Joel Kowalski sends ‘Keeners experience Creeking on ‘7 Sisters’ of the Rouge, QC’

Dane sets safety while Keaton airs it out

Joel Kowalski is not only a coach for the ‘Keeners’ kids kayak program of Wilderness Tours on the Ottawa River, he also placed 5th at the World Freestyle Championships in Thun and creates and appears in Extreme whitewater videos such as Stakeout, Here and Now, Facetime, and Dream Result.  Check out his vision of our day coaching talented new paddlers in the art of creekboating and observe the Villain S and 2010 Hero proto’s in action!

From Joel:

Here is a video from our recent trip to the Seven Sisters waterfalls on the Riviere Rouge in Quebec near Hawkesbury. Stephen Wright, Clay Wright with special guest Dane Jackson and I took the Keeners there for most of the kids’ first creeking experience. They loved it! Check out the vid…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLnzv7ycG48&feature=player_embedded#!

-Joel K.

MISSION: Goldy Locks and the 5 bears.

It was Finals and I had won every damn round till the top 5 so I figured I was in a good position to Kick Kelsey Thompsons Scrawny Little Butt.  The Bet was, I would get a mohawk if toll bag dropped the mustash.  The one that hides a knarly scar on his face from his 5th COUNT EM 5th time he smashed up his face.  He’s not all that pretty to being with so the Mustash was helping him out and well to make a long story short.  Kelsey got Lucky.  The only time he beat me all comp he did so in finals, wiht the luckiest ride ever.  So I am sporting a mohawk these days……..

Carly and I are staying with an old friend Michelle Earls who owns a business called Kananaskis Outfitters in, you guessed it in Kananaskis.  She rents bikes does bike tours and hiking canoeing kayaking you name it she does it and guides it.  So we went in to the shop and she took us out on a bike tour.  Michelle was blasting down a hill, dog and myself in hot pursuit when a YAK sized monster bolted from the trail right in front of us.  We blew by the beast and stopped on a bridge just about 30 yards away.   Massive Grizzly huge hump on its back and a colossal sized face.   Carly came trundling down the path moving like a slug with a heart condition.  By the time she showed we were yelling our heads off at this bear.  He was parked right beside the trail just looking at us, and here comes poky pants McDonald.  (I call her McDonald only when she is going to do something UN-Harris like….)

We have all seen that movie when the main character of some animal flick is standing there just chewing its cud.  The main character is someone like bambi and right behind it  is this raging monster gaining ground teeth and nails nothing but bad intentions.  Deer just standing there, munching away some dark drumming noise background.  That deer was my wife.  We are yelling, “GO Carly GO, keep peddling keep going.”  Carly stops, puts her foot down and I Crap myself and have a heart attack all at the same time.  I am off my bike at this point doing the funky chicken waving, prancing and flapping like an idiot.  Carly says, “What”?   6 feet away and 6 feet up is a massive Grizzly.  He’s just cocking his head left and right looking at her.  Carly looks and only sees bushes.  But gets the point as I gain flapping momentum.  Carly will tell you she only stopped for a second.  It looked to me like she was stopping for dinner.   Needless to say I am still married.  But we now own Bear Spray and Carly can’t walk to the car without it.   Carly Claims Bears don’t Eat Vegans that’s why it isn’t a problem..

Add one grey hair to the patch I got growing on top.

Billy

Justin Kleberg’s Silver Run

My summer in wet, wild, and wonderful West Virginia has come to an end. After a few big water days on the lower Gauley, a solid month of low water video boating on the New River Gorge, and no time creeking in my Villain S, I am stoked to be returning to college at Western Carolina University. Friday, on the voyage back to school, I was able to warm up to the creeking game on the Green Narrows with Jay and Mark. Rain all day Saturday made moving into the dorms difficult, but made the creeks spike. Silver Run Falls is a Jackson County park and huck special, with a manky 10 foot slide off a solid 25 footer into a green water pool. I’ve looked at this drop numerous times over the past year of school but had yet to run it. The water level seemed perfect and it was time to give her. Check out the photos, courtesy of Evan Voss. Gotta love Western NC! It’s good to be back.

- Justin Kleberg

Heather Herbeck’s Summer Update

Summer 2010

I consider my ‘playtime’ to be the Fall/Winter seasons in the PNW, as spring and summer keeps me busy at Wet Planet Whitewater (a rafting & kayaking outfitter in Husum, WA).

The Spring season started off a little slow (as far as work), which was okay with me, as it left me with more time to participate in the ‘Eddy Flower Vertical Challenge’, finishing in the top 12 with over a hundred participants.  The EFV Challenge is a competition to see who can paddle the most vertical feet in a month and raise money for an amazing organization, “First Descents” (www.firstdescents.com) – a kayaking camp for young adults with cancer or recovering from treatment.  My team, “The River Angels” raised over $500 for FD . . . making it possible to help send a camper.

In July, “First Descents” held two camps in the Columbia River Gorge.  I feel fortunate to be involved in FD for two years now, as counselor/instructor for both camps.  What an amazing experience for everyone.

Following the FD camps, Nate and I had our first mountaineering experience.  With the help of our friend and experienced climber, Robin, we headed up to summit Mt. Hood.  Due to an avalanche, not the most ideal conditions and having it be our first time climbing, we decided to stop about 500 feet from the summit.  You can imagine the beauty . . . we could see all of Portlands’ lights as we climbed through the night!

Next, I headed off to the Rogue River in Southern Oregon.  I taught a 6-day kayaking course through Wet Planet Whitewater & ECHO rafting.  It was my first time on the Rogue river and found it to be a perfect river for pushing class III skills and improving your river running and playboating techniques.  Some of the highlights of the trip were:  “Flare night” – we dressed up in brightly colored clothing, leopard prints and feathers – had a few cocktails and enjoyed the bright stars; seeing 5 bear in 6 nights; watching the progression of boaters throughout the 6 days on the water (seeing boaters without a roll on the first day and pulling of combat rolls while playboating by the third day); and, meeting some amazing river people.

Early August I taught Wet Planet’s 4-day kids kayaking course.  We had a few returning kids from last year . . . and, by the end of the course they all wanted to buy kayaks!!!

This brings me to the end of August . . . I have a few women’s clinics coming up which I am really excited about.  Our August clinic emphasizes the ‘mental side’ of kayaking and our September clinic emphasizes playboating and running bigger water.

Fortunately, with all this fun work, I still have time to paddle.  I will either paddle the Middle White Salmon to my work and run home, or with the Green Truss section of the White Salmon in our front yard, I can easily hop on a run either before or after work.  I have to make sure I continue to ‘feed the fire’ and get out on the water to enjoy it, personally.

Hope to see a lot of you in October for the Whitewater Symposium at NOC . . . maybe we can get a run in on the Green

Heather Herbeck

Team JK

Face Time Intro: video

Here is the Intro for the 2010 film ‘Face Time.’ Check out the intro and order your copy here.

http://jacksonkayak.com/face-time/

The Grand Canyon

This was my first trip to the Grand Canyon so I had no idea what to expect, except what I had heard, and what I had seen from a couple pictures. Though no picture or story can come close to experiencing it first hand. The name Grand Canyon is almost an understatement, being that this was probably the best river trip I have ever been on, which says a lot because I have been on a fair amount.

Our good friend Tony Lunt was kind enough to invite Emily and myself along with 13 other friends to join him on his trip. It was a really cool trip no only because of the amazing scenery, or the great whitewater, but also because of the cool people. I had known half of the group before we left, though I feel like I knew everyone by the end of the trip.

We were on the canyon for 13 days, which at first seemed like it would be a long trip, though by the end no one wanted to leave, and it felt as though we had barely scratched the surface of the entirety of the magnificent place.

I knew we were in for a treat when after the first day I had been blown away by the canyon’s awesome beauty, and our group’s dynamics, and the professionalism of our guides, not to mention the great food. On day 7 we had filet mignon, how cool is that?

Our fearless leader, and good friend, Phil Boyer lead us down the sweetest big water lines the canyon had to offer. We also got to check out some amazing side hikes waterfalls, caves and canyons.

Emily and I had a blast getting to hang out, play and kayak with everyone. I would like to give a big thanks to Tony for inviting us on this trip. This was truly one of the coolest experiences of my life. This really is something that everyone in the world should experience, see and understand, for it is The Grand Canyon!

I will be posting a video from our trip soon, but for now here are some pictures from our awesome trip.

[Show as slideshow]

Canadians heading to Team Trials

Annie and Zack are heading to Canadian Freestyle Nationals and Team Trials event, located on the Kananaskis river Alberta.  Billy and Carly Harris as well as Keegan and Kalob Grady left last week while Joel and Katie Kowalski are flying out soon.  Last I hear Brad Sutton was considering another go as well!  Should be some tough competition and we wish all our Canadian athletes the best of luck!  Here’s a report from Zack and Annie:
Welcome to Alberta!

Annie and I have just driven from Eastern Canada to the Western part of the country in order to compete in Canada`s National Team Trials in Kananaskis Alberta.  It took 3 full days of driving through several provinces to finally arrive in the mountain town of Canmore Alberta.  Team trials are held in a hole this year – which is something we are not as used to coming from the big wave mecca of Ottawa and Quebec.  We took the opportunity this morning to visit the local Jackson Kayak dealer “Undercurrents” in Calgary.  The store is in a great location right off the TransCanada highway on the way out of Calgary towards the mountains – very easy to get to and they carry the full range of JK boats as well as doing demos and rentals.  The Kananaskis River Festival goes off this weekend where there will be events, clinics, and boat demos…so if anyone reading is in the Canadian Rockies we hope to see you there!
Zack and Annie

T ville paddle & Face Time showing

Jessie Stone organized a group paddle at the Tville play spot, along with a Face Time showing Collinsville Canoe & Kayak.

It was an awesome afternoon paddling with everyone. I was able to try out a SUP board as well as help Emily Kuhlberg work on her rolling.

After the Film showing a couple of us went out to dinner.

Here are a couple pictures from the paddle and Face Time showing.

Emily Jackson World Sport TV: France

Hey Guys

I was lucky enough to visit Millua, France this June and while i was there spent alot of time with the World Sports Crew: Formally Gillete World Sports. This is a great couple minute video that explains Freestyle Kayking and shows the great hole in Millau!

http://worldsport.tv/#browse/by_genre/features?id=4_424

ENJOY!

Emily Jackson

Villain Review from ‘Irish’ Dave Crerar, 185lbs = 2 thumbs up

Jackson Villain Review

Although I have not paddled too many boats other than Jackson boats in the past few years I have done my best to write this review based on comparisons with other boats out there on the market at present.

The Villain is very different to boats that JK have brought out in the past. The first thing you notice right off the bat is the large volume difference in this boat as compared to others such as the Habitat 80 or Mystic. Although the Villain has 90+ gallons the boats handles very well and it certainly does not feel like you are paddling such a large boat.

I paddled this boat on a number of creeks in Quebec ranging from steep creeks to boulder garden river runs. Its 8 feet 8 inches displace the volume along the boat, this also means this boat is fast, very fast. Unlike the shorter JK creek and river-running boats the Villain’s length allows for a faster and more stylish ride.  When I talk about style I mean the ability to hold speed through rapids. In the boulder gardens where shorter stubbier boats were struggling to deal with a number of boofs, flairs and carving manoeuvres the Villain managed to hold its line and speed making it not easier to navigate some tough rapids, but to do it with style also. The Villain feels skinnier than other creek boats out there, and one would think this would lead to instability, however the tapered edges on the hull of the boat, mixed with the wider stern and length seed given by it length make for a smooth and stable ride.

When running waterfalls I felt the Villain really came into its own. I found with slower, shorter boats their resurfacing ability was not their one of their finer selling points, by this I refer to missed lines, late boofs and misjudged rapids. However the Villain resurfaces straight and with a lot of speed allowing one to charge forward ready for what the river has to offer next. It also managed well with late boof strokes and pulled up nicely when you have to initiate the emergency crunch moves to avoid a complete thrashing.

The Villain is easy to roll, and easy to handle despite being longer than most boats out there at the moment. Do not let the volume fool you folks, I am around 180/190 lbs and I found the Villain S too small, the big one is sweet. Versatile in that it has enough room for long trips, while also having the volume to charge some nice rapids while staying on top of the water, allowing a ride that should be compared to that of a galloping stallion.

I am really excited about this boat and it has fuelled my excitement for even more creeking missions. When one is settled on the Ottawa River for the summer it can be hard to find the motivation to rally the boys and head into Quebec or down to New York when this river offers so much. However with this new toy on the top of the Volvo it is hard to resist the urge to suck it up, deal with the long day mission drives and head into the unexplored Quebec wonderland. Ladies and gents I feel JK have nailed it with this one and I for one can’t wait to see this boat nailing lines all over the place.

For more on Quebec check out www.davecrerar.blogspot.com or www.levelsix.com .

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