Rivers and Boating

[Alden]

Well, I have to admit -- I have only posted to this site about twice in the last four months. I try to check it out when I can, but I haven't been seeing any posts that allow me to really post lately. In reality I think that most people, like me, have been merely too busy actually going paddling to do much posting.

Anyway, I wanted to check in with everyone and hear how everyone is doing, what rivers people have been running in C-1, what boats paddled, what people have been encountered on the river, ect . . .

I figured I would start off myself: I have been paddling a lot more with some other C-1ers this year - mostly local DC boater Joe Stumpfel. I think I have learned a lot going creeking with another C-1er. Most notably: that one can throw a cross bow boof off just about anything and have it be more than marginally effective. Great Falls of the Potomac has been our laboratory this year, especially the center lines, as far as cross boofs.

I recently encountered C-1er Jay Diddy at the Upper Yough Race. Jay was racing his Dagger Cascade, and is apparently paddling a brand new Necky Blunt C-1 also. I personally still have my old, cracked, ailing Blunt. I am leaving on a trip for Quebec and Maine in a few weeks, and I can't wait to meet up with Maine C-1er John Frachella, whom I have never met before, and who offered to let me try out his H3 C-1. Can't wait. I am finishing up my New England/QUebec guidebook at the moment (making maps) and John has given me a story for the book about his near drowning in Quebec in the 1990s. It is definitely one of the best river stories I have ever read -- all about crossing over almost into that unknown country of death. Suffice to say that the guidebook will have some serious C-1 pictures/stuff in it. It is hopefully due out by next spring.

I also met up with New England C-1er Paul Sapia this year on the Upper Yough, and we switched boats. I paddled his Dagger Cascade, the first time I had been in one in a long time. I found that I did not like it as much for the small technical stuff, however for big stuff it definitely has some nice speed.

Other than that, I am looking forward to getting in some new boats in the near future like the Taureau and Wheelboy -- and of course the H3 in a few weeks. Also looking forward to doing some more racing as my shoulders allow and maybe even some open boating.

Speaking of which, how were open boat nationals?

Hope everyone is doing well along the path of one paddle.

Alden[/img]

[Jim]

I was thinking that things were pretty tame on here without Alden stirring things up with provocative questions. Welcome back, glad the shoulders are better.

OC Nationals were great- as a first-timer I loved it. Great venue, tough course, and beer was provided by Esquif (except that we were in Canada, with all those great beers, and things like Coors were served???). Patrick and I won the Cadet / Senior class. In the 15' boat classes I got a couple of fourths- I paddled fast and sloppy and the regulars were not going to let that beat them. I really need to control the tail and clean up those runs.

Esquif had demo boats available but I cannot comment on them as I could not get into them (6' 1" tall) without modifying the factory designs. They looked GREAT on the course. Ray Ingram had a fun little (11') OC he called the "Spawn" and that was dry and quick on the course (I got a third in that boat after 1 practice run).

My news- next week I am moving to Utica, NY. That means (1) time for Alden to get that book out so I can find new rivers and (2) lots of room for paddlers to visit (and there will be 9 more canoes in central NY for paddlers to borrow). I hope to find some locals to help me find my way down those rivers- any volunteers can contact me at jsmith@utica.edu and I will show my gratitude with beer.

[NEOC Slalom Rules]

I have been relogated to the position of Voyeur as opposed to Voyaguer for the summer. After taking it easy this spring with my elbow surgery, I got in the last three NESS races and was starting to get back in form. Then at Jonquierre, my mt bike and I took a nasty flip and I messed up my left rib cage. Two weeks later and it still hurts to laugh, cough or move. Nationals was a great cultural experience for me working as chief judge with Jacque Chasse's family and friends to get the race run. He put everything into having us all have a great time. I got to work with Andre Laporte, who runs the timing and scoring for all the high level decked boat races in Quebec. He had a state of the art ICF scoring system that was adapted over the course of racing to work for Open Canoes. The first two days, it did not fair to well, but as always, the third try is the charm. Using Palm pilots to automatically transfer scoring to the timing computer is awesome. However the fact that we had 125 bibs to run in as you show up order as opposed to the rigid starts of decked boating races and having all prompts in French with a "Je ne parle pas Francais." judging crew made for fun and lots of rechecking and changes and questions addressed to the Chef Judge. As Jim stated the venue was awesome. Unfortunately, he left early and missed a great awards banquet and several days of awesome whitewater paddling. I-Man who spawned the "Spawn" stayed and paddled and said the Shipshaw river was great and his second try on the Tewksbury Gorge at a reasonable level for open boats went much better than his bomb run in high water before the race, especially with a cadre of the best to taunt him on. "If she can do it, surely we all can", referring to Caroline Peterson of course. Can't wait to read your guide to Quebec's secrets, Alden. Results for Nats will be posted soon on Keech's site for the ACA Open Canoe Slalom Committee so you can see who did what. And how did the kids and old folks do in the decked boats at Carlton, MN the same weekend in the Jr/Sr Nationals? 37" of rain in India in one day! Head for the Ganges my friends.
My two cents for now.
Pat

[Jim]

Pat- you were a natural as chief judge- thanks for all the hard work. It is too bad about the scoring system- my problem was the dam thing was accurate! I was fast and sloppy- if you guys could have just missed one of my many touches I would have been in the medals. But nooo, the scoring team was accurate and when the technology acted up you stayed up late and fixed all of the glitches. Great job!

I did notice that the beer seemed to make your laughing a little more comfortable up there- I hope that treatment is still working for you.

[Jan_dettmer]

Hey Alden,

thats awesome that you got in lots of paddling on the Falls.
I spend quite a bit time in Whistler. Paddled lots on the Soo, Cheakamus, Callaghan, and Rutherford. My god paddling is so much fun. It clearly is the best sport ever.

Here is a short vid (only 2 drops) of some Whistler fun.

http://www.open-canoe.de/open-sucks/

click on "BC WW" on the left and then on the Whistler video.
I'm off to Squamish this weekend (it's a long weekend here) to see how bad the road to the Ashlu put-in really is...

Cheers, Jan

[the great gonzo]

Alden,

Can't wait for your NE/Quebec guidebook!

Jan,

Nice video's ! By the way what helmet are you wearing there?

martin

[Alden]

good to hear from you guys. pat, good luck with the injury, jim good luck with the move. jan (ullrich) dettmer, sounds like some fun on the west coast - some day i will get out there to C-1 it with you. martin, my guide hasn't been really geared toward Ontario, but I want to throw in a few from over there. i sent you an email. i wanted to get some input. ambition is getting the better of me on this project, or maybe just feelings of guilt at not putting enough stuff in. originially i was planning a guide to the freakin rivers of Middlebury Vermont . . . it would have been done about a year ago, but i guess all good things come to those who are obsessed . . .
Alden

[Jan_dettmer]

Hey Martin,

it is a FNA X-Stream helmet. Check out Farons web-site at
http://www.fnaheadgear.com

It is the best helmet I have ever owned and it's worth every penny.

My friend Joe wrote a review at:
http://www.open-canoe.de/open-sucks/

click on "Equipment" on the left and then on "Equipment"
then on "X-Stream"
(I know, I gotta clean up that web page one day...)

Yeah Alden, come on over. Anytime. There is something to
paddle pretty much year round.

Cheers, Jan

[Alden]

Jan,
I just watched the videos . . . incredible country. Let's remain friends. haha.
Alden

[Larry Horne]

Alden,

i'm winding down from my best season of paddling ever! i got to do a bunch of new runs this year, some of which i always thought were out of my reach. 49 to Bridgeport on the South Yuba and the Devils Canyon of Middle Fork Feather were some highlights, but there were many, many other great days. I've been boating a lot with some other c-boaters too, which is always fun.. David(squeakleaf) and Bruce Farrenkopf and Aaron Sarver who all post on here and rock on the river! We had a couple of adventures this year for sure!
I just missed Jay when they were out here at Pauley Creek, in fact we found his buddie's wallet at the put-in! next year we all need to get together out here. you all can stay at Bruces.

I also picked up a used slalom boat (fast,WOW!) and am looking forward to doing some racing and really learning how to paddle!

p.s. i hope you get to try that h-3 on some good water. i would like to here how you think it compares to the blunt. i just got a new one, it's my third hull and i'm still not interested in any other creek boat, Pyranha customer service is top notch!

[CosmikDebris]

Alden, Finally got on the Toxaway. It flashed on us, turned into boat-assisted hiking. Probably one of the scariest place's I've ever been. Broke the Blunt, warenteed it for a Crux, which I sold, and am now paddling a broken Cascade. I think I'm going to get one of those Fluid Solo's though as soon as I get back to NC. Done the Horsepasture a few more time too, you need to come back down and get on that. Now waiting for Linville....mmmm
Will

[Alden]

will,
awesome, sounds good man. i just saw that new linville video on the lvm site - looks awesome. speaking of southern rivers, i noticed that you are pictured in leland's new guidebook. anyway, enjoy the rivers.
Alden

[Jan_dettmer]

that canyon looks awesome. Looks like there are some really tight lines and beefy holes---all you can ask for.
I just saw Xavier Rudd live here in Vic, that was awesome, too!
Really incredible artist. If you get a chance, see him live.

I am in State College, PA right now and it is raining. Don't have a boat though and gotta fly back. Is there any creeking around here?

Alden, come to the island for some winter exploratory paddling

Cheers, Jan