World Kayak Event Coverage

WK Hometown Throwdowns

The days before the 2nd Seaway Valley WK Hometown Throwdown were filled with worries about weather. An increase in storms in the south was casting a shadow on our event and our friendly neighborhood weatherman was predicting lots of rain and cool temps. Not too bad if you are waiting for the creeks to run [...]

Boise’s last Homtown Throwdown of the season was a great finish to our Throwdown series – hard to believe it’s over for the season. Temps near 80, lots of sun, great contestants and spectators made for an enjoyable evening. Even with school in full swing we had gaggle of kids and several adults ready to [...]

Last night was Boise’s 4th Hometown Throwdown and what a pleasant evening. The weather was sunny, but temps were only in the low 80’s, so even those of us on shore were comfortable. Again the Jr’s out numbered the adults. Thirteen competitors made three rides in the hole, and one scored downriver event. Our youngest [...]

The blistering morning and afternoon sun was over shaded by thunderstorms to close out our HTTD #5 @ the USNWC on August 2.  The weather was extremely hot and humid leading up to the hour of the Throwdown.  We had a total of 38 competitors sign-up to compete for the final event!  However, as soon as we [...]

You know it’s summer in DC when the heat and humidity can’t get much higher and the river can’t get much lower. Nevertheless that did not stop more than 30 people from coming out for the July edition of the MD Chute Out Freestyle competition series–part of the Hometown Throwdown series in 2008.
Here on the [...]

Thursday Night Throwdowns 2008Summary: By KB
The second annual Thursday Night Throw-down series (T.N.T.) was a success story again in 2008. First off- HUGE thanks to every person who helped in making this event go off! T.N.T. is a local throw-down freestyle kayak event, so there is no money being made, therefore no money too pay [...]

Since our June Hometown Throwdown was canceled due to maintenance on the hydro plant, Thursdays Throwdown was our third. We have added an event on September 11th to make up for the June cancelation.
Weather was outstanding with temps in the mid 90’s and even with many of our regulars on vacation we had 10 juniors [...]

Last Thursday was the 1st out of 4 Throwdowns, during the month of July in Missoula Montana.  This event was off the hook once again in 08’.  Water levels were insanely good for July.  The wave was in prime shape for throwing every trick imaginable.  The turn out was great in both athlete and spectator [...]

Our HTTD #4 was yet another great success at the USNWC on July 5.  The weather was much more pleasant than event #3.  Temps were in the low 80’s and partly cloudy conditions were nice for a break from the sun.  The whitewater park got a good rain the night before which got the pool [...]

The Golden Community Kayak Rodeo Series was a smashing success. In 2008,
we put the ‘unity’ in the ‘Community’ of kayaking and local businesses.
With a huge spectator turn out and an increase in community businesses
partnering with us, we expect an even bigger and better series next
year. Watch the video from the Denver Post here and see [...]

WK World Cup Coverage

Today was the World Cup Final Finals and the results are in! What a great show by many classes having their highest scores here today in the finals!
In the Men’s Kayak Class- Nick Troutman and Stephen Wright dominated the finals with rides in the 900’s in their All-Stars. Peter Czonka had a great first ride [...]

(Sorry photos coming later)
After the dust settled on Semi-final day, we have our scene.  The K1 men’s class had two steps as they were cut from 20 to 10 then 10 to 5.  The end result was once again, Canadian Nick Troutman at the top with a final round ride that was 300 points higher [...]

Nick Troutman was the man of the hour in today’s Quarter Finals.  Nick blew the field away with an incredible 1263 point score with Stephen Wright of the US at his heals, but 200+ points behind.  Wow.  Peter Csonka of Sla was in third… a spot he needs to keep to win the world Cup.  [...]

OK.  The finale has started.  After Germany, the boaters were pretty stoked about getting to the next venue… Thun Switzerland.  Some litterally left after the last ride in Germany, some the next day, but most who continued to compete were on the wave the next day.
The Swiss wave was far different than the first two [...]

Thun, Switzerland is the best setting we have had for any event in terms of sheer beauty, and central location. Both Prague and Augsburg were both great sites as well, but Thun is quite special. I am sure that Vail, Colorado tried to model itself after this town, as we voted unanimously upon arriving that [...]

WK Pro Event Coverage

While Chris Wing and I were off boating on the Cheoah Saturday; my good friend, Andrew Bentley from Elizabethton, TN, was live at the 13th Annual GNAR Race to report for World Kayak.  Below is his full story:   
Pat Keller was the 2008 Green River Narrows race overall winner this past Saturday with a time of 4:31.  [...]

Saturday, August 31st (Yep, I am a week late writing this. My appologies, regular work kinda got in the way.) was 2008 Canada Cup and the second part of the North American and Junior CanAm Freestyle competition.
The event was put on by Wilderness tours on the Ottawa River as a follow-up to the Blackwater Challenge [...]

I just returned to Charlotte from rainy Western NC from this weekends NOC/Dagger Shootout.  It was a great display of what this area can offer as an event venue and the overall response from both competitors and spectators was positive with some constructive feedback.  Let’s just say that rodeo is back in Western North Carolina!  [...]

Yesterday morning started with a bit of apprehension, apprehension that any organizer would have with their first major event. Daniel Dutton informed me that around 8:00 AM that there were only 16 competitors registered for the event, but that he was anticipating at least ten more. Not so surprising to me, the event [...]

The Midwest Freestyle Championships were last weekend in Wausau Wisconsin. I was there to coach some freestyle clinics and to soak up the Midwest boating scene. Let me tell you they can get things done in Wausau. Not only was the event a great time and a huge success, but the off water events were [...]

Festival Coverage

This past Saturday (10-18-2008) was the 1st real cool day of the fall season in the Southeast US.  Skies were partly cloudy and a nice breeze was whipping about in the trees.  Autumn colors were almost to full peak and the smell of fall was in the air.  A great day to bring the heat [...]

The days before the 2nd Seaway Valley WK Hometown Throwdown were filled with worries about weather. An increase in storms in the south was casting a shadow on our event and our friendly neighborhood weatherman was predicting lots of rain and cool temps. Not too bad if you are waiting for the creeks to run [...]

Saturday, August 31st (Yep, I am a week late writing this. My appologies, regular work kinda got in the way.) was 2008 Canada Cup and the second part of the North American and Junior CanAm Freestyle competition.
The event was put on by Wilderness tours on the Ottawa River as a follow-up to the Blackwater Challenge [...]

On August 22nd (Last Friday) with the help of my family and friends, we loaded the CReW trailer and headed to Watertown New York. Why? Why else:, 2 days of whitewater: The 2008 Blackwater Challenge and the 2008 Can Am Junior Freestyle Championships.

Day 1: Get there, register, set up camp and the Opening [...]

The strengths of the Potomac Festival are its overall inclusion of paddlers of all abilities as opposed to showcasing only the elite such as other big sponsor events. I am not saying those events do not have their place, I am only saying that events like the Potomac have theirs as well.
Yesterday’s freestyle event [...]