Reno Post-game Fun and Utah Wave

May 18, 2006

By Stephen Wright. Learn more about Stephen .

After the busy weekend of the Reno River Festival, I was WIPED-OUT. I
took Monday and did absolutely nothing (except read, paddle shortly, get
LOTS of emails caught-up and sent, and plan-out the rest of the week).
Still tired on Tuesday, I paddled in the morning with Jay at wave #5 on the
Reno Course, which was at a great level. We took-turns shooting photos, and
despite the distracting sunbathing beauty on the shores, actually got some
good shots!

As soon as I was off the water, I packed-up and started the long drive
east, where I will eventually end-up in Buena Vista, CO for the weekend with
CKS–Jay, Clay, Kristine, and Jason will also be in attendance. ANYWAY, I
made it most of the way out of NV, and pulled-off somewhere up in the hills
to sleep, which was just lovely. After another 3 or 4 hours driving today,
I met-up with Corey Volt, Christy G, and a few cool local paddlers at a wave
in Riverdale, UT. This was my first time on this wave and it was sick-o!
We’re talking 4 feet high, fast and bouncy, with enough foam to catch you
after a trick, but enough green to launch. I had a blast working
Flashbacks, fast-forwards, helixes, mcnastys, donkey flips, and every other
wave move I could think-of. A local paddler named Jason took my demo
All-Star out for a spin (literally), and loved it. I’ve really enjoyed
learning to throw the flashback on smaller waves: If you haven’t seen one
yet, it’s a spin into a clean aerial backstab (instead of the 2nd 1/2 of a
normal clean spin). The key is to spin out in front of the foam, then push
on your feet hard once you’re backwards to get the boat to hop and you throw
the clean backstab with your body. I’m really focused on twisting my torso
and head so far ahead of the move that my boat is forced to follow–it looks
SMOOTH, and feels great! I’m still so excited with the way the All Star
paddles on just about every feature: out-looping everything else in the
world, and easily wheeling up into the air on a wave.

I then packed-up again and drove another few hours to somewhere in the
BEAUTIFUL Utah high-desert next to some awesome rock-clifs. I’ll spend the
night here because I can and it’s pretty. Enjoy the pics! Corey Volt shot
my camera for the Riverdale Wave photos

Live from somewhere just north of Green River, UT,

Stephen Wright