US National Freestyle Championships Live via Web Stream NOTE – WIFI IS POOR FROM VENUE CAUSING COMMUNICATIONS ISSUES

Schedule of Coverage
(Official schedule coming soon as currently in flux – Broadcast will typically start a bit before)

- June 30, 11 am MT – Prelims (All day)
- July 1, 11 am MT – Prelims contd
- July 2, 11am MT – Final rounds

(more…)

WV Hometown Throwdown #1

 I have been working to get representataion in WV since the begining of WK, and now finaly after a number of years we are on.  A great group of stoaked boaters has taken the reigns and hosted a fantastic event.  keep your eyes set on the new WV region at WK for all that these guys have to offer.  Thanks a bunch guys and great job.  Here is what the WV Boys have to say about their first event. 

Monday brought the first in a series of World Kayak Hometown Throwdowns to the Southern WV region. Paddlers from the local rafting companies, including videoboaters and their families, descended into the New River Gorge for a laid back downriver competition through Fayette Station. This first event boasted a turnout of twenty-three participants, armed with countless different river craft. Creek boats, play boats, long boats, river boards, and inflatable pool toys cycled through the rapid displaying only the most artful downriver techniques. From the elusive shutter rudder, to the mysterious beat down, and even the well known carp roll, all those involved threw down the most impressive move within their arsenal.

Jeremy and his two kids put on a good show with a family ducky run down the rapid. A brief out of boat experience at the top progressed into big wave hits and paddle twirls, not to mention a few good laughs. Marcus had the best ride on the top wave in his C1, throwing a few roundhouses and a back loop to leave him with the best ride of the event. Charlie, Evan, and Steve showed what video boating is all about, with big wave wheels, kick flips, and lots of imaginative splats. Lil’ Perkins got the best carnage, wheeling off into the big pour over for a brief but brutal ride. All skill levels were represented, with Kyle getting his first run down a rapid ever.

We ended the day with a cookout provided by Jeremy and his family, sharing stories about the day and eagerly awaiting the events of the future. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude all of those who participated and made this event a great success. Stay tuned for more information on future events.

Click here to view the embedded video.

2010 Nolichucky Hometown Throwdown Event #1

 2010 Nolichucky Hometown Throwdown Event #1 Results:

Women’s K-1:

1. Jennifer Bradley – Hand Paddler (36)

Men’s K-1A:

1. Michael Patterson (191)

2. Kerry Porche – Hand Paddler (141)

3. Brandon Dale (91)

3. Duane Gibson (91)

5. Wesley R. Bradley (76)

Men’s K-1B:

1. Michael Bianchi (106)

2. Jason Bordwine (83)

3. Eric Hoffman (78)

4. Steve Moore (67)

5. Justin Benton (65)

6. Brian Pickett (59)

7. Jeff Weatherford (58)         

8. Mike Dorsey (47)

9. Brian Plant (46)

10. Adam Gudger (44)

Thank you to all the competitors for their participation!  Congrats to “Mad” Mike Patterson (K-1A), Michael Bianchi (K-1B) & Jennifer Bradley (WK-1) as our winners of Event #1 and current series leaders!

*Brian Pickett showed us how to do a serious body board throw down in Jaws!

*Justin Benton entertained the crowd and scored some big style points with the judges by revealing a hidden beer in his PFD & chugging it down while surfing in the hole!

* Mike Patterson showed us all that he was back and better than ever to defend his title from last year!  It will be exciting to see if anybody will step up to challenge him this year…

*We had 1 swimmer during the event who went home with with the coveted River Gypsies “Everybody Swims” sticker.

*We had one “seasoned paddler” , Mike Dorsey, who was +50 years old, compete in the event.

*Everyone who competed or volunteered in the event went home with a prize!

Cheryl Killman’s Noli HTTD #1 photo album#1

Cheryl Killman’s Noli HTTD #1 photo album#2

Cheryl Killman’s Noli HTTD #1 photo album#3

Noli HTTD Award Ceremony photo album

 

A big thank you goes out to all of our great volunteers for their efforts in event #1:

Kristen Gunn & J.D. Driscoll – Judges

Ian Watson & Natalie Pickett – Scribes

Erin Weatherford – Time Keeper

Cheryl Killman – Photographer

 

A very special thank you goes out to my wonderful wife, Jennifer Bradley, for her support.  She does a lot of behind the scenes work to help prepare for the events.  She does a great job with the paperwork & registration at the events too!  I would also like to give Cheryl Killman, Colin Kemp & James McBeath a shout out of thanks for their coordination & prep work for the event series!

 

 

A big thank you goes out to our World Kayak Program Partners listed in the banner at the top of this page & the local sponsors below for all the great prizes & support of the events! 

  

   

 

 Mark your calendar for June 5, 2010 to join us for event #2.  I hope to see you on the Noli!!

 

 

Reno Throwdown #3 2010

Here we are just a day away from the Reno River Festival.  Most of the local community was excited to get one more test run against the clock.  We had a good turnout with a huge crowd on shore.  We had our normal Wednesday down turn of the weather.  It was not as bad as some of our other Wednesdays, but we did get a bit of Nevada wind.  The level of boating in K1-A class is getting super high!  We had a few dry exists that were the spice of the day.  Good luck to all the competitors in tomorrow’s open event!

K1-A

1.Noah

2.Scott

3.Kyle

4.Pete

5.Mike

6.John

7.Bryan

8.Jesse

9.Mark

K1-W

1.Jessica

2.Mary

K1-JR

1.trevor

2.Drew

K1-B

1.Justin

2.Jeff

3.Chris

4.Todd

12►

HydroTherapy Session #1 “Good things come in small packages” ~American Proverb

Over 100 people attended the third annual Corbin Kickoff event in Post Falls Saturday 4/17/10. With tremendous energy this event rightfully stole the show for many people and paddlers. Unfortunately Hydrotherapy Sessions was pushed to the end of the event schedule Saturday leaving most spectators sun burnt and most paddlers tired from the excellent paddler cross and raft races during the day.

Water levels were perfect for Trailer Park wave so after the festivities a small but core contingent headed upstream to learn something new. Chris kept score and modeled for the camera, Kim took amazing photos (hope to share some of these soon), Chris showed us how to approach a new feature and new moves with zeal and gusto, Pat held down the fort and kept pushing everyone up the eddy with his handpaddles (no slackers allowed he would yell), and Matt played the role of instructor showing us what was possible. We all enjoyed evening sun on the wave as we played a excellent game of “Kayak”, as in the game on the basketball court you call your move, perform the move, then others match and beat that to challenge one another.

Smiles all around from wave to parking lot where the first reflections of another Hydrotherapy Season were shared. Prizes were awarded the light faded with an amazing sunset. This may have been our smallest hydrotherapy group to date, yet I think I heard everyone share a lesson, move, or idea big and small learned by the end of the night. That reason alone got me stoked for the rest of the paddling season and for the upcoming hydrotherapy events. Great things come in small packages.

Many thanks to everyone who showed up. Our amazing Sponsors like Bumble Bar, Omega Pacific and World Kayak!