Let’s Talk About Swims by crystalgustin | Dec 3, 2019 | Creeking, River Running, WhitewaterLet’s just get this out there: We all swim. As a general statement of what I see, guys generally give each other a hard time when this happens, calling each other beaters, etc. and females tend to lose confidence and doubt their skills. I fully believe that swimming...
Build a Kayak Rack by crystalgustin | Aug 13, 2019 | Instructional, Internationalisation, United States, Video, Whitewater, Whitewater InstructionA friend of mine was in need of a kayak rack and after numerous requests, I made it a priority and started my research. I could have made it easy on myself and built a sawhorse style rack, same as mine, but I am not really a big fan of it. With a fair amount of google...
2019 Dirty Bird Confidence Series Recap by crystalgustin | Aug 4, 2019 | Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, United States, WhitewaterEvery year Paddle In Pink hosts an event on the Pigeon River in TN to raise money for the Live Like Maria Foundation. The event consists of a group of women all slicing and playing their way down the river and for the Southeast, this is not a common scene which makes...
Importance of Female Kayaking Events by crystalgustin | Apr 15, 2019 | Creeking, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, United States, Whitewater, WW DisciplinesImagine walking into a room full of people and not knowing a soul. You look around and see everyone staring at you and realize everyone knows everyone, but you know no one. You feel… “fill in the blank”. My “fill in the blank” is “out of place”. When I first...
Update on Section 00 of the Chattooga River by crystalgustin | Mar 7, 2019 | Creeking, Internationalisation, United States, Video, Whitewater, WW DisciplinesAlmost 2 years ago I got my first PDF on section 00 of the Chattooga River (full article – https://hub.jacksonkayak.com/blog/2016/03/06/next-level-exploratory-kayaking-chattooga-style/). After going back in this previous weekend I wanted to update a few things....
4.0 Small Quick Impressions by crystalgustin | Jan 8, 2019 | Internationalisation, Playboating, Reviews, Rockstar 4.0, United States, Whitewater, WW DisciplinesUsually, I demo a boat before buying, however, this time I went ahead and made the purchase without ever being in one largely due to the fact that I waited on the previous generation and I was kicking myself. Being a small paddler, I had fears this boat would be too...
Dirty Bird Confidence Series Recap 2018 by crystalgustin | Jul 16, 2018 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, Playboating, United States, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW DisciplinesThere is something magical that happens when a large group of women get together to paddle. The energy is high, smiles are vast and the camaraderie is second to none. Every year, Paddle in Pink leads a few trips, one being an all girls paddle on the Pigeon River in...
Dirty Bird Confidence Series by crystalgustin | Jun 19, 2018 | Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, United States, WhitewaterMark your calendars. July 7th we will hold our annual Dirty Bird event. We will meet at the NOC outpost (on the pigeon river in TN @ 11), gather, do our safety talk, break up into groups and get on the river. We will divide slicey boats and little playboats. Along the...
SMARTER Goal by crystalgustin | Mar 21, 2018 | Instructional, Whitewater, Whitewater InstructionI recently finished my basketball season as a head varsity girls coach and for my little school, we made a run in state. Preparing for state, I took a risk and held a practice unlike any other practice I’ve had. Instead of physically preparing my girls, I took...
Antix Love by crystalgustin | Aug 1, 2017 | Antix, Creeking, Internationalisation, Reviews, United States, Video, Whitewater, WW DisciplinesFor some, it might be hard to trust a review by a team member. I get it. I can wholeheartedly tell you that I love the Antix but probably not for the reasons that first spring to mind. When this boat was in the works, far before production, I was so excited to have...
Confidence Series Recap: Year Three on the Pigeon by crystalgustin | Jul 7, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Accessories, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, Playboating, rivers, United States, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW DisciplinesOn June 24th, 18 women gathered at the Pigeon River to get their play on. This year marked 3 years of Paddle in Pink putting on this event and every year things seem to get better. Groups this year were split into smaller numbers so there was more one-on-one...
Combining Two Passions by crystalgustin | Apr 17, 2017 | Clinics, Instructional, Video, Whitewater“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs If you know me, you would know that when I speak about coaching girls basketball, or about being on the river, my love is hard to disguise. Being able to combine these two is something truly...
