EJ Decides NOT to compete in the 2011 World Championships- Time to Retire by ericjackson | Apr 1, 2011 | Rockstar, Whitewater | 25 comments After much deliberation, and getting my butt kicked by just about everyone in Africa and now back here at Rock Island, it seems it is time to hang up the goal for world dominance in kayaking and just be a businessman. While I am predisposed to get fat and become an alcoholic without the drive that comes from being an athlete, I finally found out that I can use my love of frisbee golf at a replacement and do some local competitions for that, instead. That should keep me fit enough for what I need to do on a daily basis. I will still kayak sometimes, but I really don’t enjoy just going out that much unless I am training and competing. I do love fishing and am sure I’ll run the river here in my Coosa and fish some too. Bud American Ale wants me to focus on other stuff more anyhow. Can’t drink beer in a whitewater boat. It was a great run while it lasted, but it had to end sometime. I am not getting any younger. So, don’t worry you kiddies in the freestyle kayak world- there is now one more open spot on the podium! No longer are you just competing for two open spots. the little spot that says “EJ” on it, normally on the top, but sometimes on the box that says 2 on it is now open for grabs. Go get it! 25 Comments Jim on April 1, 2011 at 1:21 pm EJ ; you will always be the Champ to me ; in boating and life . Reply Jim on April 1, 2011 at 1:26 pm April Fool !!!!!!!!!!!!! Reply jake on April 1, 2011 at 1:32 pm man i hope this is an april fools…. if not no worrys u will b my hero and a benchmark for my goals haha cheers for the all the positivity u’v given me cause its changed my life to something amazing 😀 Perram Reply David Gallaher on April 1, 2011 at 2:07 pm AS AN EMPLOYEE OF JACKSON KAYAK I HAVE ALWAYS RESPECTED EJ FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE RIVER, HOWEVER I RESPECT HIM EVEN MORE FOR THE MAN HE IS. MOST STARS ARE FINISHED WHEN THEY ARE DONE HOWEVER EJ HAS UPLIFTED DOZENS OF PADDLERS WITH HIM ON HIS WAY TO THE TOP MOST OF WHOM WERE AND STILL ARE CHILDREN THUS OUR FUTURE IN THE SPORT. HE MAY BE RETIRING BUT HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON INTO THE FUTURE OF THE SPORT. THE ATTITUDE HERE AT WORK IS MUCH THE SAME WITH ALL OF US WORKING AS A TEAM AND LIFTING EACH OTHER UP. THAT IS WHY I FEEL LIKE I AM PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE. THANKS FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THE WAY YOU DID IT! DR G (DAVID GALLAHER) Reply Odd J. Resser on April 1, 2011 at 2:14 pm Great date to post such a piece of news! Still looking forward to see you give the youngsters a beating in Plattling. Reply Andrew Regan on April 1, 2011 at 3:30 pm As us Irish would say… ‘theres always one’ David Gallaher, congratulations on being the ‘one’. Reply Joel McCune on April 1, 2011 at 4:02 pm I might believe it on another day besides 01 Apr, but likely not even then. Reply David Hamlet on April 1, 2011 at 4:05 pm No worries neighbor.., I’m sure there are still a couple of mid-40s local river-rats still around, that aren’t out chasing the dream, to keep you busy at home.., playing around in ‘god’s country’ Sure you’ll continue to lead the sport through the ‘young ‘uns and the R&D that JK keeps coming up with.. See you soon down around ‘backstage’, brother. Definitely a fresh beginning EJ. Embrace it! And, oh yea…, Sko boatin’ 🙂 U-Always-Be-Da-Man!! Reply David Stefan on April 1, 2011 at 4:19 pm EJ, You are a champion for everybody, all the kayakers have a huge respect for you. I hope you come back , but i hope that you happy no matter what you doing! you are a special human and have fun in anything that you do! KEEP SMILING HARD! from amigo David Stefan Reply Shannon Coulter on April 1, 2011 at 4:44 pm EJ, we will miss reading about all your awesome adventures… I will relay this to Steven and hopefully will see you at the end of summer…Take care. Reply armando on April 1, 2011 at 7:05 pm you where and will be the best and a big exaple of a good man and best kayaker…. my hero you will always be amigo is never to late to come back pura vida Reply Rick Thompson on April 1, 2011 at 7:34 pm say – um – I would really look good in your carbon fiber Rock Star. Reply Emily Jackson on April 1, 2011 at 7:56 pm DIDNT ANYONE LOOK AT THEIR CALENDER THIS MORNING?!?!? Dad wont retire till he cant chew his own food…. Emily Reply Andrew Kuhlberg on April 2, 2011 at 12:22 am So who chews for him- Mom, you, Dane or KC? Best 4/1 Gag i’ve seen in a few years. I’m getting the sense the young bucks better look out, I’ll bet the best is yet to come! Reply James McBeath on April 1, 2011 at 8:09 pm What I didn’t know folks, is that when egging EJ on to make this post as real as possible… is that he does this exact post EVERY year … Reply Tony D on April 1, 2011 at 8:27 pm I love to read the sincerity in the responders comments, it is hilarious how many people have fallen for this, (once again. I even had a tear in my eye for about 3 seconds until I realized what day it was. And, Emily, after he can’t chew his own food, he will figure out how to have an IV in the boat, trust me. LOL. Cheers to all Tony D. Reply Roger on April 1, 2011 at 8:52 pm @ Emily Hahaha! My Dad is the same way! Cheers ya’ll, Roger Reply TImothy Fleming on April 2, 2011 at 12:08 am If you are looking at kicking back and drinking some beer in something other than a whitewater boat i cant think of anyone i’d rather take a kayamping trip down the Duck River here in TN than you. Open invitation ANY TIME!!!! YOU ARE THE MAN Reply TImothy Fleming on April 2, 2011 at 1:20 am Whether you retire or not Reply Lee on April 2, 2011 at 2:10 am I know it can be difficult for you to accept the reality of old age… You must learn to do it with Grace… Just remember you still have a few good years left… Reply Kristinn Heinrichs on April 2, 2011 at 4:00 am Ej! Been a long season and I was happy to share the early part of your long season (of life, that is). Here’s to your new adventures as you move forward! Look at all the lives you continue to touch in a positive way! Create a great day in/enjoy! 🙂 Reply Erin Clancey on April 2, 2011 at 6:07 pm EJ, you totally got me! And I even know you have done this before!!! Reply brenda on April 3, 2011 at 1:29 am EJ…you should start a masters division. I am sure there are a lot of oldies but goodies out there. It might open up a whole new world for us older kayakers. Me…54 year old female that started at 50. By the time I am able to compete they may have to have a geriatric division. Besides…I just took my brand new 2010 Star for it’s first river run today. Reply Alexis Foreman on April 3, 2011 at 4:23 pm You had me right up ’till the “you can’t drink beer in a whitewater boat!” 😉 Happy April fools, and good luck to the whole US/Jackson team! Reply roger larson on April 9, 2011 at 4:35 am one year at the Kern festival in California I asked EJ how to do a back deck roll. He jumped down on the ground in the store there and showed me. I was so impressed with his character that 4 years or so later I haven’t forgotten that. Thanks so much EJ for doing so much for this sport and for giving us all the ability to see just what is possible with the sport of Kayaking. One day when EJ does retire…..it will be…a sad day for all of us…cause Im sure we will be retiring as well. 🙂 Reply 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
Jim on April 1, 2011 at 1:21 pm EJ ; you will always be the Champ to me ; in boating and life . Reply
jake on April 1, 2011 at 1:32 pm man i hope this is an april fools…. if not no worrys u will b my hero and a benchmark for my goals haha cheers for the all the positivity u’v given me cause its changed my life to something amazing 😀 Perram Reply
David Gallaher on April 1, 2011 at 2:07 pm AS AN EMPLOYEE OF JACKSON KAYAK I HAVE ALWAYS RESPECTED EJ FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE RIVER, HOWEVER I RESPECT HIM EVEN MORE FOR THE MAN HE IS. MOST STARS ARE FINISHED WHEN THEY ARE DONE HOWEVER EJ HAS UPLIFTED DOZENS OF PADDLERS WITH HIM ON HIS WAY TO THE TOP MOST OF WHOM WERE AND STILL ARE CHILDREN THUS OUR FUTURE IN THE SPORT. HE MAY BE RETIRING BUT HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON INTO THE FUTURE OF THE SPORT. THE ATTITUDE HERE AT WORK IS MUCH THE SAME WITH ALL OF US WORKING AS A TEAM AND LIFTING EACH OTHER UP. THAT IS WHY I FEEL LIKE I AM PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE. THANKS FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THE WAY YOU DID IT! DR G (DAVID GALLAHER) Reply
Odd J. Resser on April 1, 2011 at 2:14 pm Great date to post such a piece of news! Still looking forward to see you give the youngsters a beating in Plattling. Reply
Andrew Regan on April 1, 2011 at 3:30 pm As us Irish would say… ‘theres always one’ David Gallaher, congratulations on being the ‘one’. Reply
Joel McCune on April 1, 2011 at 4:02 pm I might believe it on another day besides 01 Apr, but likely not even then. Reply
David Hamlet on April 1, 2011 at 4:05 pm No worries neighbor.., I’m sure there are still a couple of mid-40s local river-rats still around, that aren’t out chasing the dream, to keep you busy at home.., playing around in ‘god’s country’ Sure you’ll continue to lead the sport through the ‘young ‘uns and the R&D that JK keeps coming up with.. See you soon down around ‘backstage’, brother. Definitely a fresh beginning EJ. Embrace it! And, oh yea…, Sko boatin’ 🙂 U-Always-Be-Da-Man!! Reply
David Stefan on April 1, 2011 at 4:19 pm EJ, You are a champion for everybody, all the kayakers have a huge respect for you. I hope you come back , but i hope that you happy no matter what you doing! you are a special human and have fun in anything that you do! KEEP SMILING HARD! from amigo David Stefan Reply
Shannon Coulter on April 1, 2011 at 4:44 pm EJ, we will miss reading about all your awesome adventures… I will relay this to Steven and hopefully will see you at the end of summer…Take care. Reply
armando on April 1, 2011 at 7:05 pm you where and will be the best and a big exaple of a good man and best kayaker…. my hero you will always be amigo is never to late to come back pura vida Reply
Rick Thompson on April 1, 2011 at 7:34 pm say – um – I would really look good in your carbon fiber Rock Star. Reply
Emily Jackson on April 1, 2011 at 7:56 pm DIDNT ANYONE LOOK AT THEIR CALENDER THIS MORNING?!?!? Dad wont retire till he cant chew his own food…. Emily Reply
Andrew Kuhlberg on April 2, 2011 at 12:22 am So who chews for him- Mom, you, Dane or KC? Best 4/1 Gag i’ve seen in a few years. I’m getting the sense the young bucks better look out, I’ll bet the best is yet to come! Reply
James McBeath on April 1, 2011 at 8:09 pm What I didn’t know folks, is that when egging EJ on to make this post as real as possible… is that he does this exact post EVERY year … Reply
Tony D on April 1, 2011 at 8:27 pm I love to read the sincerity in the responders comments, it is hilarious how many people have fallen for this, (once again. I even had a tear in my eye for about 3 seconds until I realized what day it was. And, Emily, after he can’t chew his own food, he will figure out how to have an IV in the boat, trust me. LOL. Cheers to all Tony D. Reply
TImothy Fleming on April 2, 2011 at 12:08 am If you are looking at kicking back and drinking some beer in something other than a whitewater boat i cant think of anyone i’d rather take a kayamping trip down the Duck River here in TN than you. Open invitation ANY TIME!!!! YOU ARE THE MAN Reply
Lee on April 2, 2011 at 2:10 am I know it can be difficult for you to accept the reality of old age… You must learn to do it with Grace… Just remember you still have a few good years left… Reply
Kristinn Heinrichs on April 2, 2011 at 4:00 am Ej! Been a long season and I was happy to share the early part of your long season (of life, that is). Here’s to your new adventures as you move forward! Look at all the lives you continue to touch in a positive way! Create a great day in/enjoy! 🙂 Reply
Erin Clancey on April 2, 2011 at 6:07 pm EJ, you totally got me! And I even know you have done this before!!! Reply
brenda on April 3, 2011 at 1:29 am EJ…you should start a masters division. I am sure there are a lot of oldies but goodies out there. It might open up a whole new world for us older kayakers. Me…54 year old female that started at 50. By the time I am able to compete they may have to have a geriatric division. Besides…I just took my brand new 2010 Star for it’s first river run today. Reply
Alexis Foreman on April 3, 2011 at 4:23 pm You had me right up ’till the “you can’t drink beer in a whitewater boat!” 😉 Happy April fools, and good luck to the whole US/Jackson team! Reply
roger larson on April 9, 2011 at 4:35 am one year at the Kern festival in California I asked EJ how to do a back deck roll. He jumped down on the ground in the store there and showed me. I was so impressed with his character that 4 years or so later I haven’t forgotten that. Thanks so much EJ for doing so much for this sport and for giving us all the ability to see just what is possible with the sport of Kayaking. One day when EJ does retire…..it will be…a sad day for all of us…cause Im sure we will be retiring as well. 🙂 Reply
