FIBARK festival

This year marks the 62nd anniversay of FIBArk, the nation's oldest whitewater festival and Salida's signature event. Since 1949, every June during the Spring snow runoff, Salida has hosted FIBArk, "First in Boating on the Arkansas."

Located in Salida's historic downtown, Riverside Park is the center of FIBArk activity and entertainment. Food, arts and crafts, and industry vendors are available, as well as a beer tent, a carnival, and a state-of-the art amphitheater for this year's extraordinary musical line-up.
HEAD TO http://www.fibark.net/ and check it out

My 1st run down the river was the time trial where I was getting the feel for the pushy water and figuring how to get around the big hole

The set up for the race was heats of 3 people the 1st round then heats of 4. the1st heat was pretty fun, Tod got out in front off the start as he had pick for starting position, but he picked a slower line to miss the hole which gave us time to get beside him and we all ended going past the big hole together, which gave the crowd something to cheer about.

Its pretty hard to paddle with a boat on eather side of you but I used some good old kiwi style racing skills to push my way past and win the heat

2nd heat, Brian Kirk got out in front from the start and I was in second. Just chilling out and not trying to push too hard on the big puchy water I find is the way to go, just picking your line and keeping the boat moving. It paid off this time as I saw Brian going over the wave in front of me straight into the big hole. Thanks Brian for handing me the win in the semi final! 

The final was set and ready to go bar 1, as he took a run up the side of the river to get warm before we could start. There was a freezing wind blowing all day and walking the mile up to the put-in each time really took it out of you at 8000feet. I had a bad start in the final getting tangled with the other guy that was in the middle. Pushing hard to catch up didn't really pay off, but I did nearly jump clean over Graeme Seiler's boat here above the hole and into the finish line eady! I was happy coming in 3rd for the 1st time paddling the river. And thanks to the three swimmers out of the big hole for providing the entertainment!

I don't like little short boats so decided to do bit of freestyle in something I feel more comfortable in...

As well the creek race there's a slalom, freestyle, downriver, and hooligan race

The hooligan race is awesome, with boats made of anything and everything. This guy was the stand-out for me, simple but effective, a bike with 2 floats on each side and the back wheel when paddling gave it alot of momentum and he made it the whole way through the hole! 10 points!!

Doing sweet jumps

After camping out for the night after paddling OBJ we stoped in Gunnison and found these dirt jumps.

Rach is getting her photography skills down!

A few more days riding and I'll have to start getting some backys down again!

OH BE JOYFUL

I had a sweet day doing laps on OBJ with Dane jackson and a few boys that were hanging out in Salida, its a sweet little run.

The 1st little drop, it was pretty low but everything still went with a little scraping

The second drop which is the biggest on the run,

Theres a few little slides like this on the run which would be cool with heaps of water!

The valley is just beautiful, snow-capped hills and icy cold clear whitewater

Lyons outdoor games

Leaving Glenwood Springs, Rach and I drove East to Lyons for the Outdoor Games. Hanging out for a few days in the nice hot sun playboating and paddling the river was awesome.

Today was the creek race and it poured with rain all night. With only a few leaks through the van roof, we headed up the flooded river. This has to be one of the gnarliest race courses I've been on, making Homestake Creek, Vail, look like a walk in the park. 5 1/2 minutes of Colorado mank mixed with hand freezing temperatures makes it one tough race. Tao and I had spent the last few days paddling the creek and it paid off for the both of us, with Tao winning and me coming second.

Also, in bigger news I got a sweet new ride from the bike shop in Lyons. It's a GT Ruckus UF and it's so much fun!

This afternoon we have the team Boater X, then the slalom and down river race tomorrow.

Heres a few pics from the week

2010 Teva mountain games

The Teva Mountain Games in Vail would have to be the best week of action sports I've been to, and with bands, stalls with all the free stuff you can carry, and different events on the whole week there's a lot to take in.

The week starts off with the steep creek race on Homestake Creek.

Then for us kayakers the long boat time trial on Saturday is the next event. With no one bringing any long boats with them, we spent all morrning asking the locals if we could use their old dancers, old wavesports and anything that might be faster then a creek boat. I used an old wavesport boat that seemed really good sitting in it for 1 minute on the bank, but after about 5minutes into the 16minute race it felt like I had no legs or feet which made things a little hard to paddle! I pushed on through and ended up 10th, which seemed an ok time for the boat I was paddling.

In the meat of Homestake creek, go upside down and loose your face on the rocks

trying to hit these little slot lines at 11000 feet really is hard work

this is the cleanest drop on the course and still has a few rocks in the bottom

I ended up 12th over all which I was a little disapointed with, I had a good 1st run until the bottom, where I got stuck on top of a rock and plugged the last drop, which lost a few seconds. I was in 15th and knew I wasnt going to win anything, so for my second run I just wanted to have a clean run, I have a great deal of trouble in the altitude getting air in so just took it easy and stuck a good clean run but it was a bit slow.

my 1st run was 202, and 2nd run 158 seconds.

Big ups to Sam for winning after his swim a few days before, sams 1st run 150 and 2nd 152. Go boy!

The guys in the slope style were ripping, they make our paddling

 look lame!!!

Our massive house we stayed in was sick! Every body had a great time even though it was a little hard to sleep at times with the party going early into the morning.. but thanks every one for a great time!!

 KIWIS RULE!

Steam boat springs race

After leaving las vegas we headed to colorado for the big races, our 1st stop was steamboat springs.

the hold a great little event here every year that consists of a freestyle and time trial creek race.

me ripping it up in the freestyle, coming in an amazing 3rd to last.

may be i should get in a play boat more then once a year

As we pulled up the the river for the creek race we came across these two young moose hanging out eating some trees, they didnt seem to bothered by us and just wandered past the cars and off into the bush. they are very big animals

the water in this little creek has to be the coldest ive ever paddled in, half way through the race i couldnt grab my paddle with my fingers. i was pretty stoked on my 2nd place.

trainer for the homestake creek race in vail, this is a very nasty little creek and will hurt you very fast if ur not on ur game