Teva Mountain Games, Day Three- Freestyle Prelims

June 5, 2005

Photos

Switching gears again here at the multi-discipline
event in kayaking. While rock climbing, adventure racing, Colorado State
Mountain Bike Championships, and more is happening the kayakers are now
in downtown Vail competing for the biggest purse of the event, freestyle.
Like an ongoing dream, the Jackson family kids once again showed dad and
mom that they are really, really good. I still don’t know what to
think about them competing in the pro class (they would compete as juniors
if there was a junior class here). The freestyle event went like this…

First off two hours before the event, Emily, Dane,
and I got taken to the base of the main ski lift for some interviews for
the TV show being produced on the event. The sun was out in spurts and
I was hot, then it would get windy and cloudy (in about 30 seconds) and
it would be cold. Emily and Dane went first and since the questions were
about the family I was listening to their answers and it seems that we
have a healthy, happy family if their answers were any indication. Emily
and I went straight to practice in the hole, which is a very small feature
but has the standard small hole moves, and tests skill because there are
rocks in the way in many spots. It is super flushy making some of the
best boaters struggle with the simple moves.

At 1pm the women started and Emily was in the first
heat with Nikki Kelly, and Tanya Shuman and more of the pro women. She
went for air loops, space godzillas, some cartwheel moves and a bridge
splat at the end of her second ride (style is up to 10 points here for
the women). Nikki had two nice rides and had a perfect style score with
the crowd cheering in the sun! The crowd was huge for the women under
sunny but troubled skies (lightning to our left and to our right, but
sun over head) In the second heat Tanya Faux did a big seal launch down
the bank to work her style score and some sweet rides. Hannah Farrar did
one awesome ride for a big score, but lacked consistency on her second
ride. Tanya Shuman did two solid rides also, but flushed low early on
one. The goal for the women was to get top six so they can go to semi-finals
today. It took about 5 minutes for the women’s scores to come up
and the men’s first heat was already warming up.

Women’s Prelims:

1st- Emily Jackson – 60+ points

2nd- Nikki Kelley- 54 points

3rd- Hannah Farrar- 45 points

4th- Tracy Brabant- ??

5th- Tanya Faux- ??

6th –Tanya Shuman- ??

The men got off to a good start with paddlers like
Dustin Urban, Ben Guska, Jesse Murphy, and more in that heat, and the
clouds started rolling in. Solid rides were the theme but everyone was
trying to figure out just what to do to maximize the style. I went in
the second heat with Jay Kincaid. Jay had a huge first ride, staying in
the hole for the entire minute and racking up big points. I went after
him and did more aerial moves but flushed twice, and went for the style
score with bridge splats and rock spins (poor rock spin I must add). Dane
was in the third heat and had about 5 warm-up rides. If his warm up rides
were to be an indicator of how he can do in the competition, look out!
The rain started coming down hard and the crowds disappeared. It was standing
room only then it was a ghost town in about 10 minutes. That didn’t
dampen Dane’s spirits with his last practice ride nailing the biggest
air loop I had seen here by anybody, a back loop, space Godzilla, tricky
woo, and more. I was flabbergasted, knowing that I don’t have my
tricky woo at this hole.

In the competition rides he nailed some sweet loops,
cartwheels, back loop, and rock splat on the buzzer for a great ride.
His second ride was not as good but still competitive. Nick Troutman had
great warmup rides also but didn’t get the same love from the hole
in the competition flushing most of the time. Corey Volt is a guy who
could have done really well and had moments of brilliance but also crashed
hard on both rides missing his McNasty both times, a key move for his
routine. Pat Keller, and Bryan Kirk both had good rides as well.

There were many more pro’s that I haven’t
mentioned yet, but out of time, time for breakfast then semi-finals! Jimmy
Blakeney, Jed Selby, Andre’ Spino-Smith, etc. etc…

Results for Men’s Prelims:

1. Jay Kincaid
2. Eric Jackson
3. Bryan Kirk
4. Jesse Murphy
5. Andrew Holcomb
6. Dustin Urban
7. Rush Sturges
8. Dane Jackson
9. Ben Guska
10. Pat Keller

Ok, time for breakfast, and some hot coffee! Look out
my window right now and it is snowing hard! My gear is hanging out and
is covered in snow, my boat is full of it, and I can’t believe it!
I am supposed to do a photo shoot with Jock Bradley this morning but…
it is time to think about staying warm before the competition!

EJ 🙂