Jay Panther

Whats up everyone!?  My name is  Jay Panther and I am a freestyle skier that is real excited about the winter side of WRSI.  Here is a video of two of the jumps I have been working on for the moguls.

I can barely wait for the season to start.  We are heading to Canada at the end of October for early season training.  In the mean time I am visiting family and getting real real antsy.  If you have spent the last few months praying for snow, here is a video of last season to hold you over!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjluokOr4ag

Russell Fork Forever

I took my Session + up to the Russell Fork last weekend for some sick Class V playboating. The turnout was small, but we had a solid crew of Southeastern paddlers show up for one of the best runs on Earth. All photos by Will Stubblefield.

One last hurrah!

Well with wife, dog and house in tow, we headed up to the Northwest Territories for one last boating trip of the year on the Slave River. I decided to take the 'scenic' route which didn't really live up to its name unless you consider flat gravel highway's as scenic (for three days straight). I decided to take the waterfall route and was a bit dissappointed when the combined flow of all of the drops I looked at was less than I can pee after drinking a dozen energy drinks. I did manage to run a few lines on one of the drops though (but you will notice the water has a yellow tinge to it...

Finally after driving FOREVER and dodging Buffalo ( a fun game on it's own) we arrived in Fort Smith and the Slave River. Now it seeems that not a whole lot of boaters go up there in mid September but luckily I hooked up (in a totally platonic way) with some of the local boaters and

got the tour of the goods.

Tweaking the Nipple and An evening on the English Channel Photo: John Blyth

The first day was a trip down Molly's Nipple, some Avalanche action and then over to the Edge before a quick rip through The Playground. YUMMY! So I'm sure you've all heard about the wonderful things up there but no one speaks of the dark side. For example the 'mountain' you need to climb back up to your car. Or how about the 45minute flatwater paddle before you actually hit a rapid. Whoever said you can't get lost on a river might try it out here. And then 'finding' the takeout on some rapids - 'Oh just look for the dark green trees' Guess what tips? All the trees are dark green. How about the bugs? I went when they weren't supposed to be bad which means in the summer you probably inhale them while breathing. I guess it's cheaper than buying food. And lets not forget about the town's proximity to NOTHING!

But despite all of these things I'd still go back. Yup, the river is just that good. So thats it for now but stayed tuned for a vid of the aforementioned tomfoolery.

Rush hour on the Highway and Big water = Good times

Later,

Dan Caldwell

www.kayakerslife.com

Brock Nelson----Diagnosis: Broken Nose

Oregon, September, 22, 2008

This picture was sent to us from Brock Nelson, here is what he had to say " WRSI....thought you guys might like this picture, it was the 2nd day on a 4 day trip in Oregon. I broke my nose in three places. It was an awesome trip other than that! The full face guard is on order... enough said!!"
Brock Nelson

Land of the Lost...Coast

If you left the California Oregon boarder in a 17 foot sea kayak, I would tell you that, your about 7 long days in the saddle from the Lost Coast. Despite huge swells, dumping surf, endless reef and rock, and some of the most isolated beaches on the west Coast, it really is worth the time. For all the reason that it sounds out of reach, it's what makes this place so unique. However, come prepared; expect unpredictable weather, no cell or radio contact, no road access, very little foot traffic, limited fresh water, a limited selection of landable beaches and did I mention the FOG. Though, I didn't come across a monkey boy named Chaka, or any Sleestacks I manage to find a place that the brightness couldn't reach. Alone, on the 7th day of a 63 day paddle I dug in at Wheeler Camp, Lost Coast California...

A little Low Water Late Season Play in CO!

The water is fading in Colorado but I had one last chance to head to Salida for a little fun.

Happy Paddling!

Christine

From Sweden with Love

Strompis Wave in Orebro's city center-by Idamaria Johansson (Sweden)

What a summer!!It started three months ago when everyone was making the long journey west. I however traveled east, far east. I traveled from the land of trailer parks and pawn shops to a land of castles and cafes. From eating fried chicken and drinking sweet tea, to eating cinnamon buns and drinking the best damn coffee on earth. Ah, the land of Sverige, better known as Sweden, where the sun never sleeps. What took me there you might ask? Well my Swedish girlfriend of course. I went to Sweden to stay with her. To get to know her homeland and to go kayaking.

Sweden's Hell hole-(pic by Tomas Rundgren)
Being from Alabama, I thought I came from a tight group of paddlers, but it is nothing compared to Sweden. I guess it's because kayaking in Sweden is still relatively young compared to here, but its growing substantially due to company's like Kajaktiv that are offering extremely good instruction on all levels from extremely good kayakers and teachers. Sweden's neighbor Norway gets most of the press for Scandinavian kayaking, but if one is looking for adventure on a different path, Sweden should be considered. It's not just the paddling that makes Sweden a great place to visit, the culture is worth going there alone. I found the people to be very friendly and the towns and villages to be very charming and beautiful. The food and coffee is excellent and there's always festivals going on in the summer, not to mention there is a big lack of American tourist which I liked.

Pic by Tomas Rundgren
For more info on kayaking in Sweden, check out:
http://www.kajaktiv.se/
http://www.forspaddling.com/
http://www.extreme.nu/kajak/

When I got back to the states it rained:

And now it's time to hit the books so I can graduate before I'm 40...
Until next time,
-Charlie Mix