Green Race 2008

My First Green Race was too cool! The weather was amazing, the leaves colorful, and the morale amongst both those competing and spectating was high. My nerves calmed when my brand new boat hit the water and I was ready to go even though I still had over an hour till my race time. Shortly after my start I found my groove and all was good in ninja land! I had clean lines up until Gorilla when I stomped out one of the biggest boofs of my life! The crowd was amazing and definitely supplied me with an indescribable energy. I finished with a 6:15 placing me 26th in the short boat class. After finishing I joined the festivities that carried on into the morning time. All in all the Green Race is the shit! The people, the river, and the amazing energy captured when the two coincide will keep me going back to the Green Race for many years to come.

Video and Photos:



GETTIN NINJA

Upper Caney Fork High Water Spring 08'

I had this laying around from a high water day last spring

Home in the South East

Last weekend me and Trent traveled to North Carolina for some prime hucks on the Green River Narrows(sorry no photos). The level was a little low(around 6 in). Nobody was running Gorilla but everything else was good. I saw good lines on everything even running Sunshine with out catching the middle eddie. Matt and Megan came out Sat. night and supplied a hotel room. Matt fired it up the next day. It was a great weekend paddling with the home boys.

Yesterday me and Tiff drove out to Hell Hole on the Ocoee. Tiff kicked it in the hammock and took photos while I tried to impress her with my skills. It was a great day and my first on the Ocoee in close to a year.

Here are some of the photos Tiff took from her riverside hammock

No More Colorado

So I ended my Colorado season with one more trip to Cheeseman and an amazing day on the Big South of the Cache la Poudre. I ended my trip with 30 days on the water and 27 class V down river adventures. It was an amazing summer that has only encouraged my desire for technical whitewater. I hope to post some South East adventures soon. Here are some Big South photos.


Big South Put In

Colorado Style

Day 18- SSV (Source was a no go)
Day 19- Climbing in Boulder Canyon
Day 20- Bouldering at Flagstaff
Day 21- Climbing in Clear Creek & Park and Huck on Rigor Mortis
Day 22- SSV
Day 23&24- Source of Boulder Creek
Day 25&26- SSV
Day 27- Gillman at 1100 cfs & Gore Canyon of the Colorado at 2600 cfs (High Water Day!)
Day 28-Upper South Boulder (USB)
Day 29- Blackrock sec. of Clear Creek (Broke my paddle in Rigor Mortis)
Day 30- SSV (Laps)
Day 31- Cheeseman Canyon (First ever non-confrontational put in. thank you AW!)
Day 32- Upper South Boulder (USB)
Day 33- Tiffany Flies In (My Lady Friend Is HERE!)
Day 34- Kicked it with some TN boys on their way back from Cali
Day 35- Showed The TN boys down SSV

Narrows of Clear Creek from my climbing perch
Matt & I on a multi pitch The Source
Slot Machine on The Source
Gillman
Slurry Pipe on Gillman
Put in for Gore Canyon
A little flat water
Enter the Gore Behold the Gore

More Gore with a Pickle in it
SSV
SSV
Boofin in Cheeseman
Boofin in Cheeseman
Boofin in Cheeseman
Stuck in Cheeseman Sliding in CheesemanCaving in Cheeseman

Dos Chaos was scary and fun at the same time USB = Front Range Mank

Audios

More from Colorado

The paddling is great and the scenery is not bad either. I drove from Buena Vista to Crested Butte via the Cottonwood Pass over the continental divide and could not believe what I was seeing. It was probably the best view I have ever seen. I went back to OBJ to find high water and fast speeds. I also paddled the Numbers of the Arkansas from 2100cfs to 3000cfs, a little bit different than last years run at 400cfs. The Numbers is so much fun with awesome down river freestyle. I found myself throwing countless wave wheels and rock spins that would end with 4 foot boofs back into the 2500cfs. I feel my skills sharpening every day and I am very grateful for the chances that have presented themselves. I'm going to run the Source to Boulder Creek this afternoon and then heading to the Sonic Bloom festival in Winter Park tomorrow. All is good in Colorado.

Day 11 & 12- Work on the farm

Day 13- Black Rock section of Clear Creek

Day 14 & 15- The Numbers section of The Arkansas (Fibark Festival)

Day 16- OBJ (High water) and Daisy Creek

Day 17- OBJ (Still high) and The Numbers Section of The Arkansas

Day 18- Heading to the Source (wish me luck- it has good flow)

Black Rock- Me running Rigor Mortis

Cottonwood Pass Elevation- 12,126 ft

Taylor Reservoir below Cottonwood Pass
Big Wood Falls on Daisy Creek
Rip Your Head Off from below the entrance slide
Rip Your Head Off from below (it lands flat on bedrock and caused my skirt to implode- no swim!)
OBJ Valley
Colorado at 70 mph
I will post again soon. Audios!

I'm in Colorado

Colorado is awesome. The scenery and hospitality are more than I could ask for. The rivers are continuous, fast, and cold. I have a great opportunity with work on my aunt and uncles horse farm and board at their pool house. It was a long drive out here which resulted in me driving straight to Lawson Hole on Clear Creek. I have been blessed and paddled 9 out of the 10 days I have been here. All is good and I am ready for more. My runs are as follows:

1-Lawson Hole (Awesome)
2-Lower Boulder Creek (solo)
3&4-South Saint Vrain (Super Continuous After work Mankfest) (AKA- The SSV)
5-South Saint Vrain (High Water- First Swim- I put up a good fight but lost to the hole)
6-A Day of Rest ( still worked at the farm)
7-Source to the Upper Eagle and Homestake (AKA- Home slice- including piece of s**t)(gnarly)
8-Clear Creek of the Arkansas (2 Runs - Cold)
9-Big Cimaron (long shuttle- lots of wood)
10-Oh Be Joyful (AKA- OBJ, big beautiful bedrock)

Beginning of the narrows on the SSVSSV SSV Canyon Homestake
Me at piece of s**t

Clear Creek Valley

The source of the Big CimaronTeva Mountain Games and Bouldering World CupPretty CoolView from OBJ camp groundTom hitting the boof on the 18 footerMe going Oregon Style on the 25 footerAvalancheOBJ (Snow on the ground)

Here are some photos from Tennessee that keep me company so far from home