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

 



 

JK’s Comedian Nouria Newman shows us Uganda: Video

 
2min in... #2 White Nile (Uganda) from Nouria Newman on Vimeo.

You will always remember whether or not you have met the kayaking worlds own, Nouria Newman. A character on and off the water you are sure to see her ...more

Stage 1 Whitewater Grand Prix- “Freestyle Big Trick”- Gladiator Wave

 

Stage 1:  Whitewater Grand Prix- “Freestyle- Big Trick”- Gladiator Wave”

35 paddlers (27 men and 7 women) competed today on Gladiator Wave.     The Ottawa Valley gave us a wonderful spring day with Sunny weather and high of 55 degrees.     The format for today’s competition was fun, and an all day event.
The Women of this year’s Grand Prix are here in force:
Martina Wegman, Nicole Mansfield, Adrienne Levkneckt, Sandra Hyslop, Mariann Saether, Louise Urwin, Hanna Kertesz all competed yesterday…   Looking forward to watching them compete!  They had some great moves yesterday!
The  Men are:

Dane Jackson (USA)
Nich Troutman (CAN)
Kalob Grady (CAN)
Ben Marr (CAN)
Tyler Curtis (CAN)
Marcos Gallegos (CHL)
Aniol Serrasolses (ESP)
Anthony Yap (AUS)
Bryan Kirk (USA)
Devyn Scott (CAN)
Eric Jackson (USA)
Galen Volckhausen (USA)
Gerd Serrasolses (ESP)
Jakub Nemec (CZE)
Mat Dumoulin (FRA)
Rush Sturges (USA)
Steve Fisher (ZAF)
Tino Specht (USA)
Joel Kowalski (CAN)
Chris Gragtmans (CAN)
Bren Orton (GBR)
Casper van Kalmthout (NLD)
Sam Ward (GBR)
Louis-Philippe Rivest (CAN)
Tyler Fox (CAN)
Lane Jacobs (USA)
Jules Domine (FRA)

1. Meet at 9am to check the water levels and location of event based on those levels.
2. Meet at Gladiator Wave at 11am for competitors meeting and heat assignments.
3. Begin heat one at 12pm- two hours of round robin surfing-  which worked out to be 6 rides each.
4. Begin heat 2 at 2pm- same format… still ...more

Naéco Kayak Surf

Naéco Kayak Surf from GVS Video on Vimeo.

2014 Home Town Throw Down Events

 

 Get fired up !

For the 2014 HTTD EVENT SERIES in DURANGO, CO !
Wednesday May 21st at 6pm
Wednesday June 4th at 6pm
Wednesday June 25th at 6pm
Wednesday July 9th at 6pm
Whatever the flow, Whatever the weather
Prizes for participation
Bring your friends
Surf it up in your home town !


The HTTD event series is designed to provide local boaters an opportunity to compete with friends and meet new ones in a no stress environment.  Although points and prizes are awarded, the intent of the event series is to ...more