Since flows are low and options are limited why not try something different? Christian and I are planning a little impromptu downriver race. We can nail down the details once we see who wants to play, but it will look something like this:

I would certainly be up for this if my doctor didn't specifically tell me to not do whitewater paddling for another two months.

Stupid back surgery. :(

On the bright side, shaun, its not a bad time to sit things out. Its easy for me to say, but just imagine how stoked you'll be to hit the water after letting things heal properly. Try to imagine how awesome the Wenatchee will be long after you've shaken the rust off and are surfin in the sun...

Darren: Good call. I'm in. Looking forward to it.

YES, I have a spare longboat that someone could use if they wanted.

A relay would be a fun way to have a person who doesn't want to run BD to participate, but I like the ideal of a cable to split as well.

Edited by Jed Hawkes - 15 Dec 2011 at 1:11pm

could do a watch relay, start your watch, pass it off, stop your watch, honor system. Just a thought.

Agreed- I've always been able to switch back n forth from "race mode" to chillax by the side of the river mode.

When I boated back east I had circles of paddlers who always jammed downstream like life was a race, with no missed strokes in the flats, no pauses, no floating. I also had freinds who would make multiple stops along the way, get out stretch, ect.

When I got out here I wondered why more boaters didn't "stop and smell the roses", either by working rapids slowly with attainments or eddying out simply to more closely observe rapids and their buddies running them. Or by getting out and hanging out in the sun. Then I realized "oh yeah- there ain't no sun here". At least not most of the year. It is cold in these canyons. People want to keep moving and its understandable.

But I find my pacing doesn't generally match the prevailing culture here (or maybe its a "now" thing more than a "here" thing): boaters tend to move through most of my favorite spots (like "Let's Make A Deal" in the Upper Green Gorge, for example) too quickly when I'd like to be hanging out working the riv, and then people, partucularly novice boaters, tend to float the flats, which is an area of the river I find less interesting and slow and therefore want to move through quickly by paddlng. To each their own, it just means I'm odd man out, I guess.

The more I come to understand others' habits and patterns as well as my own, the more I'm cool with it. It does mean I tend to solo more lately, or more deliberately seek out the few like minded boaters here that I know. Other times I love boating with big throngs of PPeeps, like on the Sky when, like, 30 boaters show up on a sunny day. Sorry- getting off topic.

I like showing up to the put in knowing what to expect at any rate. Saturday I expect to paddle my ass off as fast as I can, and I expect to probably lose sight of Darren and Christian's helmets pretty quickly after looking at the backs of them for only a few rapids. Oh well. Perhaps it will serve as a humbling impetus to get into better shape.

would love to give both those boats a try, still haven't sat in a green boat.

Come on other folks out there, I don't want to be the only one out there sucking wind at the back of the pack, there has to be other takers in that department. Come out because there is nothing else running, and for the challenge of paddling fast, I'm not even gonna talk trash like I did for the PP ball race last year.

I think everyone who came out had a good time. I know I did. We raced short boats first then long boats. Cable Drop to Split Rock. Andrew paddled away with big gaps between him and the rest of the field in both disciplines. Here are the results:

Nice work, boys!! I'll have to get my 'flatwater' on ...til next year.

Once I get the go-ahead to paddle again from the Doc, I will be up for getting my ass kicked at one of these. Sounds like fun!

hell yah jp!

Thanks, Christian! I wanted to hold onto your stern but kept slipping back- I know it sounds lame to blame the Greenboat, and really I was just too tired on the 2nd lap, but I honestly believe the chines on the Market Version make a huge difference: didn't have trouble keepin it on line in the EFL race a few years back. That proto type really wanted to veer when I wasn't exactly on line, with exactly the right body english.

But I also enjoy geeking out on these details. There was a time when I didn't have the confidence in my perceptions to make these statements with certainty. These days, however, after paddling so many boats, I'm pretty sure of what I feel and can differentiate between my performance and a boat's. (Yes I did suck on lap two, but the boat sucked at least as much).

What it all tells me is to make sure I get a production Greenboat with the 2' chines under the cockpit, and not a prototype. It has a more "U" shaped haul, which makes it just a smidgeon less of the 21st century design I so admire.

Anyway, if u ever hear of a Greenboat (production model) being sold, try to think of me first! Some more time in one would definitely do me good.

As far as New Year's, I have to get permission from Bret. He's planning an OP extravaganza, and unless its boney as all hell low, I'm obligated to go. But if stuff remains dry, there is a likelyhood...