2009 Yearly Update

nicktroutman wrote 75 days ago:

Well 2009 will be a tough one to top. I guess I will just start from the beginning. Make sure to watch the video re-cap of 2009, I will try to post a video for each point.

JANUARY

• Shared the New Year with my friends and family up in Canada
• Got the New Dynamic Duo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMeF8v9OTXk

• First ever run down Gorilla of the Green Narrows

FEBRUARY

• Bought a house with Emily
• Trained at RI: Ran the Spout, Sieve City, Surfed the New Put in Wave, the top hole, the top third wave, the main Rock Island Hole, and Brave Wave. High Water RULES!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axVUeLQ9GUw

MARCH

• NAWFest in Alabama: 1^st Overall, 2^nd Freestyle Rodeo, 2^nd Freestyle off the lip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x07JejGFgbU

• JK Team Week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vke7pdgNQoo

• First ever run down the Bear Creek. We were late putting on and had to hike out in the dark around half way.

APRIL

• Went to Mexico for a week of creek boating with Clay, EJ, Dane and Trevor Clark: Nick’s Bachelor Party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYSzObET2kc

• Got married to my beautiful bride Emily in Riviera Maya, Mexico

MAY

• Reno River Fest in Nevada: 3^rd Freestyle Rodeo, 1^st Boater-cross
• Went Creeking in California: Got on Big Kim Shew, South Branch twice, and Middle Cosumnes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP8QPrzI5z0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tHJN6VsJRo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFIN-9FYiy8

• CKS Paddle Fest

• BV Pro Rodeo in Colorado: 1^st place in rodeo
• Paddling Life Pro Invitational in Colorado: 1^st Overall, 1^st Freestyle Rodeo, 5^th Creek Race
• My first ever run down Barrel Springs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFPeSUuBxxw

JUNE

• Got my First NEW ALL-STAR!!! Boo Ya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVdHbb2Z5zY

• Teva Mountain Games in Colorado: 2^nd Pro Freestyle Rodeo, 3^rd 8-Ball Race, 30^th Steep Creek Race

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iqqKD5xwWs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzmCWfbwmKk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTRc62KSOtY

• Lyons Outdoor Games in Colorado: 2^nd Pro Rodeo, 8^th Steep Creek Race

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqOApWd5swk

• FIBArk in Colorado: 2^nd Freestyle Rodeo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj1ELSGBONc

• Rallied back up to Canada for the Ottawa River and to see family and friends

JULY

• Coached with the Keener Program
• Surfed up High Tension wave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x03V70EApY4

• Surfed Buseater for the only 4 hours it was in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR_j0bdEoyQ

• Went to the Summer Outdoor Retailer show

AUGUST

• Continued surfing High Tension

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7HfqsEKSnE

• Completed the Back Airscrew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6IFfJlmD48

• Trained for the World Championships

SEPTEMBER

• Won my first ever World Championship Title in Thun Switzerland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6t25Txb-gQ

• Went Canyoning with EJ and Dane is Switzerland
• Went Mountain climbing in Switzerland
• Competed at the Charney Beach Comp in France: 3^rd place

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVKKTKPsz_I

• Went to Germany’s Kanu-Messe
• Surfed Hawaii Sur Rhone in France: Sweet Wave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap6ceBkpXC8

• Week of free Clinics in France

OCTOBER

• Got a Run down Raven Fork

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlmcKWBzvz4

• My 21^st Birthday
• My First ever Russel Fork run

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ftxH2q0rqw

• My First ever Russel Fork Race: 15^th place

NOVEMBER

• My first EVER Green Race: 40^th place

http://vimeo.com/7538965

• My Best Friend Joel’s 21^st Birthday, also on Green Race Day

DECEMBER

• Another couple runs down the South East Classic: Bear Creek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3lzj4D48uU

• Took out the New Villain for a spin: Going to be SWEET
• First Christmas with Emily in our new house
• My Family came down for the holidays
• New Years Eve was shared with close Friends and Family, playing lots of games, Champagne and wine, and shooting off fireworks

It was an amazing year, one that will be remembered for the great times with friends and family. Stay tuned for what is in store for 2010’s adventures!

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Green Race Carnage Video

nicktroutman wrote 119 days ago:

Here is a quick little clip on my beautiful run down Gorilla during the Green Race. Thanks to Shred Ready for saving my head, and thanks to LVM for catching this memorable moment on video.

Check it out.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/7538965[/vimeo]

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Green Race Weekend

nicktroutman wrote 121 days ago:

Well this year I finally took the plunge and raced in my first even Green River Race. It was a ton of fun, after I wore all the safety equipment I could think of to make it less scary. No for real it was a lot of fun, I got to have out and paddle with a whole bunch of good friends, and a couple new friends too.

Clay, Dane and I went up a week early to paddle the river and get a custom to the lines before the race. We were able to stay at Shane Benedict’s house and paddle with him and Adriene. Though out the week we were getting more and more comfortable. We were running Go Left and the Notch direct every time. As the weekend came closer more and more people started to show up, and Shane’s house get even more cozzy.

On Thursday night I had my first real encounter with Jason Hale. I had heard a lot about him, and he was pretty much exactly what I was expecting. I guess the simple way to describe him is as an Alfa Male. He and I got into an hour long discussion about who much of a girl I was because I wasn’t racing a long boat. For those who don’t understand what I mean by a ‘long boat,’ for the Green Race there is no length limit on your kayak, so the people who win are usually in a 13 foot long kayak, many of which we designed and built over a decade ago. So being that I am not big into peer pressure I took the insults and nagging, but when there was a challenge attached than it changed the whole ball game. Jason and I kind of made a bet, not for money or anything, more less for our words sake or man sake, that I would paddle a Long Boat down the Green and then Race it, and he would catch the Birthday eddy Backwards in his long boat. As for what the birthday eddy is, I will get to his part of the bet later. So I went home that night wondering if I would regret what I had done. I had only ever paddled a long boat for 1 day before, and I had never paddled it on the Green.

Now I am waking up on Friday morning by my phone ringing. It is my best friend Joel who is on his way down from Canada for the race. He has just finished driving 18 hours straight, and has one day to paddle, and figure out the race lines for a class 5 river. So it is the last day of practice before the race, I am going to take Joel down nice a slow, make sure he knows all the lines, I am going to try paddling this crazy Long boat.

Joel, Dane and I made our first run down, in around 3-4 hours or so. Joel was remembering that the river is steeper than he thought, I was thinking, well this whole long boat thing just might be doable, and Dane was thinking ‘Come on lets Go.’ Clay drove us back up to the top and we did it again, but this time in 45 minutes. Joel was obviously remembering the lines, which was a good thing because it was his last practice run before the race.

Saturday arrives and it is Race Day. To my surprise Emily had driven four hours by her self (which is pretty much impossible) to come hang out for the race. I asked to race in both classes Long and Sort boat, though I would race my Super Hero (Short Boat 8′6) first. I figured that I had been training to go fast in my short boat so I should do that first, and then if I needed to I could drift in my long boat run.

I paddled both of the boats down to the start, well I really paddled one and pulled the other one. I hung out and watched some people start. Then I was called up. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO! I started with a couple sprint stokes, then easing off coming in to the first rapid Frankenstein. It went better then any of my practice runs, I continued at a medium pace knowing that the race was at least 5 minutes long. I went though Pin Cushion, Whale Tale, Boof or Consequence all going great. I came into Go Left or Die, and I went Left. The rapid doesn’t look pretty but it is way faster, and that is pretty much how i did it, not really pretty but fast. I then came into Zwicks, not my fastest but still pretty good, and coming into the Notch above Gorilla I started to ease off a bit and take a couple deep breaths. This was a tip Clay talk me about. I then new what I had to do, and I charged the Notch, pretty much greased the line. I was know coming over the Launch Pad off Gorilla, which is the biggest vertical drop of the River. Everything was kind of moving in slow motion as I was deciding which boof stroke to take, a right stroke, no a left stroke, no just keep it straight so i will just keep cruising though the speed trap (there is a hole which can stop you 50% of the time, which then you have to either swim or surf your way out of). I don’t know if it was the fact that I just didn’t take a boof stroke, or if I leaned back or what, but I saw the landing coming and BAM!!!!! I pitoned my brains out, went end over end onto my head. Now I was thinking, Wow i didn’t really think that was possible, then I was thinking sweet I didn’t get stuck in the speed trap, and finally I thought to myself, I just crashed in front of 1000 people, just roll up and paddle hard to finish the race. Fortunately for me, somehow I stayed in the fast water the whole time, and I rolled up and paddled away as fast as I could. There are only a couple slides now before the race is finished. I went through each slide pretty quickly without spinning out at all. I got to the finshed as had a quick little laugh about what just happened. I was really in awe that I had crashed that hard and didn’t get hurt at all, I was so glad I had a Uni-Shock bulk head system.

After laughing a little I slowly walked back to the top to race my long boat. Not really sure I wanted to do another race run at all, I had Jason Hale stuck in my head egging me on. I met Pat Keller on the trail and he gave me a couple words of advice. I then continued up the path and found myself back at the star. Though I was still on the wring side of the river. I then accidentally swam throw the mankiest part of the first rapid, got out and on the second try made it across to my stashed boat. Clay asked how my run went as he had 30 seconds to go, without wanted to make him nervous I told him it went great.

I got into my Long Boat and decided I would do it, and if anything went wrong I would just eddy out and call it quits. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO. This time I took it a bit easier. Though all the lines were going great. Knowing that a lot of time can be made up in the flats, but also being tired I decided to coast, still keep my speed but not paddling hard. I got through every thing pretty well, came to the Notch and didn’t think twice, as I can to the Launch Pad I was a bit too far right and fought to get back left all the way off the lip, and………….. splash, I was at the bottom as smooth as silk. From here I knew that I could start paddling a little harder, and when I came into the finish I was thinking that both runs felt pretty much the same length.

From here I went back up watched the rest of the race, hung out and talked with friends, and saw Emily, who hiked in for 2 hours with our dogs. Back to the Bet with Jason Hale, I actually forgot to put this in, but someone just reminded me. Well, Jason went through with his end of the deal as well. He had to catch the birthday eddy in his long boat, scary at best. The birthday eddy is an eddy that is pretty much parallel with the Notch, and is only possibly 4 feet long. Not Jason’s boat is along 12 feet long, so you could see how this could be a bit of an issue. He actually had to paddle into it backwards which was a feat on its own. Long story short, everyone who know about the bet came to watch it, and everyone could see the fear in Jason’s eyes. To be honest I was really afraid for him, I didn’t want to be the blame for him getting hurt, but in true fashion he pulled it off just about a best as anyone ever could, and like Jason then starting calling everyone on. Though he did tell me that he was really scared.

Dane, Joel and I paddled out together after the race, loosing Clay in the crowd, though me met up with Marty who wanted to paddle out with us.

After Making it to the Take Out parking lot, we all headed across the road to Woddy’s place for the awards and after party. This was Joel’s 21 birthday and it was all pretty special. At the awards there were plenty of new record times, though the main ones were the Faster Man and Fastest Women. Andrew Holcomb won his second ever Green Race, and beat his record by a whopping 9 seconds with a 4:18, and Adriene Levknecht  who beat the previous record by 24 seconds, with a 4:49, HUGE!

The Party then went on all night with the DJ busting out all sorts of tunes, keeping the dance floor moving.

Happy 21 to Joel. Congrats to Andrew and Adriene. Thanks to Woody for letting us all hang out at his place and eat his food. Thanks to Shane for letting us crash at his house for the week prior to the race, and for cooking us all sorts of meals. Finally Thanks to all the volunteers who made the whole race happen.

If you have never been to the Green race it is a pretty amazing thing, come and race it or just come to watch, though you should come and check it out!

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World Championships Wrap-Up video

nicktroutman wrote 142 days ago:

Here is a quick little video to try and sum up the 2009 World Championships. From opening ceremonies and Adrenaline Rush, to Quarter Finals, to the Ramp Comp and King of the Wave to the Podium and the 8 new World Champions.

Check it out.

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Reflections of a World Champion

nicktroutman wrote 148 days ago:

When I think back on the World Championships, for me it was a very special event. Obviously the fact that I won, and achieved one of my goals has a large part of it, though it goes much deeper than that.

After the Worlds, Emily and I toured around Europe for another couple weeks. While traveling I had plenty of time to sit and reflect.

For me it all started back the summer before I started grade 9 high school. My best friend Joel Kowalski got me into kayaking, and the competitive person that I am, it instantly became a constant friendly battle between the two of us, for who could learn the quickest.

In these early years James Roddick was my teacher, instructor, coach, and all around good friend. He taught me many of the things I needed to know, and filled in the gaps that Joel hadn’t taught me. Unfortunately for him he had to put up with my constant questions for at least 3 years. James did something other than just teach me to kayak. He wouldn’t have know it at the time but he introduced me to one of my best friends, the little Mexican Rafael Ortiz.

For the next couple years, thanks to Joe Kowalski (Joel’s Dad) I was able to feed my energy and enthusiasm into the Keener Program. Joe started this program to keep Joel and I out of trouble, though it became arguably the most prestigious Teen Kayak School in the World. Within the program I was able to constantly learn and met many of my best friends to this day.

There is no question that the morning of finals for the World Championships I though back about being a Keener, and all of my friends. How I knew they would all be cheering me on. Phil and Rafa both gave me words of encouragement during the competition, and obviously Joel was with me the whole way through it.

Through my whole teenage life, I had much guidance. Luckily for me, one of those people was Billy Harris. This guy was just a pesky little kid like myself, but in a bigger body. He took it upon himself to take Joel and I on frequent kayak trips. Taking us out of school for a three day weekend to Montreal wasn’t out of the norm for Billy. My parents even trusted him enough to take care of us while in Australia for two weeks, my first time ever over seas.

Billy has taught me a lot in kayaking and life, and is a close friend of mine and my family’s. I was extremely sad to see him flush on the ride before mine in Quarter Finals, though like a true friend he paddled back up the eddy and gave me a high five before my run. He was the guy in the shadows, hiding under the bleachers for the rest of the World Championships, though he was the one giving advice and words of encouragement to everyone else.

About halfway though high school, when I was about 16 I was given the opportunity of a life time, to travel and kayak with one of my idols, Eric Jackson and his family. This was a dream come true, even more than that, I couldn’t dream something this amazing. I had known Dane from foam-boating, and Emily through the Kowalski family, but I wasn’t super close with EJ and Kristine. For the next 4 months I realized what an amazing family the Jackson’s were. EJ and Kristine taught me more in those 4 months than I could have learned in any school. They taught me about life, and how important friends and family really are, how to be respectable and a good person, and a couple things that helped my kayaking as well. I have felt like a part of their family ever since that first day, and I was glad to have them in Switzerland. EJ, Kristine, Dane and of course my wife Emily, have always been true friends, giving me the advice that I needed, or just showing me an alternate route in life.

Know I have been talking about my journey and the friends that I have met along the way, though my journey started long before kayaking, with my own family. Kayaking has taken me around the world, and I have had the opportunity to see and experience more than most. While kayaking took my around the world, it also took me away from my family. This has always been hard, but always has been harder for my parents and especially my mother. Though like any mom, she wanted what was best for me, and what would make me happy, even if it meant leaving her for long periods of time. Looking back, it was my parents who made this whole thing happen, they have helped make my life what it is today.

While at the Worlds, it was having my mom fly over and watch that truly made me feel confident. For some reason I felt that being my mom knew I could do well, I knew I could do well. When competing I usually get in the zone and block out everything except my task ahead. Though at Thun it was different, when I was on the wave and everything went silent, I could always hear my Mom cheering at the top of her lungs. Instead of distracting me this actually made me more focused and I was able to do what I needed to do.

This article turned into more about those who have helped me than about the actual event, but looking back for me that is what it is all about. The event or my result wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the many many people who have helped me along the way.

Before my first ride in finals, I though back to everyone who has ever helped, taught, coached, or given me confidence, I knew they were all cheering for me. When I opened my eyes to see that I was about to be given the opportunity to try me best, I could see that many of these people were actually there and cheering my name. I then gave a high five, to four of my closest friends, Joel, EJ, Stephen, and Billy, I peeled out of the eddy getting a quick glimpse of my wife and my mom cheering me on, and then I dropped onto the wave, the rest you already know.

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Tagged with:2009 Freestyle Kayak World Championships  •  Billy Harris  •  Eric Jackson  •  Kristine Jackson  •  Thun Switzerland  •  dane jackson  •  emily jackson  •  joel kowalski  •  keener-program

Charney Night Comp: Video

nicktroutman wrote 154 days ago:

Here is the video from Charney, while Em and I were is France.

The competition started at mid-night. There were some sweet lights, music, party, and an awesome hole.

Check out the video

http://www.youtube.com/v/PVKKTKPsz_I

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Tagged with:All-star  •  Charney  •  France  •  emily jackson  •  jackson-kayak

Last Competition of the year: Charnay, France

nicktroutman wrote 185 days ago:

[singlepic=273,320,240,,] The Charnay competition was a blast. First it started with Yoyo picking Emily and I up at the train station in Lyon. We then went to his work, (french kayak shop: KWA) loaded up a trailer full of kayaks, drove 2 hours to Charnay to find out the water was too low. This was not the first competition that I have been to without water, and I am sure it wont be the last. [singlepic=277,320,240,,]

Though the beauty is that the water showed up, just happened to be at mid-night. So, Yoyo woke us up to let us know the show must go on. This was not the first time I competed at night under the lights, but it was the first time I competed at 2AM.

After Prelims I was in first which was cool, being that I dont know the french scoring system and it is different. For the next day we hung out ate some croissants and played a french game called Pétanque which is like lawn bowling. Then there was a concert with two different live bands. I always knew that the French were wild and crazy while cheering at the World Cup and World Championships, but that is just how they are all the time.

I then went to bed, only to be woken up again at mid-night for the semi finals. There was a cut from 10 to 5 and then we went straight into finals. What I had forgotten to explain was the really sweet ramp. This was not your normal ramp with a kicker for moves, this ramp shot you straight down into the wave for an eccelerated entry move. This was also manditory for every heat. In finals I was able to pull off whipping around a quick airscrew off the ramp as I landed in the oncoming water, I then continued to go through with my ride: phonics monkey and mcnasty both ways and finish with big air loops and space godzillas. [singlepic=275,320,240,,] [singlepic=276,320,240,,]

I was really happy with my rides even though I ended in Third place behind Mathieu Dumoulin in Second, and Sebastien Devred in First, both who had very impressive rides with mcnastys and big loops space godzillas and some more cartwheels and splitwheels.

The women went next, with a battle between Emily and Marlène Devillez. It was close, though Emily had some great mcnastys and phonics beating Marlénes huge airloops and space godzillas.

Emily and I ended up going to sleep around 3:30AM and the competition was not over yet with C1, Jr Men and Cadets to go. After it was all said and done, I think the competition was over between 4 and 5 in the morning. [singlepic=278,320,240,,] [singlepic=279,320,240,,]

It was a really fun event and the french have been extremely hospitable, generous, and nice to us during our stay here. [singlepic=274,320,240,,]

Oh, and when people start to talk about how freestyle is dead, there were around 80 competitiors and even more spectators for a little freestyle event that took place in the middle of no where between 1-4 AM, I have never seen anyting like it.

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Tagged with:Marlène Devillez  •  Mathieu Dumoulin  •  Sebastien Devred  •  Yoan  •  charnay france  •  emily jackson

6 New World Champions

nicktroutman wrote 193 days ago:

Well yesterday were the finals of the 2009 Freestyle Kayak World Championships. We had 5 days of narrowing down the classes to find the top of the top to compete for the title. It was an amazing day anyone competeing or watching. The crowd was huge with a couple thousand people watching cheering and roaring, it was really loud. There were TV cameras everywhere, live footage on TV’s all over the event, and a Big Screen to watch on the banks of the river. There was music blaring, and excitement in the air. For the finals you could feel the excitment of everyone wanting to see who would step up and take the title. In OC1 it was USA’s Jeremy Laucks, C1 was Great Britians David Bainbridge, for the Jr. Women non other than Noria Newman from France, Jr. Men USA’s Jason Craig proudly won every single heat showing that he truly wanted it, the K1 Women were all fighting for it but my beautiful wife Emily Jackson took home the gold, and in the K1 Men there was a stacked heat of close friends but I was lucky enough to take the title for Canada.

It was a great day and truly a great event. Simon the event organizer had planned to put on the best World Championships ever, and I think it was obvious to everyone that he achieved his goal.

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Tagged with:2009 Freestyle Kayak World Championships  •  David Bainbridge  •  Jason Craig  •  Noria Newman  •  Thun Switzerland  •  emily jackson  •  jeremy-laucks

World Championships: Finals Today

nicktroutman wrote 194 days ago:

The Finals for the 2009 Freestyle Kayak World Championships start and end today. This afternoon there will be 6 people crowned World Champion, and it wont  easy. There are 30 people fighting for those 6 spots and these people are hungry. I feel honoured to be able to have a chance for this title, being that the opportunity only comes once every two years, and not only that but you have to prove yourself time and time again just for this very opportunity.

Best of luck to all the competitors today, and the next time I write on my blog you will know the 2009 World Champions!

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Tagged with:2009 World Freestyle Kayaking Championships  •  Thun Switzerland

World Championships: Semi Finals under the lights

nicktroutman wrote 194 days ago:

Semi Finals were yesterday, and each class had to cut from ten to five. This is a hard cut being that there is some pressure on everyone trying to make it into the finals. Again there were some great paddlers who didn’t make the cut, and there were also some who were unexpected but pulled it off.

The Men’s Semi Finals didn’t start until 9 o’clock at night. We got to paddle under the lights, and the big screen. Even though it was dark out, the wave was as bright as the sunniest day I have ever seen. I almost needed some sun glasses.

It was a tough cut but the top 5 for Mens are:

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Tagged with:2009 Freestyle Kayak World Championships  •  Eric Jackson  •  Jules Gallais  •  Thun Switzerland  •  joel kowalski  •  stephen-wright