Team JK’s “Pikey” from England sends in this good read about his experiences abroad on “pro boaters”, making friends, world cup, and more by Will Richardson | Nov 27, 2006 | Whitewater | 0 comments By Pikey Here is Pikey’s words on the subject… Pikeying It at the World Cup (Faking it!) So ever dreamed of making it with the big names of the kayaking world but thought your paddling abilities were just not to standard. If the answer is yes then we both have something in common. This is not only a story of your average Joe Bloggs hanging and Paddling with the best boaters out there and having a blast while doing it, but hopefully an eye opener for boaters to make more boating friends pro or none pro. So my name is Chris Bucksey, aka "Pikey" a 21 year old Hurley (UK) local kayaker. I’ve just returned home after a year travelling around the world, the first 9 months of which I only managed to do 4 days of kayaking. I landed in Canada to get into a boat and cure my shakes and quit my new addiction of constant downloading of paddling porn off the internet. My other missions in Canada were to improve my paddling and meet new people from around the world, so I would never have to travel without my kayak and be too far away from a friend. I also decided it would be a good laugh and opportunity to meet new paddlers by competing in the very first World Cup. This was purely for the experience as I was certain my ability of only pulling big loops, some nice blunts and even a few ends, was not up to the class of these world class athletes. So how did I plan on getting amongst the Pro’s? They all stand out in their stickered up kayaks and paddles and most of them go so huge on the features, you would think they were not human! Does this make them scary though? Does having 3 letters PRO in front of boater make them more or less of a person/character? From my experience I’d say no. It just means they work hard to contribute to the paddling world. Whether designing boats, shooting/staring in movies, writing articles or organising events, believe me, these people do much more. They’re still boaters and they get their biggest rush as well as having the biggest smiles on the water. It wasn’t hard really. I approached them the same way I approached everyone. I was my usual cheeky confident self. If you weren’t smiling, I would try and put a smile on your face. If you’d had a good ride, I’d try to tell you. If I saw someone doing a move I liked and wanted to learn, I went and asked them, introducing myself at the same time. Or you were unlucky enough like Emily Jackson who I pushed over while saying "canoe polo" (she deserved it). In fact I just said hello to everyone and hoped I would remember their name. Some I recognized, some I didn’t. The ability of learning names has been a good thing for me. Nothing like having a bunch of mates in the eddy especially when there is a huge queue! Apart from paddling with some of the greatest boaters, I managed to chill, camp, and party along with eating and travelling with them. After my fantastic result in the 1st round of the World Cup managed 37th place out of 50, I aimed for top 40, along with 9th place in the Squirt boating (last but who cares)! Some great nights partying with the likes of the YGP and Kiwi lads, I had managed to grab a lift down to the second event with Dagger team paddler Matt Solomon and love of his life Jasmine, (cute puppy!) We had the Wavesport van following full of Americans like Ben Guska and Bryan Kirk. A Japanese guy called Yoshi and two Czechs Peter Csonka and girlfriend Nina Halasova. With slight problems with water levels at Watertown I jumped at the chance of running a river with Liquidlogics Shane Benedict, Matt and the Europeans. I even managed to run my first waterfall with great support from everyone on the water that day. The BBQ of the Century happened at the fairground with Shane supplying a free Keg, and other companies chipping in for the International Cook Off. A great time was had by all with the night ending off with people playing silly paddle games and some wrestling. I couldn’t beat the old veteran Shane so we had to make do with a draw. It was amazing in just a short period of time how many people had took me in as a fellow paddler and looked after me so well. Strangers had become mates in a mater of hours and mates became friends in a matter of days. Being a traveller on his own with no transport, I was relying on lifts from people, whether just to the water or for food, no-one battered an eye lid. Those people will never understand how thankful I am for that. The event at Watertown went off well with a great turn out of locals. My runs didn’t go so well but I still managed to move up a spot to 36th! I even decided I would have a go on the microphone. There is a big difference from shouting on the river bank with support, to speaking into a microphone as an announcer. Thanks to Ken "Hobie" Hoeve, best buddy Corey Volt and Matt "Sharky" McGuire (I beat him overall) who helped me on the mic. Corey was the guy who helped me overcome the fear of stressing out and simply enjoy myself on the water. He made my World Cup experience a delight and I only hoped he was in my eddy on every event! Being a bit of a socialiser I like to meet new people, so I looked to the aid of Kristine Jackson to see if she would possibly help me get down to the last leg of the World Cup in Rock Island. Being the paddlers mum she is known for she sorted me out a lift with the Jackson Team Bus and Land cruiser. With many river runs between Watertown and Rock Island and even more friends made, I was in a dream world. I just could hardly believe where I was and who I was with. I had Clay Wright helping me with my river running skills along with the other 20+ JK team paddlers on the water. With me sitting there in my WS ZG I never felt left out or singled out, it felt like one happy family paddling a river. I enjoyed the life of simply eat, paddle, eat some more then sleep, with lots of driving somewhere in between. When we arrived at Rock Island the Jackson’s were having a BBQ at their nearly built log house. It was good to catch up with those you hadn’t seen during the week and to catch up with stories. After a good night sleep I managed to turn up to the training day in style riding one of the Jackson’s horses. It was my first time riding a horse but Kristine never knew that! What a view Rock island is with the waterfalls. Paddling under the curtain of water to enter the feature was just amazing! I got to chill out with everyone next to the water and meet some of the local talent like Tim Collins and Jase Bouldin. The Jackson Party went wild with many turning up, including Elvis himself! With fire poi’s and break dancing competitions happening, along with some bad dancing from the Europeans and Kiwi’s, Flea Jarvie and Jon Best showed the world how great British Dancing is! I ended up 31st in Rock Island putting me 34th in the world, not bad for your average Joe Bloggs. That night I was given a Team JK top with Pikey on it. A few days later around the Jackson’s house, while eating some of Kristine’s amazing food, EJ announced me as a new team member. The weirdest thing was that I never expected it; I had only been what I had always been, cheeky, loud and smiling. (sometimes annoying). I certainly wasn’t picked up for my boating abilities! I started writing this article while on my travels never expecting to become a sponsored / pro paddler. I think I’ve done my self well "Pikeying it!" I’ve hit my goals of improving my paddling and haven’t even mentioned 1/10th of the new friends I’ve made. And I’ve got the "Pikeying It" trophy by becoming a "Pro Boater". I now want to take my boating to the next level and turn it into full-time occupation, star on DVD’s, write and be pictured in magazines. But I’m like every other Pro boater; I’m simply a boater who wants to do that little extra for the sport and love to meet new kayakers on the way. Don’t be shy, say hi to anyone on the water. They’re there for the same reason as you, the water, the feeling of being free with the chance of meeting new people; I know if you don’t come and say "hi" to me, I’ll be saying "hi" to you. Big thanks to all of you who crossed my path while travelling. It was an experience of a lifetime but I’m sure there are many more to be had. For those who haven’t met me yet, I look forward to meeting you. See you on the water, some time some where. 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