Alder Creek, Hood River, Oregon Cup Boater X, and FULL American Results!

May 1, 2005

After a few great days of training in Reno, we drove
a LONG way to Bend, OR. Bend is a very cool town, and we were fortunate
enough to be able to stay with Devon’s very cool friends Shuska and Peter.
Peter recently bought a SWEET 600cc Honda Scooter-bike. He was nice enough
to let me take it for a spin. I had big fun going fast. While in Bend,
we stopped-by Alder Creek to chat with their employees about Jackson Kayaks.
This is a very cool kayak shop with knowledgeable employees, a VERY cool
atmosphere, and a fantastic location. Thanks James, Jeff and Autumn. Check
them out online at: http://www.aldercreekbend.com/

Saturday morning, we left at 5:30 am to drive up to
Hood River, where I was able to teach a lesson for a great boater named
Rachel. She bought one of the first 2 Funs and has been paddling as much
as possible ever since. We ran the lower section of the White Salmon,
which was perfect: great eddy-lines, a few good waves, safe and technical
moves all over the river, and a deep lake at the take-out for flatwater
work. At 14, she’s a fantastic boater and a blast to paddle with. The
other highlight on Saturday was getting to hangout with my good friend
David Mackintosh. I learned to boat with him on the Potomac years ago,
and hadn’t seen him years. He took me to my first-ever freestyle competition
and encouraged my boating since the beginning. Thanks Dave!

While Stephen worked with Rachel, David Mackintosh
and I had a great time paddling along throwing wave wheels and working
on stern squirts with Rachel and Stephen. We headed off to join the post
Canyon Creek race party at Oly and Brenda’s house.

We finished up Sunday with a boater cross on the East
Fork of the Lewis. Stephen placed 3rd and I placed 2nd . We will post
full results of the boater cross and the Canyon Creek race as they become
available. We cannot wait for the next boater cross when we will be in
the new Jackson Kayak Hero and Super Hero river running creek boats. Jim,
Keith, and Ken did a great job organizing the event. Thanks so much!

Tomorrow we will visit with Alder Creek in Portland
before heading to Maupin for the next Rodeo at Beaver Tail. The Crooked
River is releasing a lot of water and the C Wave is washed out. The Rodeo
for Tuesday is now moved back to the original site at Beaver Tail outside
of Maupin, Oregon.

Bobby Housand sent these results in from the American.

Final Results from the American River Festival

Pro-Men’s Finals Scores
1st Stephen Wright 113
2nd Charlie Center 87
3rd Tom McKee 80

Pro-Women’s Finals Scores
1st Tracy Brabant 46
2nd Brooke Winger 43
3rd Amy Jimmerson 42
4th Devon Barker 10

Men’s Expert Finals Scores
1st Galen Licht 58
2nd Thomas Moore 30
3rd Greg Widroe 24

Men’s Juniors Finals Scores
1st Justins Patt 107 + Victory run
2nd Mike Bandala 87
3rd Logan Grayling 81

Women’s Novice/Juniors Scores
1st Andrea Triplitt 4
2nd Katie Scott 2
2nd Adriene Levienech 2
2nd Aleece Stratford 2
3rd Loni Linfante 1

Check out the new photos of
the new prototype inflatable All Star! It rocked the boater cross! Just
Kiddling!

Devon and Stephen