The Green Race: Greatest Show on Earth

Boofing Zwicks



Charging Down Stream

The Gorilla

Go Left and Die

Saturday, November 1, 2008; Tuxedo Hydro Station will be releasing 1 unit at 100%....... With Fall in full swing, the first Saturday in November rolled around and ushered in "The Greatest Show in all of Sports", The Green Race! On this Saturday the best creekboaters in the world gather in Salida, North Carolina, to compete in the hardest and most extreme race in all of the world. And it was my pleasure to compete this year. The Green Race is a half mile race through one of the steepest stretches of whitewater in North America. The rapids on the Green River Narrows are some of the most famous rapids in all the world. With none topping the Gorilla, which is at the heart of the race course. This race is not only a test of skill it is a test of both physical and mental toughness. Knowing fully what I was undertaking, I began a strict training program in September. I paddled flat water, lifted weights, ran, biked, and Lapped the Narrows as much as possible in the two months leading up to the race. I came into the race in the best shape of my life both mentally and physically prepared for the hardest 6 minutes I have ever faced. "It's not all about winning, It's about fortune and glory. Running the Gorilla in front of 300 people when your tired... and trying to win." This pretty much sums up the race in the 13 races that have taken place less than 250 people have stepped up to the challenge and raced. Running the Green and Racing the Green are two totally different things and on November 1st, I found that out. Nearly 1000 people had hiked or paddled in to see the race. Being a first time racer, I was at the back of the pack. I felt very confident and a little relieved about being in the back. Not much pressure and hopefully the crowd had seen enough carnage and drank enough beers to have mellowed out. I had a good race for a 1st time finishing with a time of 6:39. And I was also really pumped to see all of my closest friends waiting for me as I hiked back up to watch the other racers. Thanks to all who came out and supported me, it really meant alot.

Just got back from Mexico, stay tuned for more.....

Gone Gauley

It's that time of year again, Gauley Season. This is one of my favorite times. A Great River, Great Fun, and Great Friends. Every year me and some of my closest friends, hit the Gauley and try to get to the Yough. But this year a couple things were different: Ben was out because of shoulder surgery, and we made it to the Yough. Anyway myself, Tinker a.k.a. Saulty Dog a.k.a. Glockman a.k.a. Running Bear a.k.a. Blueberry a.k.a. Mat Saul, and Nate headed up for our annual adventure to West "By God" Virginia for some "bigger" Water fun. Anyway this trip did not disappoint. This trip was full of fun like endering the Green Boat at Pillow Rock and hiking out the Green Boat up the Panther Creek Trail. Well the highlight of my trip this year was seeing Tinker hike his boat out with me and Nate both days and not pay to have it shuttled up top. Well enjoy the pics of past Gauley Trips.

Me Flying down the Gauley

Nate at Iron Ring
Nate in the Maul at Pillow
The Great Tinker
Typical Gauley Rapid we are in there somewhere
Tinker Getting some more Iron Ring
Me on Iron Ring
Hang Ten Tinker
Splat

You just had to be there

Nate Surfing
Here Nate comes
SPLAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah

Nate Boofing National Falls

Whipping it in the Eddy
Tinker
Tinker styiling the line at National Falls

Until Next Year.......

Summer Time Creeking

With Fay blowing into the Southeast, she brought some much needed rain. Which brought some much needed natural flow creeking to Chattanooga and LRC. Watching the rain fall all day, I knew I had to take off work the next day. So I did. Arriving at the North Chick about 10 am we found a perfect, highish level. So myself, Ben, Javid, and Mo bombed down one quick lap. Arriving at the take out there were a ton of local guys wondering about the wood situation and excited at thought of Cain and North Chick in August. I was meeting up with my good friend Nate Rozell for a second lap. I couldn't pass up on a double on one of my favorite creeks, especially when it's warm out. So we set shuttle and headed up. Nate was testing out his brand new Magnum 80 and I was working on breaking another Jefe. The run went super smooth. Nate watched my line at Vortex and then fired it off for his first time. We even hiked up Cooper for some hike and huck at Bed Time for Lothar. Then next day I met Adam Goshorn at 6:30 am for a dawn patrol LRC. I can't imagine a better way to start my day. Here's hoping for more rain, and waiting for Gauley Season.

Enjoy!

Nate after Big Splat
Nate getting some Vortex

Nate riding it out
Nate at North Chick Falls
Boof!
Me at North Chick Falls

Me Hucking Bed Time for Lothar

Nate Charging in the Magnum 80
Me Boofing
Me at Humpty on LRC
Stomping it down

Potomac Fest: They got rapids in DC???

So shortly after arriving back from Colorado Potomac Fest came around, so myself and Ben loaded up and headed north. We were both really pumped to run Great Falls of the Potomac and were planning to race having never been there before. Oh yeah Ben's shoulder was still messed up, but what's he supposed to do about it. So arriving in DC we crashed and got ready for a big morning of learning the lines. The next day we got up and Ryan Moore showed me and Ben down the Falls we got 10 laps and were feeling ready to race.

Ben on a practice run

Ben at grace under Pressure
Ben From above
Tucking


Ben Racing Down Stream

Me at grace under Pressure

Boof!


Running the Middle Finger
After 10 laps with really good water Ryan decided to show us down the Fish Ladder. the Fish Ladder is something they made along time ago to help fish get upstream. But now I think it is more a kayakers water park. Nothing but big slides. Fish Ladder is as about as fun as it gets.




Me and Ryan on the second slide

The Fish Ladder
Hitting the Hole




Just rolling down stream

Ryan going Fast

So after a good nights rest, we got up early and were ready to race. Only one problem we had a long commute to the falls. So we geared up and started the Class V trek to the Great Falls of the Potomac.

Gearing up in the Parking lot
About to start our Journey
Ben Hiking

Ben trying to get a Ticket
yeah that's what you think it is
Ben got really tired so he had to drag his boat

Nice little park and huck at the White House

A quick pic with BIG BAD JOHN
So after all that Hiking we were pretty hungry and luckily people in DC like to have BBQ's. So me and Ben stopped at one and ate with Miss T.

I had a mouthfull
Hanging with our new friends
MMMMMMMMMM! I love the BBQ.

So Finally it was time to race. The race was on the center lines which I guess are the high water lines so not as many people raced. Neither of us made top 10, but hell, we had good lines, a good time , and no DNF.

Big Davis doing what he does best going Fast

Charging around turn 4
Myself charging past grace Under Pressure
racing
After the race, I went back for one more final lap before I met up with Ben and John for the party. All in all it was a great weekend, met alot of cool people, and yeah they do have rapids in DC. Big Ones!