Great Falls cross bow -- Geoff Calhoun

[Alden]

I thought this was absolutely worth posting.

During the recent Great Falls of the Potomac Race -- a class V downriver race held on a section of rapids just outside Washington DC -- kayak paddler and former race champion Geoff Calhoun broke his paddle in the first rapid. With two more class V rapids to go, he elected to continue his race run as a C-1:

http://calamitychris.smugmug.com/galler ... &k=M8x522p" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When he arrived at The Spout, the final 25-foot waterfall, he not only elected to run the challenging race line -- which until three years ago had only been run a few times -- but he elected to do so with a committing cross bow boof. Here is one set of pictures. Geoff's run starts here:

http://www.ericspicts.com/Events/Great- ... &k=HBw8QFr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And HERE is the money shot, hopefully visible on Seth Chapelle's Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Most kayakers in this situation would have simply taken the easier left line, or flipped the paddle over to take a regular left stroke, or, in my case, probably eddied out and walked down. Instead, Geoff's move speaks not only of skill, courage, showmanship, but as a shout-out to canoeists from a top competition kayaker. And it speaks of having some serious fun on the river.

Certainly brought a smile to my face.

Alden

[KNeal]

VERY cool! Alden, what is the race line? I only know the left side drop.

[PAC]

I've seen that line up close and I'd be doing a whole lot of puckering one way or the other! Very cool and thanks for post!

Way to go to him on nailing the line too!

[edg]

Calhoun has more talent and whitewater ability in his little finger than I have in my entire body....edg

[Alden]

Glad you all enjoyed it. I know I did.

The race line is considered to be the river right side of The Spout -- a boof onto a rock shelf that leaves one in the current at the base of the drop, rather than in the river left "kettle."

From 1976-2009 this line was considered very dangerous, and only run a few times. The normal line was the left line, a relatively straightforward 20-25' boof. However, in preparation for the Falls Race -- sometime in either 2009 or 2010 as I recall, paddlers began running the right line more frequently. By 2010, certainly, it had become a commonly accepted line at lower water levels. This is the line Geoff is running as a C-1.

Alden

[milkman]

It's got me wondering if we should all adopt his technique and remove the top hand grips from our paddles and hold our shafts "Calhoun" style.