It’s the time of year when things are turning colder and not much is running in this part of the world. Â Still, I got motivated a few times to head out to Scudders, the best play spot in New Jersey. Â Here’s a little video on Chasing Rain.
20
Nov
 Trying to get left on the big un’. The boils were stout I ended up melting into the hyrup 11
Nov
Great Falls, Great Photos, Great Halloween!
While much of the kayaking community was at the Green Race, we spent Halloween afternoon and the next day paddling the Maryland (pummel) and Virginia lines (the Spout) at Great Falls on the Potomac River.Â
Chris Menges, Pummel.
Check out the rest of this post for some truly amazing kayak photography by Craig Campbell.
10
Nov
North/South split.
ItÂ’s been a while since I paddled a new river but with the river of Wales full of water and a weekend off it seamed only fair to go forth and paddle. Me and Ali set off early Saturday morning and headed to the Mellte in south Wales we reached the river and found it at a good level, this river really doesnÂ’t give you much of a warm up!
(Ali at the start of a good day)
10
Nov
04
Nov
2008 Green Narrows Race
Another year, another Green Race. Though this year the race wasnÂ’t quite as big as in years passed, it certainly wasnÂ’t a small race. As you are probably aware of by now, the southeast is nearing the end of a second year of drought. In 2007, the operators of Tuxedo Hydro Station were able to give us a little extra water for the race, but no such luck this year.
The 13th annual Green Narrows Race was held at a low 100% release – a mere 6” on the gauge locals are normally used to seeing read 8” to 9” this time of year. At this low level, the Green is a scrapy, technical creek with tight lines and painful consequences for missed lines. Most lines stay the same but Gorilla, the biggest rapid on the river, also becomes the most technical. Gorilla’s turbulent entrance slot, The Notch, becomes a little steeper and taller but no less terrifying, and a hydraulic that will stop all forward momentum forms on the lip of the monkey itself. Add the fact that this hole has a bad tendency to kick right, toward the river right shelf, and it’s easy to understand why this is combat kayaking. Enter the brave Green Racers.
Chan Jones firing into Gorilla in the new Karnali – Photo courtesy of Clay Lucas
04
Nov
Halloween Huck Fest (vid & pic)
Huckin Huge went out and ran some falls this Halloween. 2 days of large drops. Enjoy and check out more at HUCKIN HUGE .com
02
Nov
All In One Week
 It was pretty wild for those of us that live in Northern New York this week. It’s hard to believe we got a foot of snow before Halloween. On Monday we were mountain biking on all the wonderful trails around Lake Placid, on Wednesday we were skiing, and on Saturday the rivers came up from melting snow. What more could you ask for.Â
29
Oct
The 493rd BCU Student Safety Symposium
The annual BCU Student Safety Symposium is a weekend long course aimed at keeping University students safe and happy on rivers in the UK and around the world. Run by Tom Parker and held at Plas-Y-Brenin, the weekend saw a variety of coaching workshops, lectures and Q&A sessions covering everything from how to run a intro white water trip to advanced technical rope work.
 Photo – Sarah Jones
28
Oct
WNC Update
Last week, the Clemson University Whitewater Club hosted an LVM 27 premiere at Fike Recreation Building. Following dinner and the movie, Pyranha Kayaks hosted a demo and pool rodeo. Casey and I headed down to Clemson Friday evening from Franklin with a pile of boats to join the festivities. We were met with a good turnout of folks at the premiere who blew off homework and other responsibilities to join us in the pool for a bit of fun.
Most of the time we spent in the pool was for folks to spend trying the different boats we had available but the highlight of the evening was the pool rodeo we held at the end of the night. The judges decided to keep things simple by having two classes: Funniest Trick and Coolest Trick. There were no rules, as long as your ride involved a kayak and was the best thing you could come up with in the pool. Some amazing feats of skill and daring were displayed but winners had to be chosen.
Mac, mid-airscrew off the diving board at the Clemson demo
After much deliberation by the judges, it was decided that Todd Henry had performed the Funniest Trick – a bouncing seal launch to faceplant off the high diving board. Mac McGee did the Coolest Trick, an airscrew off the low diving board. Our winners walked away with Pyranha shirts, stickers, and other swag, but we brought enough that everyone who attended got something.
Mac stoked on his new Pyranha shirt
Handing out prizes to the winners
Thanks to Brian and Dave at Pyranha Kayaks for hooking us up with boats and swag for the event, to Penstock Productions for the video, to the Clemson Whitewater Club for organizing and promoting the event and getting food, and to Clemson University for hosting the event. We hope to be back!
Other news in the drought-ridden southeastern US is a recent rain event. After said rain, the aforementioned wonderboy Mac from Clemson met up with me at the Cullasaja River near Highlands, NC to fire off the seldom-run Bricklayer Falls. I’ve heard about this drop and seen the circulating photos of Pat Keller or Joe Barkley running it years ago but never knew exactly where it was. FOUND IT! And…now I understand why this drop isn’t run very often. It’s a nasty 30 foot drop with a sloping entrance, tricky landing, and a terrible cave at the bottom. Mac and I loaded up our Burns, ran the falls at first light the morning after the rain, at a perfect level, and found perfect lines. Here are the goods, as well as a few other shots from that day.
Mac taking one last look while I head for my boat
Me rolling over the lip
Mac givin’ er
And the man behind the lense – fellow Pyranha paddler and brother, Casey Jones
Now, all that there’s left to do is wait in anticipation of the Green Race this weekend and try to control my nerves heading into this event. I’m picking up my new Karnali in a day or two and can’t wait! The weather is chilly now (we just had our first snow of the year last night!) but weather forecasts for Saturday are looking to be perfect for racing. More to follow after the race!
Good lines out there.