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Squad image:
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Preferred Products:
Top 5 gear picks:
1: Jackson Kayak’s Rocker - She’s the most
stable, forgiving boat on the market and boofs like a champ. The Mank Crew special.
2: Kokatat GMER Drysuit - If there is one thing
that will undoubtedly help you to enjoy paddling more, this is it. I generally wear through a dry top in months,
but I’ve been bone dry in my GMER for a couple years now. On the three day Hellsgate trip, I didn’t
even bring a change of clothes - it’s that dry.
3: Werner Powerhouse Bent Shaft Paddle - You know
what they say about bent shafts - once you try one, you’ll never go back. I really like Werner’s Neutral bent shaft
because it just feels right when you pick it up and the Powerhouse has those
big blades for the last second boof or get beat moves.
4: Whitewater of
the Southern Rockies - I always like to buy guide books, because
they increase my odds of exploring a particular place by 83%. This one is incredible with fantastic photos
and stories. I especially recommend it
for people that live out-of-state because if you leave it on the coffee table
long enough, it’ll be a piece of cake to get your significant other to let you
hit up the Rockies for some paddle boating.
5: Bichathane - Sometimes things happen and
sketchy situations occur. This stuff has
bailed me out of more than one jam. The
Mank Crew takes it on every trip.
Website: www.huckinduckie.blogspot.com
See
more of me at (websites): www.jacksonkayak.com,
www.mountainbuzz.com,
www.eddyflower.com,
www.coloradokayaking.com, www.therangelife.com,
Whitewater of the Southern Rockies
The
word: You know, I’ve never regretted a single day of paddling. I’ve broken up with girls, dropped jobs,
borrowed kayaks, and done some serious heavy-handed hitchhiking to get out on
the river - every day has been worth it.
Once I’m out there, the problems of the world fade to nothing and it’s
just me floating on the water with my best friends. So next time you come up with some lame
excuse as to why kayaking would be a bad idea, just try to think back to the
last day you regretted. Then pack the
car and git sum.
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Squad Bio:
Age: 27
Hometown: Evergreen, CO
Currently
Resides in: Frontranger!
Work: ICU nurse, ski patroller
Years
Paddling: 7
Top
3 Rivers: Upper Cherry Creek is the one
creek that rules them all. And of course
everyone has to give it up for the likes of the Big South, Vallecito, Embudo
and the Green in NC, but some of my lesser known favorites are Hells Gate in
AZ, the Source of Boulder Creek and Clearwater Creek in WA.
The
Perfect Vacation is: The Mank Crew, the
fire, the whiskey, the adventure. Ragin’
Hobbies
other than kayaking: Sometimes I go
skiing.
Favorite
website: I have to give a shout to
Cooper Lambla for the best writing on a blog.
He makes me laugh out loud at 4am in the hospital ICU where I work. The Rangelife boys throw up the freshest
photos without question. I couldn’t peel
my fingers off the keys during the Photo Hold’em contest. Bring it back! There’s also no denying that I’m a pretty
addicted Buzzard - check me at Boatin’ with Joe.
Favorite
paddling video: No Big Names II started
my creeking career. I love the
exploration, focus on friends and humorous side to paddling this film brings.
Best
days of paddling ever:
One
October morning I found myself putting onto Cascade Creek at flood stage after
the Frontrange crew rallied through a biblical night monsoon into the Durango We were all gripped, but Wigston puked into
the bushes, which put us all at ease.
The huge water boils through the Rockwood Box provided a truly surreal
experience.Zone.
I
will also fondly remember three magical days in the grasp of Hells Gate canyon
on Tonto Creek. Again we drove through
the night and put on without a shuttle.
Sometimes you just have to go for it and trust that all things good work
out in the end.
Finally,
one afternoon I found myself standing at the top of Cherry Bomb gorge with an
old friend and two strangers. We had no
guide for the two unportageable gorges below should we drop the first
falls. The scout was from 1000 feet
above the river and required a least a mile hike. Somehow, in the Cali twilight we gelled into an invincible
team and smoothed our way through the V+ gorge, starting with the 40’ Cherry
Bomb falls. It was the most unbelievably
positive experience in group dynamics in which I have been involved. We were solid.
I
realized while writing these stories that they are the reason I kayak. I could write or talk about stories like
these for days and I know most creekers could.
That’s why we get after it.
Sponsors: Jackson Kayak, Werner Paddles, Kokatat, Patagonia, Rossignol
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