at the center in a shiny new Astro.
Our flatwater programs, both guided trips and rentals, have been taking off at astronomical rates. Next weekend is another Microbrew Catawba River Tour which will be sponsored by Highlands Brewing Company. Tickets sold out this weekend. We'll open up more trips as soon as we line up more sponsors.
All of this activity with staff and programs makes me think the summer season is off to a great start. I'll even go so far to say as we are killing it. And in a finer moment I may puff up a little and ask, Who's Your Daddy?
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Big Fat 22oz Homesteak!
A little blurry around the edges we motivated fairly early to Moe’s Bagel and Vic’s Coffee to start the day off right. Remembering full well that this was to be a vacation first and week of paddling second, although the lines of definition are not always that clear. Few things are as satisfying as sitting out in the sun reading a book, drinking coffee, devouring enormous breakfast burritos and watching the life of Boulder pass you by.
Tino had been telling us of the Eldarado section of South Boulder Creek and a large and technical sequence of drops that they had run a couple of day previously. We did manage to drive up the wrong drainage first but when we did make it to the run and head into the park all of us realized that this was not a “feeling blurry” run. Homesteak ho!
I have a checkered history with Homesteak Creek and it always makes me think twice before racing. In 2006 I missed a boof and swam after a little pocket beat down in a warm up on the day of the race, this was my first swim in 7 years although I managed to pull it together and place 16th. Last year I was racing hard during the practices and getting smooth lines. In the race I turned it on and tried to cut one line too hard resulting in a double pin and taking myself out of the race. There was a small silver lining to that enormous cloud that Mather got me on the rescue squad for the rest of the day and I was able to assist in Valarie’s backboard and evac. It was something to do and the more elaborate rescue that I have been involved in to date. Maybe 2008 will be different?
What we get when we make it to Homesteak is a run on roids. It’s pumping with the high snow pack and the upper section is solid white. After a little time checking out the line Mike and I put on, Tino is still napping in the car even after we asked him to hang out with a rope just in case. From the moment I put on the run it had a very different feel and I was moguling my way between holes and flakes. I had time to look up to Mike twice but the third time I was greeted the hull of his kayak and the thought he might be a little messed up. He surface up just in time to grab my boat and get his grip two feet above the next drop. Unable to hold his boat it ran the next two drop and Jason was on hand to stop it short. Clipping in and pendulums it to shore one more drop down it was clear the boat was feeling the swim as much as Mike’s thumb.
The cost of Homesteak
After a short convo’ with Jason we put on and ran several more clean runs figuring out the last drop. No more left tight lines, but right over the submerged flake and a late boof.
Joe’s Apartment and the singing cockroaches provided some light relief from Mike’s event and we finish up the night sleeping out east of Vail.
Homesteak was not about to let up and with the water on the rise this morning pushed through a few clean runs. The issue at this point is not longer the creek but the freaking altitude. It’s kicking my arse. Fortunately Pat Keller was there to chat to about the lines and it was good to watch someone else running the top section of the course. During my last run in the final drop I managed to boof out keeping right on the exit but as the bow of my boat kicked up I caught my head on the rock wall. It’s moments like this that even when you are upright and you can catch your head that the race really is going to be fun this year.
Tino had been telling us of the Eldarado section of South Boulder Creek and a large and technical sequence of drops that they had run a couple of day previously. We did manage to drive up the wrong drainage first but when we did make it to the run and head into the park all of us realized that this was not a “feeling blurry” run. Homesteak ho!
I have a checkered history with Homesteak Creek and it always makes me think twice before racing. In 2006 I missed a boof and swam after a little pocket beat down in a warm up on the day of the race, this was my first swim in 7 years although I managed to pull it together and place 16th. Last year I was racing hard during the practices and getting smooth lines. In the race I turned it on and tried to cut one line too hard resulting in a double pin and taking myself out of the race. There was a small silver lining to that enormous cloud that Mather got me on the rescue squad for the rest of the day and I was able to assist in Valarie’s backboard and evac. It was something to do and the more elaborate rescue that I have been involved in to date. Maybe 2008 will be different?
What we get when we make it to Homesteak is a run on roids. It’s pumping with the high snow pack and the upper section is solid white. After a little time checking out the line Mike and I put on, Tino is still napping in the car even after we asked him to hang out with a rope just in case. From the moment I put on the run it had a very different feel and I was moguling my way between holes and flakes. I had time to look up to Mike twice but the third time I was greeted the hull of his kayak and the thought he might be a little messed up. He surface up just in time to grab my boat and get his grip two feet above the next drop. Unable to hold his boat it ran the next two drop and Jason was on hand to stop it short. Clipping in and pendulums it to shore one more drop down it was clear the boat was feeling the swim as much as Mike’s thumb.
The cost of HomesteakJoe’s Apartment and the singing cockroaches provided some light relief from Mike’s event and we finish up the night sleeping out east of Vail.
Homesteak was not about to let up and with the water on the rise this morning pushed through a few clean runs. The issue at this point is not longer the creek but the freaking altitude. It’s kicking my arse. Fortunately Pat Keller was there to chat to about the lines and it was good to watch someone else running the top section of the course. During my last run in the final drop I managed to boof out keeping right on the exit but as the bow of my boat kicked up I caught my head on the rock wall. It’s moments like this that even when you are upright and you can catch your head that the race really is going to be fun this year.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Thunder Bolts and Lightning! Very Very Frightning!!!!!
OK, I'll admit that maybe that statement is maybe a little over the top. But some times a little artistic embellishment is just what you need. It's either that or to put some title about naked girls and free beer to get you to read my blatherings.
With another successful round of new instructor training completed by 3:57pm Sarah and I are sitting at the bar drinking a beer by 4:10pm going over the finer points of making fun of people. Discussing how you can incorporate advanced skills of personal ridicule into a training program can only really take place over a pint. At least in civilized company.
Armed with coffee, a desire to eat but no real time and the need to finish packing I downed the rest of the beer, was told to get a move on by Mr Burke and scurried off. So what really goes into a packing list for a week of kayaking in Colorado and of course in order of importance.
Typically the most stressful part of flying with the a kayak is making sure it gets allowed on the flight. $100 later my creek boat is on the baggage cart being drug around and thrown on the plane.
The big black mass of my boat on the baggage cart.
The flight was a flight, nothing special there, but the thunderstorms we flew next to and were watching crack and fester in the night sky was truly amazing. Due to the small child sleeping, thank god, in her dad's lap next to the window I was not able to get any photos of this.
Successfully assuming the persona of a soccer mom in my bright white Mini-van I headed to Boulder to catch up on sleep and get some more coffee. After a decent cuppa at Vic's just down the street I picked up Mike, who is taking on a Charlie Manson persona with a vengance, and headed to Lyons to meet Tino. More than anything the excitement of this trip was knowing that we were going to have a full week of boating together and making Tino feel as uncomfortable as possible.
We showed up just in time to see him get hit in the face by Hobie's boat during a po-dunk head to head /push up race. Oh! how pro kayaking has advanced.
After faffing about we loaded up the van and heading up to the South Saint Vrain before they turned the water off.
Mini vans rule!
The run was fairly typical Colorado mank and provided some spectacular scenery in addition to a short but quality run. Despite the water the best part of the day was being back on the water with Tino and Mike. The last time we all paddled together was in October, although I had managed to sneak an early morning run with Tino in Chile down the Middle Fuy in January.
A couple of run later we loaded some more coffee into the systems and headed back to Boulder.
This led to Jr getting a little tipsy and being very red faced.
Classic CO mank on the Saint Vrain
Walls are fun.
A fair amount of landing on rock was involved
Wall boof
Surveying the scene in Boulder proved to entertainment enough for the early evening and a few brews on the roof on a friends house and we headed downtown for a couple more. Tino's virgin liver was finally getting the work out it had been waiting for.
Colorado 08 seems to be on the right track; so here's to meeting up with old friends in new places, paddling with said friends, mercilessly making fun of them, IPA's on hot days on the patio and fresh strawberries on plane rides.
With another successful round of new instructor training completed by 3:57pm Sarah and I are sitting at the bar drinking a beer by 4:10pm going over the finer points of making fun of people. Discussing how you can incorporate advanced skills of personal ridicule into a training program can only really take place over a pint. At least in civilized company.
Armed with coffee, a desire to eat but no real time and the need to finish packing I downed the rest of the beer, was told to get a move on by Mr Burke and scurried off. So what really goes into a packing list for a week of kayaking in Colorado and of course in order of importance.
- Leak-proof insulated travel mug
- Camera
- Wallet
- Chuck Klosterman IV
- One Jefe Grande
- Possibly more underwear than what I have on, I can't remember if I packed them
- Paddle+Spare Paddle
- Smelly ass polypro
- One sleeping bag, sans pad
- Drytop with rotting gasket that hopefully will last the week
- The rest of my somewhat damp river gear
Typically the most stressful part of flying with the a kayak is making sure it gets allowed on the flight. $100 later my creek boat is on the baggage cart being drug around and thrown on the plane.
The big black mass of my boat on the baggage cart.Successfully assuming the persona of a soccer mom in my bright white Mini-van I headed to Boulder to catch up on sleep and get some more coffee. After a decent cuppa at Vic's just down the street I picked up Mike, who is taking on a Charlie Manson persona with a vengance, and headed to Lyons to meet Tino. More than anything the excitement of this trip was knowing that we were going to have a full week of boating together and making Tino feel as uncomfortable as possible.
We showed up just in time to see him get hit in the face by Hobie's boat during a po-dunk head to head /push up race. Oh! how pro kayaking has advanced.
After faffing about we loaded up the van and heading up to the South Saint Vrain before they turned the water off.
Mini vans rule!The run was fairly typical Colorado mank and provided some spectacular scenery in addition to a short but quality run. Despite the water the best part of the day was being back on the water with Tino and Mike. The last time we all paddled together was in October, although I had managed to sneak an early morning run with Tino in Chile down the Middle Fuy in January.
A couple of run later we loaded some more coffee into the systems and headed back to Boulder.
This led to Jr getting a little tipsy and being very red faced.
Classic CO mank on the Saint Vrain
Walls are fun.
A fair amount of landing on rock was involved
Wall boofSurveying the scene in Boulder proved to entertainment enough for the early evening and a few brews on the roof on a friends house and we headed downtown for a couple more. Tino's virgin liver was finally getting the work out it had been waiting for.
Colorado 08 seems to be on the right track; so here's to meeting up with old friends in new places, paddling with said friends, mercilessly making fun of them, IPA's on hot days on the patio and fresh strawberries on plane rides.
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