USA National Championships a big success by Will Richardson | Sep 10, 2005 | Whitewater | 0 comments October 10, 2005 This past week was quite the fast paced one for me. The National Championships, the Whitewater Symposium, and everything I have going on with Jackson Kayak. No shortage of fun or work to be done. Nationals: Well, Team Jackson Kayak is certainly taking good form. I will talk about the men’s kayak competition first, since I was there for that. The venue was the Coosa River in Alabama; 83 degree water running at 8,000 cfs through the “Gap” in Wetumpka, just 20 miles north of Montgomery. The organizer is Lonnie, the owner of Southern Trails. The spot is a tricky wave hole on river left, with a corner pocket hole at the top of the eddy for entry moves. In prelims, I won, followed by Clay Wright, then Stephen Wright. How cool is that, a Jackson Kayak sweep. Clay was in a Super Star, and Stephen and I in All-Stars (good thinking). In Sem-finals: Jimmy Blakeny won, followed by EJ, then Clay, then Stephen, and then Bryan Kirk. In Finals: Clay Wright took first place, followed by EJ, then Jimmy Blakeney, then Stephen Wright, then Bryan Kirk USA National Championships Men’s Pro Clay Wright- Jackson Kayak- Super Star Eric Jackson- Jackson Kayak- All-Star Jimmy Blakeney- Wavesport- Project 52 Stephen Wright- Jackson Kayak- All-Star Bryan Kirk- Wavesport- Project 52 Immediately following the men’s competition I had to rally to Atlanta to catch a flight to Colorado to do the Whitewater Instructional Symposium, so I didn’t get to watch the rest of the classes compete, including my kids in the junior classes, however, here is the report as I got it from Kristine… Women’s Pro: Karen Roy, Wavesport Tanya Shuman Wavesport Devon Barker- Jackson Kayak All-Star I don’t know the order after that. Junior Women: Emily Jackson: Jackson Kayak, Star Junior Men: Billy Boylan – Wavesport Project 52 Dane Jackson, Jackson Kayak, Fun 1 When I get home I will get the full results for you to see, sorry I don’t know more yet. I also know that Dane got the only McNasty in the competition that stuck (in any class!) and he won the Freestyle through the rapid competition too. I also know that Emily couldn’t decide whether to compete in the women’s pro or the Junior women’s competition. Ultimately she decided to do the junior class with some urging from her parents. While she has not placed lower than 3rd in any pro women competition we want her to enjoy being a junior when she can. In 2004 I was USA National Champion with the All-Star. In 2005 Clay is USA National Champion in the Super Star Sweet. 🙂 EJ Submit a Comment Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ