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This year Teva Mountain Games competition really stepped up with the international field growing substantially. For those of you who don’t know about it, the Mtn Games is one of the best events in the US. The results of this race are held in high regard for most creek boaters out there, being able to challange themselves against the worlds best. During the week you can check out Mountain Bikers, Runners, Climbers, and many other athletes who come from around the world to compete in Vail Colorado.
Pyranha paddlers were out there representing with Josh Bechtel, the Demshitz crew, Jeremy Laucks, and myself to name a few. The water flows were good, it was actually sunny and not snowing like last year. Here are some of the men’s results:

Name______________COUNTRY_______COMBINED TIME

1. Mike Dawson________NZ__________3.41.63
2. Tao Berman________USA__________3.42.67
3. Pat Keller__________USA__________3.44.29
4. Honza Lasko______Czech R.________3.45.75
5. Sam Sutton_________NZ__________3.47.70
6. Todd Anderson_____USA__________3.47.81
7. Andrew Holcombe___USA__________3.48.61
8. Chris Gragtmans____USA__________3.50.24
9. Ron Fisher_____Switzerland________3.51.03
10. Brad Ludden______USA__________3.52.38
11. Bryan Kirk________USA__________3.53.74
12. Kasper VonK..____Nethr._________3.53.86
13. Dave Fusilli_______USA__________3.54.20
FOR FURTHER RESULTS CLICK HERE
If you get the chance in the future make sure to try to make it out to the Mtn. Games in Vail during the first week of June annually.

Continue reading »]]> This weekend was the first event for the spring season in the Northwest. I raced in the Large Karnali and it proved itself as a great race boat. I finished 2nd in the pro extreme race, and 1st in the topo duo category (my first time in a topo it was sweet). Regional Team Pyranha paddler Todd Wells had a solid showing winning the freestyle off of Sunset Falls, click the read more link for all NWCC highlights.

Photo by David Briggs.
This is the site of the normal Canyon Creek Extreme Race which had to be moved the EF of the Lewis due the this natural disaster.

Details on Todd Wells and other NWCC Hightlights so
Junior Category was super competitive but Regional Team Pyranha paddler Todd Wells ended up in 1st followed by his little bro Brendan in 2nd. Todd Also ended up winning the freestyle huck over the falls with a donkey flip paddle toss stuck clean.

My girlfriend Nicole ended up in 3rd in the fun category which was open to men and women. This was her first extreme race so watch out ladies.

For now its back to the LW and Truss to keep training and getting ready for some more spring competitions….rough life, I know.

Continue reading »]]> Its been two years since I first ran this drop. Landslide activity has continued to change its size. Its now a sweet 50 footer. Yesterday we warmed up with a nice LW run at 3.6 feet and headed down the road for a huck session. It was super smooth run for me, I slid in from the side and melted into the main flow becoming one with the drop. Hucked the paddle and tucked up, I barely felt the landing when I hit the pool.

Photo Copyright Lane Jacobs

You can see Erik Boomer at the bottom of this one.

Here’s the drop two years ago.

Continue reading »]]> I was able to take out the Karnali for 5 days in a row and really get to know it. To give a little backround, I am 5′ 10″ and weigh 160 lbs, the medium size feels ideal for a paddler of my size. I have been primarily paddling the medium Burn.
This boat has rounder edges compared to other Pyranha river running boats, it is more forgiving on tough eddy lines and allows you to put it on edge further while feeling balanced. When you get this boat up to speed it stays in line very well. It also is quite nimble when going for technical moves at lower speeds, it turns well from a pivot point right under the seat. It feels like it has a longer waterline than the burn making for a sleeker feel. It is a few inches longer so the rocker isn’t sacrificed. I think this will be a great race boat for myself. It planes out of drops really nicely and boofs with ease. The rounder hull also allows for forgiveness on the flatter landings off drops.
Overall if you are into a rounder hull with a bit more speed this is the boat for you. I think it will be great for all paddlers from beginners to experts.

All photos copyright Erik Boomer.

Continue reading »]]> After a long and dry fall we have been fortunate to get some much anticipated rain. Northwest rivers getting to perfect levels for some playboating in the Willamette Valley, and creeking in the Columbia River Gorge.

Enjoying a session at Grassy Lawn on Lake Creek in Oregon.

Photos by Corey Morton.

Little White Salmon also getting up to super high flows which pushed out most of the wood that was in play. The river seems as clear as I can remember every seeing it. Still a few logs here and there so scout it out if your not sure. Here’s a link to a helmet cam of the whole run shot by Shon Bollock. Good way to scout the river and learn the lines if you haven’t been down before.

I’m crossing my fingers that this year keeps pumping out the precipitation so that we have a sick spring and summer to look forward to.

Continue reading »]]> Check the video: Wind River Race 2008
This was a sweet local race put on by the pdxkayaker.org guys. Head to head heats of three or four heading over the Sheppard Falls. The race started about 20 feet above the first drop so we knew there would be some carnage in the landing. I ended up taking 1st followed by Rob Bart and Dave Hoffman. Christie G took home 1st in the ladies race. Check the shot in the video of the girls heat to see someone getting landed on. The river levels are at extreme lows around the Northwest, we’re hoping the rains start kicking in soon.

First Sheppards falls drop.

Continue reading »]]> Team Pyranha was out in full force for the Mountain Games.

The first day kicked off with The Homestake Creek Race. I was able to lay down the fastest time on run one and the pressure was on for run number two. I ended up crashing a bit on the last drop which caused me the seconds I needed to end up in first. I am still stoked to have finished in second, the field of competitors out there was stout. Dave Fusilli finished in 9th, and the Seilers rounded out 18 and 22nd. There were around 60 male competitors this year, I can’t wait for next year.

For Freestyle and 8 Ball results

Day two came around and most of the competitors were feeling the results of the night before out on the town. Jared Seiler was able to come out strong for the freestyle prelims but finished only a few points out of the final rounds. One more move on the score card and he would have been in there for sure.

The final day of competition left us with the classic 8 Ball Sprint. There were 40 competitors to start and Team Pyranha was holding strong with all of us moving through the initial round. After 4 more rounds of battling I pushed through the carnage and was able to finish in 1st place.

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This past weekend was the 25th Annual Clackamas Whitewater Festival. There was a good time had by all with water levels going through the roof. I ended up taking first place in the Mass Start and the Boater X. The big air ramp was also built with fine craftsmanship, I made it into the finals but was beat out by another Hood River Local Ryan Scott Thanks to Keel Brightman for the photo.

Todd Anderson

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We had an awesome weekend of racing on the LW. Sat was the down river portion of the event, and Sun was the first ever LVM Giant Slalom. I ended up finishing first place overall which was a great feeling on my home river. I feel like this type of racing is the way the sport should be heading and am stoked to do more of these events. Check out lvmtv for more full results and details.

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Last weekend I hit up the first annual Nortwest Creeking Competiton. I took down first place in the Huckfest over Sunset Falls on the East Fork of the Lewis River. It was a good time, lots of freewheels and whatnot. I went for a seal launch into the base of the falls for the crowd pleaser. The race was also sweet with a 80 racer turnout. I finished the race in 3rd place… but only 1/5th of a second off second. Here are some shots of the action.

LW Race this weekend…I’m fired up for that!