Hotel Charley and Kids Kayaking Club in Jackson Hole

By Eric Seymour

In conjunction with the Jackson Hole Kids Kayak Club, Hotel Charley premiered Friday night in Jackson. With over 100 spectators the film received huge cheers as the film crescendoed with one of the biggest drops ever run. In addition to the film, Paddlers in the Snake River basin were celebrating a still massive snowpack of between 120-200% of of normal waiting to fill the rivers.

As founder of the J-Hole Kids Kayak Club, World Class expeditionary kayaker and Rendezvous River Sports owner Aaron Pruzan understands that teaching kids to paddle is the future of the sport. The Clubs first meeting took place in 1996 and has grown every year with a focus on youth kayaking and river skills. This year kids as young as 8 years old are participating, and Jackson Kayaks have helped these smaller kids progress much faster than was possible in the past. “In the beginning we had to put the kids in small adult playboats, but they were often just to wide for the kids. Now using the Fun 1 and Fun 1.5 the kids are shredding. Now the small kids can carve the boats just like the big ones,” states Aaron Pruzan.

Multiple kids from the kayak school have excelled in paddling, taking their years of training to the international expeditions and competitions alike. The list includes Evan Ross, Brady Johnson, Ty Martin, and Kyber Miller.

Ben Stookesberry, Jess McMillan, and I decided to paddle with students from the school on Saturday after the Hotel Charley premiere, and we had many options for our one day mission. We decided on the class (4 – 5-) Grey’s river which was running at a much higher level than anyone had seen before. Normally on the Greys there is a lot of rock dodging. Instead we were busy punching holes and making a must make ferry through the sections most difficult rapid Snagletooth. During his second run down, Kyber Miller boated my Super Hero and loved it. He couldn’t believe how fast and maneuverable the boat was compared with other boats he had used in the past.

We ran the river twice and everyone had great lines. It was a really fun day and I look forward to kayaking with the kayak school again.

I will be heading to the Big Horns this week with Ben and Cody, WY guru and Superstore owner Aron Mulkey. Stay tuned for the next report from some of the steepest creeks in the world in little known central Wyoming.

Eric Seymour