End of the year Video - Goodbye 2013

2013 was an incredible boating season!

We had a video contest here in Seattle last week so it gave me an opportunity to pour some energy into organizing all the footage from this past boating season.

Beater Sessions Vol. 2 is a video about the kayaking culture in Seattle WA. It's an end of the year video like any other: lots of clips, marginal boofs, and beer crushing all set to a dubstep background. But to me at least, this is different. This 9 and a half minute montage of 2013 is edited to show all of the moments that are burned into the back of my head. The music in this video is the same music I crank up in the background at home while i sort through countless video files on my hard drive. This is how I see the 2013 season in my mind.






Thanks for watching!

The First Annual Seattle Amateur Video Contest

...as far as we know.

I haven't been boating much and I was in need of some serious visual stimulation but I had long past burned through my Vimeo Feed and my YouTube "suggestions".

So I hatched an idea: Put on a video contest and let all my friends make boating videos for me to watch.

It worked.

The First Seattle Boating Video Contest was set to go off on Friday the 13th. Brian Boeck is a paddler and a small bar proprietor. He agreed to let the Seattle kayak scene take over his bar TAB's for a night full of moves to be remembered and moments to be ashamed of..

 We had 10 entries and 7 micro brews on tap at the bar. Life was looking good at this point.

The First entry was from Jeremy Bisson, who actually didn't enter the contest, but rather made the mistake of sending me a sick video while I was making the night's playlist.

Casa De Cueso shows the first couple of trips that Jeremy has been getting on while he starts his Ecuadorian adventure.





Next up is a super sweet video from Megan Kelly, who takes us around Washington and down to Oregon.  Megan tied for first place with Ellie Wheat and they split two cases of Silver City beer for their hard work.





Then there's Joe Howard's entry. This is a great edit showing some super sick lines in Ernies Gorge. Jacuzzi was a rapid of ill repute until Joe and Mike Nash tamed the beast, now its an everyday thing (if you're those two). Check out some of the best Ernie's footage I've ever seen.





Do you like to see people swim? Me too. Scott Waidelich and Ellie Wheat teamed up to give us this testament to carping rolls and swimming holes.




Matt Kurle is one of the reasons I edit video. His videos get me so pumped up I usually can't watch them during the workweek. It's like giving a little kid caffeine and a water bottle right before a 10 hour plane ride. Bad call. Matt's video is about a typical weekend in Washington. Creeks, Playboating and Beers are to be had. Sit back and watch The Weekend.





Adrian Wigston is a good friend of mine. He recently decided on a rather large career move; quiting the 9-5 grind and going in search of the endless summer. Watch as Adrian travels from Washington to El Salvador in style. Adrian surfs and boofs like a boss in this cool travel montage.





Ellie Wheat is kind of a big deal. She's a total bad-ass boater, she puts up with a kayaker boyfriend and his kayaker friends and is an all around great person. Act Like a Lady comes out strong with a video showcasing side-boob and dangerous women taking tough lines. This video tied for first place with Megan's video.





I only recently met the Lonly crew up in Leavenworth. These guys show us the meaning of life-styling in this homage to the backyard run and spending your time with the people that count.





Scott Waidelich gives us a glimpse into the paradise that is Chile. He and Chris Totten took an extended trip down South to get some warm water and intestinal parasites. Scott shows us the goods right here:





Last but not least is my entry. This is a little under 10 minutes of what I feel are the moments that exemplify this year's boating season. There are huge lines and good times with some music that will make your ears bleed. Theres also swimming and horses. What could be better? I'm always so stoked when I look back at the end of a great year spent on the water. I get to watch some of the coolest people I've met, run stuff that scares the daylights out of me.

Watch my friends absolutely crush their lines in Beater Sessions Vol. 2 - Lloyds, Llamas and Lust.





Heres to all the people that came out to support the night. THANK YOU!!

Cheers

Tunes - XXYYXX

Sick Friends in Sick Places

I was able to meet up with a couple of these guys on different trips this past 2013 season.

Richard Young showed me the lines down Cherry Creek proper and I was able to get a Grand Canyon Elwha lap with Matt Taylor. Both solid dudes and a pleasure to boat with.

Matt put together a great video from their trip to Nepal



Nepal Trip 2012 from Matt Taylor on Vimeo.

Chelan Gorge - 2013

It was a solid year!

As the years roll by, the group gets bigger and bigger. This year we even had a crew from Montana roll out for the Chelan Releases.

Good times.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Jefferson Creek - takeout visual

Now that we are down to just one gauge for judging flow in Jefferson Creek, visuals are another option for out of towner's.

Jefferson creek takeout bridge (looking downstream).

This was the low side of good. Level in the North Fork of the Skokomish was: 928 cfs at 2:00 PM on 10/2 falling 26 cfs/hr

NF SKOKOMISH R BL STAIRCASE RPDS NR HOODSPORT, WA

This was the Hamma Hamma River, looking upstream from the forest service bridge before you get to Jefferson Creek.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Last Weekend - Cali Short (Smith River and the Burnt Ranch Gorge)

While our amazing politicians were arguing about how to properly fund the Government, I went roadtripping.

I met Lesley in Idaho while the Seattle crew was on it's annual North Fork Payette pilgrimage. Her need to drive through Oregon and on to Northern California for some school work perfectly coincided with my furlough from work.

We talked the drive through (the night before) deciding that the Smith was our final goal and that on the way we would be able to get laps on Opal Creek in Oregon and Burnt Ranch Gorge in California. I had never boated these runs so I was stoked to put a few more notches in the belt.

Lesley in the bottom left of Number 2 on Burnt Ranch Gorge.

Lesley and I parted ways in Placerville and I was able to hang out with the family for a 4 day weekend that included lots of wine, great food and some amazing dialogue. I've got some great people in my life.


We found this guy a little worse for wear at one of the vineyards we stopped at.

Any woman can give birth to a mere child, this woman gave birth to a legend. A job well done mom.

I was even able to hitch a ride into Coloma with my little sister, fresh of the plane from her year in Europe, and got to see the old man himself.

Time moves a little more slowly in Coloma when you're watching the framing tree.

Short and sweet; get furloughed on a Tuesday, boat Jefferson Creek on Wednesday. Drive to and Boat Opal Creek on Thursday. Drive to and boat the Smith River and some tributary on Friday. Rally the Burnt Ranch Gorge on Saturday. Crawl into a wine bottle until Tuesday evening and then back at work on Wednesday morning at 0720 am. A great little trip was had!
Stay Stoked!

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Last Weekend - The Folks, Pygmy's and Boofs

My mother was able to make the long trek up to the NW and we went on a little roadtrip up to Port Angeles and visited Pygmy Kayaks.

These gorgeous kayaks are all hand made either by the Pygmy staff or they are put together by the consumer. They offer a class to show you how to piece together your brand new wooden sea kayak.

My mom Julia and her friend Jeff.

Got to catch a show my brother was playing in Bremerton.

Then we all went on a Zen retreat into the gorgeous gardens in Gorst. Some of the trees in this garden are estimated to be centuries old.

When it was all said and done. Mom and Jeff were safely on an airplane back to California, I headed back up to BC to get another weekend on the Box Canyon of the Ashlu.

Riley Best lines up for another go on 50/50.

Riley's buddy had some sick lighting for his line.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Last Weekend - Jefferson Creek and Hamma Hamma Falls

It's not actually the weekend, but I just found out that I am getting furloughed. So, what better time than to do some boating. Unfortunatly, the furlough came in the middle of a small drought in the PNW. There is no water! But somehow the Hamma Hamma area received 10 inches of rain overnight.

So what better time than to head to the OP? Jefferson looked likely to be in so Darren and I agreed to meet at the takeout and see what we were getting ourselves into.

We were rewarded with only one wood portage but several sketchy spots. The portage wasn't even really required; you could get past it with a strong set of nerves. You just have to nail your boof and then paste the river left wall.



After a quick lap, Darren took off to get home to the family and I decided to drive up and check out Hamma Hamma Falls.

Well worth the extra 20 minute drive

Jefferson is even harder to time this season. We now only have access to the North Fork Skokomish River gauge. This needs to be in the 1000 cfs range. But be careful that it's not on it's way up! Theres a fine line between control and chaos in Jefferson Creek.

Stay Safe!

Monday, September 30, 2013

Hamma Hamma Walkabout

I spent an afternoon on Jefferson creek with Darren and after we had had our fill I decided to drive up and check out Hamma Hamma Falls.


The Fall color are still holding on and there wasn't a soul around for miles. I couldn't beleive that I had never been up this far.

There is a super sick rapid right above the first drop in Hamma Hamma. There is very little room for error, but I guess if you're into those near death experiances, it could be good to go.

The fungus among us...

Hamma Hamma Falls in all it's glory. I wish I had the skillz...

Some cool runoff on the way home. If you'er out and about exploring, the drive up to Hamma Hamma Falls is worth the time and energy.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Solo Sessions - the ultimate self-support

The only thing worse than boating by yourself is not boating at all...







Sometimes theres nobody to boat with.
Somtimes you don't want to boat with anybody. This is a quick edit of some of my favorite solo runs over the last couple of years.

Music: Agnes Obel - Riverside.

Rivers include: Icicle Creek, Tumwater Canyon, Ernie's Gorge (North Fork of the Snoqualmie), The Green Narrows River, Robe Canyon (South Fork of the Stillaguamish River).


Stay Stoked, Stay Safe.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

2013 Chelan release is this weekend!

The two day release in the Chelan Gorge is this coming weekend, September 21st and 22nd. Come out and paddle in warm weather and bright sunshine, a rarety in Washington state...



Remember to sign up online prior to Saturday morning.
Support American Whitewater!!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Last Weekend - Ashlu Box and Mini Mine

My first laps on both!

We had about 0.6 in the Box on the first lap and 0.7 on the second lap

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