April 30, 2008

Hi E.J.

Last Sunday was the Level 6 Rodeo at the wall on the Ottawa River.

Our club had an excellent turnout and we brought several new competitors to the open categories including Cheryl McGregor and Tilly Martin.

Tilly Placed second in the Junior Women’s, Cheryl placed 4th in the Women’s, I placed second in the Masters and here come my personal moment of pride: Zachary (my 12 year old son) placed 1st in the Junior Men’s.

He was working on his moves on flat water at home the week before and so he came out with a bunch of clean spins,a roundhouse and a donkey flip (his first one ever!) to place first (last year he took second place).

There was a lot of happy sounds coming out of him and even more coming out of me, my wife and the club members.

He absolutely loves the Shooting star (he has traded his Fun 11/2 in with the club for the Shooting Star) and we will see how he does after 3 weeks at Keeners and then in the various local comps this summer and fall.

(CReW is hosting 2 WK Hometown Throwdowns in Valleyfield this season and he will have lots of opportunity to train and compete.)

By the way, Billy and Carly were awesome all weekend, giving tips and clinics to help everyone who needed help. With the help of Billy I am now able to do a Donkey Flip and will try to keep up with Zachary…

My 10 year old (Emily) is the next one to start watching. She is determined to give her brother a run for his money.

The photos of Zachary were taken by Colin Moneypenny.

Thanks for helping us to get young people and families paddling.

See you on the River,

Robert Zwanenburg

EJ clinics on the South Fork of the American River on May 3rd-4th

April 29, 2008

Through California Canoe and Kayak

I ended up having an open weekend (this is very unusual for this time of year!) and haven’t done a clinic in California for two years. I have set up a clinic schedule that will be perfect for all skill levels to participate.   I will be doing three separate clinics this weekend.   You can sign up for one or two of them, but not all three.  My son, Dane, will also be there to help!

Saturday AM:  General Whitewater Skills-  Coloma To Greenwood Creek: 
10:30-2:00  
Class 2   (everyone will be tired at the end!)  ($200)
Maximum 8 people ($350 for both days)

This clinic is perfect to get our 2008 started off so you can be comfortable all year long.    Jump start the season, learn new skills, and know you are on the right track.    Replace fear with confidence, improve your roll/brace, and overall skills.     

We’ll eat in Coloma (Dutch), and continue the learning and conversations over a late lunch.    We can decide where to go as a group.   I’ll buy some refreshments to start!

Sunday AM:   General Whitewater Skills-  Coloma To Greenwood Creek: 
10:30-2:00  
Class 2   (everyone will be tired at the end!)  ($200)
Maximum 8 people ($350 for both days)

Same clinic as Saturday’s, and perfect as a two day for maximum progress!

Sunday PM:   Rolling and Bracing-   Location at Greenwood Creek   
3:00-5:30
Flatwater Beach  ($150)
Maximum 8 people ($100 if this is your second clinic of the weekend)

Are you wanting a bombproof roll,  offside roll, hand roll, backdeck roll, and super strong brace?    This is your clinic!  We’ll take you beyond where you’ve ever been faster than you imagined was possible! 

Sign up for all clinics at CCK:

CCK’s Customer Service Office is open Monday through Friday between 10 AM and 6 PM, Pacific Time. You may reach them by calling Toll Free: (800) 366-9804 ext. 5 or email classes@calkayak.com.

Payment: Because we don’t want to have no-shows taking up spots that others would have wanted, contact CCK to pay for the clinic by Friday, May 2nd to secure your spot!

Meeting spot will be in Coloma at the Marshall Gold Park. Please arrive 1 hour prior to clinic time so we can set shuttle! (except for the Rolling and Bracing which will meet at Greenwood Creek)

I don’t know if it is because I am getting older, or what, but I have developed a soft spot for kids of all ages. I guess this is a good thing since I have another on the way! I just want them to be happy, strong, and healthy, and doing good things. You see each kid, no matter where you are, and know that their lives are so far from being on a specific path. They could do or be anything. While it doesn’t matter what they do, as long as they are proud of it and it is worthy of their efforts in their own opinion, so many things can go wrong before they reach their potential.

Kayaking is such a great way to remove the majority of the unknowns, and put a major positive force in their lives. I got these photos from Scott (Megan’s Dad) who came to watch the races this weekend. Megan wanted a photo with Emily and I. It took two tries to get all three of us together at once, but it happened.

I hope to see Megan in her Fun 1 or Side Kick soon!

EJ

Today was more drama than daytime TV for kayaking and the Olympics. The following was decided today.

1. One C1 position from the Americas (all of North, South, and Central) was available to the winner of the race.
2. One C2 position was available to the winner.
3. One woman position was available to every country but USA (who earned one already) to the winner.
4. One men’s kayak position was still open to all countries but USA and Canada to the winner.

How much drama is that, whoa! Also the Irish and Canadian men, as well as all USA athletes are still competing to be the top person in their class for a chance to compete in the Olympics.

The course was fast and tricky and there were some great runs on it.

In the men’s class it was Pablo verses the top Brazilians, primarily. Pablo won it in good form after both Gustavo and the other top Brazilian hit gates.
For USA trials it was Brett Hyle winning, with Scott Mann in second again, and Eric Hurd in third. Scott Parsons blew the final move in the big drop and barely avoided a 50 second penalty after winning yesterday. There are still three people in the race for the Olympic spot, Brett, Scott Man, and Scott Parsons, as far as I can tell. Eric Hurd is not far out either.

In the women’s class the Brazilian, Pauliana Depaula was winning after 1st runs and it would mean no Canadians in the Olympics, but on the second Run the Canadian, Jessica Groeneveld pulled it out to beat her by one place earning a spot for the Canadian team for the ladies.

In the C1 class- Ben Frakir took second behind Australian Robin Bell (who doesn’t count) to assure the USA Olympic Spot. James Cartwright wasn’t far behind from Canada.

In the C2 class- McCluskey and Crane earned the USA a spot today with their win.

I got 25th today, two spots ahead of yesterday! My second run had 6 seconds in penalties but I am getting much faster! Give me another few races and look out!

Emily had a great first run and was in 13th place. Her second run was much slower, but she still got 16th. Good job!

Here are some photos.

The day was hot and sunny and the crowds were HUGE! Great job in organizing the event. NBC had about 10 cameras which was quite cool. I may have looked at a few during my run for fun.

EJ

USA Team Trials Over and was awesome!

April 28, 2008

What a great weekend with plenty of drama, great racing, great weather, and tons of people! The Canadians selected their Olympic Team in David Ford (now 5 time Olympian!), and Sara Boudens for the women. They didn’t earn a spot for C1 as the USA took that spot with Jeff Larimer edging out Ben Fraker yesterday. The Americans have to go to Augsburg, Germany to decide who gets to go to the Olympics. It is a long road to the Olympic Team if you are on Team USA. Last year’s world championships are in play (if you were on the 2007 USA Team), and then USA Trials (just completed), and now a World Cup event in Germany. So, still in the men’s class, Scott Parsons, Brett Hyle (won yesterday), and Scott Mann still all have a shot at it!

I had a great time at trials, as did Emily. We both had some solid runs throughout the weekend. Emily was 8th in the USA yesterday, while I was 11th! I haven’t trained for slalom since 1996, and the 12 years of not being in a slalom boat shows. I am still on the fence about whether to train some again or not. I love the training, and love doing slalom, and when I train I am quite good, but it is the simple act of deciding which boat to paddle at any given moment. I am still inclined to get in my All-Star, Rocker, or Hero most of the time. Perhaps a good training camp for three weeks somewhere next year? We’ll see.

Signing off from Slalom racing after three days of action, with a smile on my face!

EJ

April 26, 2008

Annie, spent some time at Rock Island this winter paddling with us and training for the season. She can be found with Zack Boles most of the time, but on the water even more! Look for Annie at events in Canada and helping out on the river!

Here is what Annie has to say about herself:

I started kayaking about two years ago after looking for a summer hobby to get me to the next snowboarding season… and I have never really stopped paddling since! The last years have led me to paddle in Canada, USA, England and Turkey while finishing a master degree in Political science. I am now looking forward to paddle full time and share my passion for kayaking through teaching on the Ottawa and the Madawaska rivers, as well as attending festivals and competitions.

Favorite Playspot? Pretty much anywhere where I can expand my skills and have a great time with my purple star.
Favorite River? Must be somewhere in eastern Turkey where it takes a good 27h bus ride to get to.

Other interesting facts: I speak French, English, Spanish and Arabic, I grew up travelling around Africa, I have owned several dogs, a chinchilla, rats, mice, parrots, rabbits, peacocks, chicken, and turtles, and I am a big fan of Jackson PURPLE boats.

Annie’s Bio Page

Day 1 of USA Olympic Trials wrapped up after 85 degree weather, sunshine, and thousands of spectators!

April 26, 2008

It was a picture perfect racing day yesterday for both the racers and the spectators. Clear skies, mild breeze, warm temps, and a great race. With the top athletes from 13 countries competing, it was quite the race. The men’s kayak class had 55 competitors, 30 in the women’s class, 22 in the C1 class, and there were 10 C2s.

Everyone did their first run, then a lunch break, and then everyone did their second runs. Lots of nerves being strained as the single spot for the Olympic team is a tough challenge for anyone.

In the men’s kayak class Scott Mann had a great run that looked like a winner on his first run. Eric Hurd and Scott Parsons were only 1 second behind and .04 seconds apart, with David Ford from Canada just behind that. I was in 27th after first runs, in the top 50%, but not exactly in striking distance for the win. On second runs, Everyone laid down great runs, but Scott Parsons blazed the whole course and picked up the second on Scott Mann and pulled out the win by a fraction of a second! It was an awesome race! For many people this first day was a warm up for the Pan American Championships Race today. I ended up 27th yesterday, but for me, today is the big day. So many of the best paddlers, and from 13 countries. What a great way to test the slalom skills I developed in the 80’s and 90’s from off the couch in the new millennium. I must admit Scotty’s run yesterday made me want to bring my slalom skills up to todays standards!

In the women’s Class- Caroline Queen won first runs and stayed in the lead for second runs to take the win. Zuzana Vanha was second with Heather Corrie (raced on the British team from in the 90s but racing for USA now was third). Emily was 19th place but missed a gate on her first run. She did awesome in the big drop scooting on top of the hole like it wasn’t there. She seemed to have a great time at it.

In the C1 Class it was Larimer and Dennis. Dennis had a blazing first run but a slower second run while Larimer’s runs were consistent and pulled out the win on day one.

The course was:

Downstream in 1 and 2 on the left side of a hole, then an upstream on the right on the same wire so a hole surf. Then an up on the left in the pocket eddy and a down on the left that created a tough choice between going wide around a hole or tight. A dive into the eddy gate into tight offsets for 6,7,8 and then a double up in the second drop for 9,10 and then a hard offset series for 11,12,13, 14, into an up right at 15. 16,17 where cool downstream gates in the wave train and into a diagonal hole that feeds you into the upstream on the left above the big drop. the big drop had a down on the left and then below it a down on the right which is opposite of the current making for a boof right in the middle and then back on the left edge to prevent flipping and then finally a down in 21 near the finish line. Great course.

For a PDF of results and a course map click here.

Great stuff! Look for improving results for Emily and I as our international slalom experience just increased 100% in recent days. Just in time for Pan Am Champs too!

EJ

April 26, 2008

Zack didn’t just graduate from engineering school, he also got an
engineering job, before achieving his next goal in life which was making a
living from paddling. Zach is an instructor at both Liquid Skills and
Madawaska Kanu Center in Ontario. I had the pleasure of paddling with him
at Rock Island this winter. Look for Zack at events in Canada, and helping
out anyone who needs it on the river with great instruction!

Eric Jackson

President

Zack Boles Bio Page

Photos

There are about 120 athletes who qualified to compete over the
weekend. There are so many things being determined here by this race that
everyone truly has something to look forward to. The USA and Canadian
athletes are competing first, for a chance to make their respective Olympic
teams. Since only ONE athlete from each country (who qualified a spot) can
make the team for the Olympics, it is a HARD CORE RACE to make the team!

Also, Saturday’s race (there are three races- Friday, Saturday, Sunday), is
the Pan American Championships where athletes from Brazil, Argentina, Costa
Rica, Ecuador, USA, Mexico, Canada, Chile, and more are competing!

Today, in about 1 hour, we are doing the athlete meeting and then watching
the “demonstration runs” where several retired athletes, like Scott Shipley
will be showing us the course. Tomorrow we’ll all get two runs, both
combined for the first day of competition. Each race counts, so each run
counts! Cool!

I’ll get some photos of the comp tomorrow!

EJ

Photos

NBC cameras were rolling today as they did some pre-race interviews. They asked me a lot of questions about things like, “how is it to compete with your daughter” and some Jackson Kayak questions, and , of course, as a former Olympian, how do you feel about this race. Well, it did get me thinking, and I am very excited to be here with my daughter competing in our first father/daughter Olympic Trials. I wish Dane was here too, but he didn’t qualify this time.

Meanwhile- the atmosphere is quite relaxed so far with most people acting quite sportsmanlike. No weirdness or mind games going on yet. I think that there is a great group of athletes here at this event.

Time to get some dinner, my last before the trials! What to eat???? Hmm- how about Chang’s Spicy Chicken! Sweet! Yes, there is a PF Changs, Kristine, and you aren’t here! I am going to fill up on rice, chicken, and lettuce wraps. That is another thing that is throwing off my balance, Kristine isn’t here to lean on! Yes, I am quite spoiled and she is the best person for me to have on the banks for any event. Well, she is still doing something that is making this trials go much better for me. She went back to Albuquerque to pick up the RV that is now ready to roll out after 5 days of getting a new engine in it. A ford re-manufactured triton V10. She is driving it to Reno, so when I arrive, it will be there for the Reno River Festival.

Also- if you want to do a clinic with me in California this next weekend (one week) email me at eric@jacksonkayak.com. If you want to do one in Reno, also email me, but I don’t have the date set yet. (1.5 weeks approx)

EJ