Training in Reno and the Oregon Cup Update

April 28, 2005

After a great weekend in Sacramento at the American
Cup, Devon and I spent the past 1/2 week training in Reno. The whitewater
park, incredibly well done, is right in the middle of the city. This week,
we’ve seen lots of people hiking, kayaking, picnicking, surfing the park’s
waves on boogie boards and inner-tubes, walking their dogs, and generally
enjoying themselves in this beautiful park. It seemed that almost daily
there were non-kayakers standing on the banks taking pictures, video,
and cheering-on the paddlers playing. This park is exposing freestyle
kayaking to hundreds of people every week. We’ve had the opportunity to
train with Jay Kincaid, Tracy Brabant, Lizzy English, 11 year-old Jason
in a Fun 1, and LOTS of other extremely friendly local paddlers. We’re
glad to have spent so much time here preparing for the big event in a
few weeks. Almost every hole move is possible here: cartwheels, cleans,
splits, air loops, space godzillas, tricky woos, fonix monkeys, Mcnastys,
lunar orbits, and felixes can all be done both ways. This was a great
place to train.

Stephen and I are off for shop visit in Bend, Hood
River, and Portland in addition to a great week of paddling for the Oregon
Cup. The week kicks off with the

Creek race at Canyon Creek April 30th
Boater Cross on the East Fork of the Lewis at HinsonBridge
on May 1st
C Wave Rodeo on the Deschutes three miles from
the mouth of the Columbia May 3rd
Bob Hole Rodeo on the Clackamas River May 6th and
7th

This will be the first time to have the C Wave as part
of the rodeo events. It involves parking at the mouth of the Columbia
at Deschutes Park about 15 miles from the Dalles and walking in three
miles up the river to the wave. Dan Rubado raves about this wave so I
am sure it is going to be great!

Well, off to the Oregon Cup!

Stephen and Devon