WESTFEST 2012

[Pierre LaPaddelle]

Will there be anyone coming that is interested enough in a new OC2 that would make bringing a demo worthwhile?

Me! Me!

[Smurfwarrior]

BUMP! Ok, any changes to who's coming and who's not? Also, the list of demo boats I will have available to choose from, to bring for people seriously interested, is getting bigger.

So far;

Esquif- L'Edge
Esquif- Spark
BigDog- Kaos OC1 composite playboat
BigDig- Force OC1 (have one in stock for sale- I'll give the first buyer a good discount)
BigDog- Dropzone C1
Mohawk- Maxim
Mohawk- Viper 11
Mohawk- Probe 11
Mohawk- Probe 14 OC2

I'm expecting more Esquif boats, will advise.

[Alan B]

I am planning to come, especially if I can get a buddy to join me. I live about 6 hours away in Hamilton, Montana. I used to live in Boise 27 years ago and paddled the Payettes in an Old Town Tripper, both solo and tandem. Should be more fun in an Ocoee. I will bring a Caption as well. Looking forward to the weekend!

On another note: for those of you within an easy day's drive, consider coming to the Blackfoot Challenge, June 23-24. Downriver race on Sat. and excellent slalom race on Sun. See post brought back to the top.

[Smurfwarrior]

Awesome! See you there Alan.

[Einar]

I'll be there, wandering down from a camp on the St. Joe main and doing a few other streams. Bringing a rack, incl a kevlar V11 for sale and a "new to me" Sp. Fly as a loaner.

Rick, I'll tandem. Do we need a water barrel weight correction device? And we gonna roll right?

On my last count 9 B.C.'ers are making the long drive.
Einar

[Pierre LaPaddelle]

... we gonna roll, right?

On my last count 9 B.C.'ers are making the long drive.
Einar

Actually, the count is up to TEN Team BCers. And Smurf has promised a free boat to the oldest member of the biggest team from a north-west province beginning with 'B'...

". . . roll, right?" You mean, as opposed to "roll left?" or "roll wrong?" (The latter is most likely!)

Rick

[busterblue]

I will be there. Rolling into Hot Springs on Thursday evening. Looking forward to getting away, meeting y'all, seeing the mythical Big Dog, and paddling as much as possible.

[truckeeboater]

super-bummed I'm not up there right now, but daddy-day-care duties take precedence over paddling. can't wait to hear some good stories and see some rad footage. Viva West Coast Open Boaters!!

[jlaw]

My - that was fun! Thanks to one and all.
Open boats on the Staircase:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47304745@N ... 632445590/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[busterblue]

It was great paddling with you. Thanks for sharing the photos.

Here is a link to some pictures I took:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... eb8b476fcb

(It's a public gallery, so you don't have to be logged into Facebook to view the images).

[truckeeboater]

anyone post any videos yet?

[Smurfwarrior]

Working on it

[Einar]

Before the "visuals" and the storylines crowd out the space---- Thanks Smurf!
The idea, the work, and the days after days on the Idaho rivers and in the play park were much appreciated. Thanks. WestFest was a great success.
C ya next year.
Einar

[Smurfwarrior]

Einar, meeting you was one of the highlights of the trip for me. You're an excellent paddler and a great guy. Counting the days till next year!

[Pierre LaPaddelle]

Thanks. WestFest was a great success. C ya next year.
Einar

For the records, looked to me that WESTFEST attendance was around 50: about 30 from the host Utah group, plus 11 BC-boaters, and the rest from Idaho, Colorado, and Washington -- all with smiles on their faces.

Great runs: Cabarton, the Main, Staircase, South Fork Canyon, GrandJean, Swirly Canyon. . . Some great play in Kelly's WW Park. . . And the chance to meet many new friends.

Further to Einar's comment, huge THANKS to Smurf and the Utah group for their organization and hospitality, and THANKS to Jeff and GEAR:30 for providing some exciting new hulls to demo.

2nd Annual WESTFEST in 2013 ?? You bet!

Rick