The Northwest Creeking Competition is a grass-roots volunteer run event.  This year's race was no exception.  Community groups and paddlers teamed up with local retailers, vendors, and other organizations to put on a whitewater family reunion like none other.  Yes, we all hope for fast lines and that feeling of glory when you crush through the last big hole between you and the finish on your way to victory, but we all really show up for the family reunion.  With 131 racers and a record 14 women racing in the event the Northwest Creeking Competition is growing fast!  Way to represent ladies!  It was awesome to see so many women stepping up to the challenge and crushing many of the men's times.

The course was at a great water level this year producing fast times and major carnage on occasion.  The on water safety team was AMAZING!  It was great to have such dedicated and professional support crew on the course.  Everyone was back at the party by Saturday night (some just had a few more stitches than others). Overall folks did really well with the pushy water level.  

Like many sports whitewater has a culture all it's own.  The Northwest Creeking Competition brings together many of the best boaters in the West for a celebration of that culture and the places we call home...the river!  Enjoy a few photos of this year's event followed by a short list of a few results.  Full results will be out soon.  Be sure to visit http://northwestcreekcomp.blogspot.com/ for all the details and other blog posts on the event.

Un-Official Results:
East Fork Lewis (Saturday)
 Long Boat
1) Darren Albright
2) Louis Geltman
3) Mike Gotleib

Men's PRO
1) Evan Garcia
2) Louis Geltman
3) Andrew Mcewan

Women's Pro:
1)Kim Becker
2) Katrina Van Wijk
3) Nicole Mansfield

Raft (R-2)
Winners:  Tim Brink & Jamie Weaver

Canyon Creek (Sunday)

Men's K-1:
1)Louis Geltman
2) Gerd Serrasolses
3) Dan Rubado

Women's K-1 Overal All Champion was Kim Becker winning Canyon Creek and EFL!!!  Nice Work Kim!

Oregon Rafting Team members dropping in!  

Local Sponsors of the event.  Not shown here was Andy & Bax, Kayak Shed, the Oregon Kayak and Canoe Club, and more vendors than we can list here.  Thanks so much for EVERYONE's support to make this event a success!!

R-2 team pulling HARD.  Jeffrey Steehler and Greg Babikoff 

Louis Geltman boofing to victory as Ross Henry looks on in the Long Boat race.

Carnage happened even ABOVE the course this year.  Everyone was ok though.  Nice one Matt.  That is NOT a warranty issue!

Sunset Falls Start Line drop

Paddlers line up at the start lookin ready in the eddy!

Topo Duo BOOF!

Hope to see ya'll back next year!!!

Tequila and Rock and Roll! The 1st Annual Baja Kayak Fest in La Bufadora Mexico was a great success!

Yet another top notch sea kayaking event has hit the scene rounding out the trifecta!  A recent surge in demand for high quality rough water instruction on the wild West Coast of America is being answered by some of the best coaches and organizers around.  The Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium in San Francisco and The Lumpy Waters Symposium in Pacific City Oregon raised the bar 5 years ago and are now joined by The Baja Kayak Fest this year down in La Bufadora Mexico!

 Photo by: Kate Ross

Students young and old are making the tour and taking their paddling to new heights, making friends, and partying along the way.  Hitting up all three events may not be possible for everyone, but I would seriously consider joining the fun and excitement experienced when you dedicate an entire weekend to rock, tidal rapid, or surf break skills at a full-immersion-style event that brings together students and coaches from all over the world.

Paddler: Paul Kuthe         Photo By Rob Avery

Each event is known for it's own specialty, but there is plenty of all the sea disciplines at each of these different events.  Short boat surfing, rock gardening, surfing tide and swell, advanced rescues and more. 

Baja has it all just like California and Oregon, but THIS event was mostly about rocking out.  Paddling in the rocks by day and rocking and rolling around the campfire by night.  Good friends, good tequila, and good tunes came together for an amazing weekend South of the border.

Photo by Mike Connell

   
Victor Leon of Baja Aquatics  opened his home, his community and his heart to our crew and showed us an amazing time.  Thanks goes out to Jen Kleck of Aqua Adventures in San Diego for organizing the 1st of many Annual Baja Kayak Fests to come! (we all hope so anyway)

For the rest of the photos and more info on the goings on at the event check out the slide show.

This Is The Sea V filming with Justine!

TITS V is out!  This Is The Sea V is the latest from Justine and Cackle TV Productions.  Copies went on sale at Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe last month.  I'm honored to have a small segment.  Enjoy a few seconds one of my days of filming with Justine over in Wales after The UK Storm Gathering.  Be sure to visit the sites and pick up a DVD to see the rest!