New Olympic Sport - Kayak Jumping

You know you've always wondered about this, right? The ultimate kayak launch: going off a ski jump ramp.
Well, wonder no more. A group of crazy people extreme sports fans sent a kayak off a ski jump and filmed it for all of our entertainment.
The take-off goes well, but the landing is a little rough. It looks horrible, but I'm pretty the sure the passenger is actually a dummy. Then again, I guess either way, he'd be a dummy, right? And the landing brings a whole new meaning to kayak rolling.
To see the videos, visit kayakyak.blogspot.com

Sports-filled weekend in Spud Valley

 

Go Fest will keep Whistler busy over the long weekend, May 16 to 18, but there will be plenty of sporting events to check out in the Pemberton area, too:

The water has been turned on this week at the Rutherford Whitewater Park, as CanoeKayak Canada is holding its national team trials at the seldom-used facility.

Male and female K1 and C1 athletes have been training on the slalom course since May 11, gearing up for selection races going Saturday and Sunday. The results will decide who represents Canada on the World Cup circuit for the 2014 season.

There will be four races in total, starting at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the park, located between Whistler and Pemberton on Highway 99.

Right on the heels of Friday's GO Enduro, the second race of the Sea to Sky Enduro Series is happening Saturday in Pemberton. More than 150 riders came out to the series opener in Squamish two weeks ago, and with races on back-to-back days, the Pemberton stop should get close to the 200-person cap on the field.

Stages are being planned for the One Mile Lake and Mackenzie trails, with a car transition between the two areas permitted. The race gets started at the lake at 11 a.m. Registration is open at www.worca.com

The annual Lillooet Lake Rodeo returns for three days of family fun in Mount Currie, Saturday through ...more

Central Oregon HTTD #1

 

The first Hometown Throwdown of the season is coming up fast! You’ll remember from last year that this is a low-key event where we have a surf competition, a BBQ, beer, and raffle items for participants. This event is free so come to Big Eddy and hang out with all your paddling friends. Meadowcamp laps will ...more

Kayak tragedy victims were all family men

 

THREE South Tyneside men who died in a kayaking tragedy were all family men, an inquest into their deaths has heard.

An inquest was opened yesterday into the deaths of Darren Thorpe, 41, his brother Mark, 39, and their cousin, Gavin Bradley, 36.

The thrill-seekers died when an outdoor adventure on the River Tyne between Hexham and Wylam in Northumberland turned to tragedy on Sunday.

A hearing was opened and adjourned by North Shields and South Northumberland coroner Eric Armstrong, at North Shields.

Initial pathology reports by Dr Jennifer Bolton said all three deaths were consistent with drowning. However, further tests will be ...more

Dane Jackson leads a RockStar Studded (and Karma) WWGP Final Leaderboard

 

For the third year in a row, Dane Jackson brings home the top honours at this year’s Whitewater Grand Prix, held in Canada.  

At the conclusion of the 6 stage event, Dane paddling the Rockstar and Karma, held on to the first place position, with Rush Sturges in second followed by Joel Kowalski.  Nick Troutman came a close 4th making the top 4 paddlers ALL in Jackson Kayak boats! 

 Rush paddled the event in a Rockstar and Karma as were as Joel and Nick.

 The Whitewater Grand Prix’s 6 stages spanned most whitewater disciplines and added exponential risk in the spring flood conditions of the Ontario and Quebec watersheds being used.  

Two of the stages were freestyle stages, the balance being differing river running sets.  

The freestyle events were held on some of the largest standing waves seen in organized competition.  Athletes had to get to the waves and then surviving the ride they had from the sheer power of the flow. 

 The river running competition pitted competitors against some of the most epic flows seen with ...more

Kayaking Spirit Falls, Little White Salmon River, Washington

 

“Snowflakes were sticking to my eyelashes and blurring my vision throughout the day,” recalls kayaker Todd Wells, seen here running Spirit Falls on the Little White Salmon River. “So one final time before the falls, I made sure to clear my face of any accumulated snow. Paddling class V rivers in sub-freezing temperatures is never very comfortable, but as soon as my hands become numb the cold doesn't bother me as much.”

The Washington State native wore two full-body fleece suits to stay extra warm, and an Immersion Research dry suit to keep dry. Having first run this waterfall when he was 14, Wells has now descended its roiling class V rapids about a hundred times. “Paddling these waterfalls is risky and avoiding injuries is always on my mind,” says Wells, who now lives in White Salmon, Washington. “But I think that becoming comfortable on a variety of different smaller waterfalls has been the best way to stay safe on the bigger and more challenging drops.
“Spirit Falls is my favorite backyard waterfall,” he says. “For a solid class V paddler, Spirit is just about an hour's paddle from an easily accessible bridge, but spectators must scurry down a poison oak infested scree field to access the falls.”
Getting the Shot
“I get anxious when I know there is an opportunity to capture something amazing,” says photographer Eric Parker. Parker has run and photographed the rapids on Little White Salmon River for years, but typically, the scene is not snow covered.
“Generally you feel as if you are paddling through a green tunnel among the lush forest. That day, temperatures dropped and eight inches of fresh snow ...more

Freestyle kayaking at hurley