May 1, 2  Bull Run River

This is to announce or remind you of the clinic/camp/get-together we are having at the Bull Run slalom site (near Sandy, Oregon) this coming weekend. We’ll be practicing, videoing, getting some coaching and celebrating on Sat and Sunday beginning around 11 am, Sat.  There are currently about 18 gates and we intend to expand this by adding a few more going down the drop at the end of the permanent course.

The river is class III and its important to have a reliable roll, as there are sharp rocks.  But the course will have lots of beginner moves and all are welcome, especially those paddling plastic boats (creek boats, playboats, old longer boats, whatever you paddle – come on out).  We will try our best to tailor coaching to those of all abilities.

Be sure to check the gauge, because there is a real possibility that we will have to cancel this, snow pack is low this year.   See: http://www.wkcc.org/levels/?P=Oregon.html If the Bull Run at Bull Run is at 500 cfs or above, the clinic will be on. If its lower than 500 cfs its cancelled and we won’t be there. The river goes up and down quickly so check before you come.  At levels above 1700 cfs eddies tend to disappear and it gets pushy, but we don’t expect this.

Your contact person is David Johnson johnsoda7@hotmail.com (note that the original OKCC message had this email address wrong). 503 977 3998

Come make 2010 a record year for not only the “most participants” but the “most recreational racers” at the Cedar Whitewater Races!  Drag all your paddling friends with you!!  Information below or go to www.nwwhitewater.org

The WASHINGTON KAYAK CLUB PRESENTS….

CEDAR RIVER WHITEWATER RACES

MARCH 13-14, 2010

This event is Northwest Cup Race #1 for Slalom and Downriver and is a USA Regional Team qualifying event for Juniors, Seniors and Masters.  It’s also just a lot of fun and a perfect event for those new to slalom racing.  The race is open to all ages of boaters and types of whitewater craft. The Cedar River is class II+.  Flow will be 390 cfs.  Flow and river information is available from the American Whitewater website at: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/2078/

Location: Landsburg Bridge – where the Cedar River crosses the Issaquah-Hobart Road.  Adjacent to the City of Seattle park at the Cedar River Watershed and the King County Regional Cedar River trail.  Home of the League of Northwest Whitewater Racers permanent slalom training site about 40 minutes east of Seattle.

Cost: $25/racer ($5.00 discount with proof of ACA membership (most WKC members are ACA members).  FREE to Spectators and Volunteers!  Special deals for Juniors!

SCHEDULE  – Downriver races on Saturday and Slalom races on Sunday.  The course is open for practice all day Saturday and Sunday until 10:30 am (Practice gates are always up – race course will be set on Friday afternoon if enough folks are available.  E-mail me if you can help! Otherwise will be done Saturday morning -  if you come help, should be done in an hour.

Saturday – March 13

Registration – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

11:00 am – Downriver sprint runs

12:00 pm – Boater Cross sprint event??

3:00 pm – Downriver Classic race

Sunday, March 14

2:00 am — Daylight savings – Don’t forget to move your clock ahead one hour!!

9:00 am – Late registration ($5.00 extra fee)

10:00 am – Registration closes

10:45 am – Racer’s Meeting

11:30 am – Morning Runs

1:30 pm  – Afternoon Runs

3:00 pm – Team Runs

AWARDS – following course take-down

VOLUNTEERS always needed and appreciated:

1. Course Construction on Friday or early Saturday morning
2. Timers for the Downriver sprint and classic races on Saturday
3. Judges and Timers for the Slalom race on Sunday
4. Registration assistance on Saturday

THE CEDAR RIVER RACES are organized by the Washington Kayak Club  www.washingtonkayakclub.org and the League of Northwest Whitewater Racers  www.nwwhitewater.org

Sanctioned by the American Canoe Association:   www.americancanoe.org

With specials thanks to Seattle Public Utilities

Meet Arturo Oropeza- our masterful Costa Rican partner who wows, and dazzles all of our students.  I was met at the airport by his big smile, and new this years trips were going to be better than ever.  A late night red eye from Portland flew through Newark, and on to San Jose.  Did a bunch of Roll practice in the pool with Ciado, and we all headed to the canopy tour tomorrow.  Then off to several of Costa Rica’s best rivers!  Next week we will be working with a bunch of kids (age 9-14) so it is time to go scout all the sections before they arrive.  If you are reading this from North America- sorry- it is 85 degrees right now, and NICE!

If you are interested in Costa Rica 2010, drop me a line at sam@eNRGkayaking.com.

This is a pretty amazing story about a Team River Runner protege.  Rob is one of those guys who achieves no matter what challenges he is faced with.  I first met him on a visit to Walter Reed in 2007, and I new instantly that he would be a role model for the Team River Runner program.  Now he is a shining star.  His paddling is phenominal… his attitude, one that anyone can learn from.

Check out his story in this video http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4623294&categoryid=3286128

Situated about 95 miles west of Portland, Oregon, the town of Nehalem and surrounding areas offer some of the Oregon coast’s most diverse paddling venues.

The town sits right on the Nehalem River. You can do a car shuttle paddle from 6-10 miles upstream into town. Paddling in Nehalem Bay offers tidal conditions protected from the ocean by Nehalem Bay State Park. There’s also ocean kayaking and surfing.

The last week in May, I joined Sam as we guided Bob and Pam, two friends from Boise on a three-hour float on Nehalem Bay. They had been paddling with Sam several days that week, and this was their last outing. We also had two others along – Max, our intern, and Barney – a digital videographer from Portland.

We loaded up the boats and cars early in the morning at Northwest River Guides’ headquarters. We managed to arrive exactly at the pre-arranged spot at 11:00 a.m. in the town of Wheeler, also on the Nehalem River. Bob and Pam seemed to be in high spirits as the day’s weather looked perfect.

As the tide was dead low and coming in, the idea was to launch out at Nehalem Bay State Park boat launch, out in the bay, and ride the incoming tide into the river and end back in Nehalem. After an initial briefing on the bay, safety considerations and boat orientation, we headed off. Looking out into the bay, one could see buoys tilted toward Nehalem, away from the bay – indicating an incoming current. The speed of the current was evident by floating objects moving with it. The tide was still very low, exposing much of the mud. We explored the north side, checking out the mud islands and the narrow rivers of tide running between, filling up the gaps. Before long, tiny wave trains of tidal rush sprang up. Fauna included crabs, hundreds of clams, fish, ospreys, bald eagles, and great blue herons. While there is a herd of Roosevelt Elk on the north side of the bay, we didn’t see them. As we neared the town of Wheeler, we took a side inlet which cut off our route from the main river. We hoped the rising tide would lift us enough for passage around one of the islands.

Exploring the inlet was great fun. It did in fact lead to a way out to the main river at the end, and since it was below the headland, it was protected from the ever increasing sea breeze. It was warm and relaxing in this area. You can’t witness this natural setting in a motorized boat – it’s just too shallow. Once in the main river, we could see we weren’t far from our take out.

We had a great paddle with Bob and Pam at Nehalem Bay!

Introductory kayak trips on the Willamette River are some of the funnest classes we do here at Northwest River Guides.  The trip begins  at Sellwood Park with some great instruction from our certified guides.  Then we paddle down to Ross Island to enjoy some great wildlife and views of downtown Portland from the river.  I hope to see you on a trip soon! -Dave

All smiles on the Willametter River, Portland, OR.

British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast is home to some of the most stunning and spectacular landscapes in the world.  Seaside mountain peaks and glaciated fjords, blanketed with evergreens.  Deep, clear water teeming with life.  And a natural wonder unlike any other, Skookumchuck.  Skook is a surfer’s paradise and one of the most reknowned kayaking spots in the world.  Join Northwest River Guides’ professional instructors for a trip full of fun, laughter and learning.  Aug 15-20, 2009.  For more information or to register, call 503.772.1122.

Northwest River Guides Instructor Ben Liotta surfs Skook