Challenges

by Maddie Kimmel | Dec 22, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, Playboating, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

Whether I am in school or on the water, I am always thinking: How can I challenge myself? It could be as simple as catching an eddy or trying a new line. It could also be more complex like learning a new combo in a hole or running a rapid with consequences. Challenges...

Happy Holidays from the Little Shredder Crew

by JK Little Shredders | Dec 15, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Family Zone, JK Little Shredders, Kid's Kayaks, Playboating, Video, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

It’s been a big year for a lot of the team, from making waves at the worlds to charging rivers and finding new waterfall to hit. The kids that are part of the little shredder team are firing it up and you should keep an eye out for them. Here is a short but fun ‘best...

A ruined trip is not always a bad trip

by Chris Ritchie | Oct 29, 2017 | Big Rig, Coosa HD, Family Zone, Fishing, rivers, Skipper, Trip Reports, Trips

On July 3 rd , I decided to take my wife and 3 boys on a float/camping trip. I had the 3 rd and the 4 th off and we didn’t have plans for the 4 th until later on in the evening. I first began by searching for the right spot that would be secluded(I...

France Trip

by JK Little Shredders | Oct 21, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, Playboating, rivers, Trip Reports, Trips, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

This summer was my 6th trip to France with Llandysul Paddlers, with a record number of around 100 paddlers going, including my mum. Getting there involved a 24 hour coach journey, including a ferry crossing from Dover to Calais. When everyone finally saw the sign to...

CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK:  A BACKCOUNTRY PARADISE

by Holcombe Family | Oct 8, 2017 | Family Zone, karma traverse, Kid's Kayaks, Recreational/Touring, Trip Reports, Trips, Whitewater

The Channel Islands are composed of a chain of eight islands (five of which make up the national park) off the coast of California stretching from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. After a little research, we set our sights on a three day backcountry adventure on Santa...

Positivity and How it Affects your Athletic Performance

by Maddie Kimmel | Sep 25, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, Playboating, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

When you focus on the positive sides to paddling, your performance improves because you focus on improving not your mistakes. You should still pay attention and learn from your mistakes. However, you shouldn’t focus on the fact that you missed your trick or that...

The Adventure Parent

by chad | Sep 23, 2017 | Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, rivers, Whitewater

The Constant Struggle of the Adventure Parent. There seems to be this notion in the whitewater community that when you settle down and start a family, all exciting life and travel ends. It is true that I feel like there are two people inside me constantly battling for...

Chasing Fall Water in Colorado

by kelloggfamily | Sep 18, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, Playboating, rivers, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

We are on the search to find good features in Colorado that are good training grounds for the World Championships in November. It’s not an easy feat as most Colorado rivers rely on snow melt for flows and typically the season is rather short. Once August hits, there...

Lotte the Little Shredder checks in about her summer

by JK Little Shredders | Sep 7, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Family Zone, JK Little Shredders, Kid's Kayaks, Playboating, rivers, Trip Reports, Trips, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

This year I was lucky enough to leave the cold NZ winter and travel to Canada for the summer to attend the 2017 Keener program for session 1. This was my second year as a keener. I got to link up with a few of my keener mates from last year’s session and make new...

Trust – the Essential Ingredient for the Inner City Kids Kayaking Camp

by Jessie Stone | Aug 28, 2017 | Family Zone, Internationalisation, United States, Whitewater

Trust is something that we often take for granted without even knowing it. I look at many things in my life and think about how many would not occur without trust both by me and with the people I am working/interacting with. The inner city kids kayaking camp is a...

An Australian White Water Classic – The Snowy River

by Claire OHara | Jun 26, 2017 | Creeking, Family Zone, Internationalisation, Karma, rivers, Trip Reports, Trips, UK, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

One of the classic white water runs in Australia is the Snowy river and this summer I had the opportunity to lead a group of kids down it on a multi day paddling expedition. Having never paddled the run before I joined Josh and Rick to do a quick recci run before the...

Dominion River Rock

by JK Little Shredders | Jun 17, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Family Zone, JK Little Shredders, Kid's Kayaks, Playboating, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

One day, we received the news that an awesome river festival would be held in the place that my family used to live in, Richmond Virginia! It is known as Dominion River Rock, and has all sorts of sports, from rock climbing and kayaking, to slacklining and even dog...