First Saturday in November, like death and taxes.
Credit: Seth Richardson
The Green Race is an event like no other; there is no competition in the sport that can even come close. I have been racing that river for the past six years, and it is an incredible day that I have never gotten used to. It’s a pretty unique experience going from the energy and support surrounding the starting line… to silence from below Frankenstein to Boof or Consequence… to a bunch of people yelling at you at Go Left, to a river lined with hundreds of people from Chief down to the finish line. I very rarely take my eyes off of the river when I’m racing, but the roar of that many people screaming at you as you go by is pretty mind boggling. Not to mention the rapids… it goes without saying that it is the toughest rapid-by-rapid race course to link up, period.
And the most ridiculous part about the Green Race is that all that build-up… all the practice, visualization, training, trash-talking with your friends, outside pressure… everything, comes down to just one run per year for each of us. That is your slot, one minute behind the person in front of you, and a minute in front of the person behind you, in which to put everything you know and are capable of on the table. It all comes down to the day.
The Day.
Credit: Rob Hurst, Gumball Productions
Team Riot athletes have historically had a strong showing at Green Race, and this year was no different. To start things off, here’s Andy Gates racing in his first Green Race, only about a month after running Gorilla for his first time. He’s definitely been stepping his paddling up in every way this year, and he walked away with a time of 6:43.
Also paddling Riot boats this year is Chris Gallaway. This was Chris’s third year competing in the Green Race, and he decided to push himself this year and compete in the Ironman class, in which paddlers race both long and short boats. His hard work this fall on the Ledges paid off, and he walked away with a Long Boat time of 5:21, and a Short Boat time of 5:36 in his Magnum 80.
Chris entering the rapid that makes the Green Race what it is.
Credit: Clark Mackey
Nothing else in the world exists, except the line in front of you.
Credit: Rudy Haden
The Sheriff of Rottingham!
Credit: Randy Pegram
This is my sixth Green Race, and as always it was an incredible experience. I was able to put together two solid runs in my long and short boats for a 4:35 and a 5:04, earning me 2nd place in both classes. I was also able to take the 2008 Ironman title of fastest combined times.
Trying to find that balance between all out speed and smooth lines.
Credit: Chris Port
Rolling off the big one.
Credit: Seth Richardson
Round 2 in the Magnum 80.
Credit: Clay Lucas
I love this boat!
Credit: Rob Hurst, Gumball Productions
Nathan Silsbee is always a force to contend with on the Green, and this year he laid down an impressive time of 4:56.
Sillybee spunkin the monk.
Unfortunately, Silsbee was not enough fast enough to beat John Grace, and as per their bet from a couple of days before, Nathan had to bleach his beautiful afro. Follow this LINK for the result.
Pat Keller took the Green Race title in 2008 with a time of 4:31, congrats buddy! Pat is an amazing kayaker and a really good dude, so hats off to him, he definitely earned it. Also of note were all the slalom boys that came out to race the Narrows. It was great to see Eric Deguil, Eric Hurd, Pablo McCandless, Isaac Levinson, and all the other slalom folks representing. They killed it and will definitely be a threat next year.
We were able to finish off another great Green Race season with a big party at Woody Callaway’s house, thanks for hosting buddy.
Training starts now for 2009… bring the heat!!
Cheers, and good lines.
Chris Gragtmans
In Austria there is a “sports-men” election in Klagenfurt, Gerhard Schmid’s home town, and he has been nominated.
Team Riot:
Team Riot:
Team Riot:
