For the past month I’ve been training 8 ½ year old Sage Donnelly. A Northern Nevada local, Sage has already been paddling for a few years thanks to her active parents. As part of Team Reno, Sage and I have been meeting a few times a week to prepare her to compete in the Reno River Festival and upcoming events in Colorado.

Since Sage was already a paddler my job was to help her with her freestyle skills: hole surfing and the tricks that go with it. In only a few weeks Sage has gained incredible confidence and is able to execute some excellent rides, including spins both ways and her infamous ‘plug.’

Check her out…Sage Spinning

 For more about the Reno River Festival check out www.renoriverfestival.com

This year the Kern River Festival was a Triple Crown: a Down river race, Giant Slalom and Slalom. A little bit of everything. The weekend was a good reminder that I need to get in my long boat more often and that I should get some lessons in Slalom boating. Tanya Faux, Toby and I arrived only in time to have one practice run on the Saturday morning. Tanya and I thought we could walk the course while the men were racing but due to the constricted canyon that wasn’t an option. Going on our limited knowledge and everyone’s advice off we went downstream for the downriver. I actually had an ok run other than a little pin at the top of the last drop (bad bata didn’t help me there). Tanya on the other hand, schooled most of the men and had a time so fast she was second overall (men and women!). I medaled in the Giant Slalom though my lines weren’t very strong and on more than one occasion I fought with the gate (which I realize is totally unacceptable in real slalom). Tanya has a stellar second run on the Giant Slalom and went for the trophy move off the last drop: rock 360, throw paddle through the hoop and…. well the rest is a wet history.

Sunday was the slalom event held on the course right in the town on Kernville. As Triple Crown competitors we had to use the same boat in each event which made the slalom course that much more challenging. I believe this was my first slalom race – ever! In the end I did miss a gate but I had a few fleeting moment of slalom prowess that made me that much more interested in learning some technique.

Kernville is a great little town; nice coffee shop, local brewery, friendly locals etc. If you’re ever in the area be sure to visit the crew at Sierra South, a lively outdoor retailer with tons of great stuff – even I bought a few things! Eric and Rebecca did a great job organizing the event (and providing us with beer from their brewery) – THANK YOU!

Photos compliments of Toby M. Ebens

This past weekend I had a great intro to the creeking year on a run called Tobin. Now Tobin is one of those runs that can be run anywhere from 200cfs to 1600cfs. Colin Kemp, Lindsey Craig, Toby and I put on at about 350cfs; at this flow it would be considered ‘California Light.’

Immediately I was both in awe of the beautifully smooth granite boulders and humbled by their size. Horizon lines were plentiful and I was happy to have a guide. Colin loves this run and has every slot, boof and eddy memorized like the back of his hand.

We slowly poked our way down the short run. I understand the section is just over a mile long, yet drop considerably in gradient.

Having not been in a creek boat… well, since I don’t know when, this run was great practice for me. My Punk Rocker again served me well. I had a few sloppy lines but all in all I landed some great boofs and had a great time. I’m happy I started off with California Light, now I think I’m ready for REAL California boating.

Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures….only memories.

Spring is here! River levels have been coming up, training at the park has been great and biking riding has been fun too.

The past couple weeks I’ve been training with Sage Donnelly as part of a mini Team Reno. We spend two sessions together a week and already her progress is amazing! This week she competed in the Home Town Throw Down and executed two excellent rides!

http://worldkayakblogs.com/throwdown/2009/04/02/reno-hometown-throwdown-1/

Weekends have found me on a couple different rivers: South Fork of the American and East branch of the North Feather. I’m just getting back in a big boat and looking forward to stepping up with something a little bit harder here shortly.

I joined local kayakers Tanya Faux, Stephen Wright and Lizzy English for a bike ride the other day. What a funny experience to peddle with paddlers! We all had a good laugh and a great ride.

Adventures around every corner here in the Sierra Nevada’s!