Paddling Life Pro Invitational Rocks Steamboat Springs!

By Stephen Wright

The Paddling Life Pro Invitational went-off with a bang in Steamboat Springs, CO on Memorial Day–making for a great event in a cool town. This is the only event in the US where a creek race and a freestyle event are combined for placings, rather than each event being run individually. This means that a paddler has to do well in both creek and play events to win overall. To top it off, both events are run in one day, so paddlers had to have bottles of endurance, or die-off at the end of the day. With a cash prize of $2500 split between the winners, a few airline tickets, and lift tickets available for winners, this was a highly desired victory. I arrived on Friday with Jason, Dane, Nick, Emily, Ruth, Klass, and Devon to start training for the big event.

Over-all Results:

Men
1 Stephen Wright
2 Jason Beakes
3 John Myers

Women
1 Tanya Faux
2 Nikki Kelly
3 Emily Jackson

The creek race was run on the middle section of Fish Creek, which was running low and boney. The event started at 10:00 AM, following a pancake feed in the take-out parking lot. This made for an approximately two and a half minute race where technical moves and boat control won-out over all-out speed. It was all about keeping off the rocks and getting into the deep water. The start was a boof over a 6-foot dam, and the finish was a boof over a 2-foot weir–good stuff! The organizers actually managed to utilize a high-tech start and finish timing system involving lazers. I was scared that I might be cut in half when I crossed the start line, but I was reassured of my safety by watching all other competitors crossing safely into the race. They did have a few failures of the system when a dog wandered across the finish line in the middle of someone’s run–I was told that the dog wasn’t cut in half either so have no fear! Nick enjoyed a Mega Rocker, I paddled a Rocker, while Dane, Emily, Ruth and Jason paddled Punk Rockers, and Devon styled the Hero. The race was tight, but Jason Beakes killed it with a time of 2:42 and change. Nikki Kelly reminded all the other guys that she is a force to be reckoned-with by posting the next fastest time over-all with a 2:44.

Top 5 placing for Fish Creek Race:
1 Jason Beakes
2 Brad Ludden
3 Bryan Kirk
4 Stephen Wright
5 John Myers

1 Nikki Kelly
2 Tanya Faux
3 Elanor Perry
4 Emily Jackson
5 Valerie Bertron

The Freestyle Event was held in the "C" hole on the Yampa River in the middle of town. This playspot is named for the late Charlie Beavers, and at this level was a fun-but-flushy wave/hole. The spot was very challenging to have consistent rides, due to it’s surging nature. Sometimes I’d get the hugest loop of my life and 5 other good moves, while other rides, I’d flush just spinning–wild! This didn’t stop us from having a great event, where tons of spectators came-out to enjoy the show of massive air, and the latest in freestyle acrobatics. After Prelims, they cut to 5 men, where I found myself on top with Nick, Dane, Bryan Kirk, and Johnny Myers. Women cut to a final 3, which were Ruth, Emily, and Tanya Faux. After several knock-outs the winners were crowned, and points added-up for combined event results. Dane blew me away by hitting the biggest ride in the event in one of the knock-out rounds! Nick was smooth and powerful, but struggled with consistency, so was knocked into 3rd place by John Myers and some jerk. Over-all it was a great freestyle event, and all of Team JK paddled impressively!

Top 5 placings for Freestyle:
1 Stephen Wright
2 John Myers
3 Nick Troutman
4 Dane Jackson
5 Bryan Kirk

1 Tanya Faux
2 Emily Jackson
3 Ruth Gordon
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Big thanks to Joe, Eugene, and everyone else who worked so hard to make this event go. It ran smoothly and quickly. The Paddling Life Invitational is a fun and unique event that I look forward to attend for years to come. Enjoy the photos shot by Jason, Dane, and I. Now it’s time to turn my sights on the Teva Mountain Games.

Live from Starbucks in Vail,
Stephen Wright