Coosa festival was an amazing event with perfect weather.  Lots of competitors and spectators led to lots of fun!  The competition was fierce in all eight events that were offered. Starting off the day with the Junior K1 freestyle event was Bennett Smith taking first followed by Eric Lee;  then going straight into Expert/Pro Men’s K1 freestyle, Hunter Katich taking first place, Mark Travis in second place followed by Jeremy Adkins in third place.  The Amateur Men’s K1 freestyle was won by Clayton Hoskins and Eric Lee in second place.    After the freestyle events ended, we sat on the middle island eating and listening to music while getting ready for the next competitions.  Everyone was invited to compete in the watermelon toss, and a friendly singing competition, which Eric Lee won with his version of “I want to be a Billionaire”.   Lots of fun in the sit on top kayak competition through Moccasin Gap with experts and novices trying to impress the crowd with flips and tricks off their boats, Hunter Katich, Bennett Smith, and Matt Thorton ended up making the best impressions on the crowd and judges!  The boater cross was an exciting paddle endurance race ending with a crowd cheering close finish with Kyle Katich taking first place and Robert Schaum coming in a close second.

One of the festivals most anticipated event is the King of The Wave Competition. Fifteen minutes of all competitors fighting to hang in the wave the longest to capture the prized title of “King of the Wave”   Your King of the Wave this year, taking the title away from his dad as last year’s “king” is myself, Hunter Katich!  Andy Lushington and Jeremy Adkins finished the afternoon events by showing us some amazing moves in the Ender competition!  I hope everyone had as much fun as I did!

After Coosa fest some friends and I took a trip up to the Nantahala River to practice on the new whitewater hole at the NOC and eternity hole on the Tuckasegee River in North Carolina!  The trip was awesome and the holes were perfect for perfecting some of my freestyle tricks! Thanks to all my sponsors and friends and family for keeping me on the water!  See video below

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOkjdnDTCvM&feature=share[/youtube]