Surfski Knowledge Base

Reivers Dustin
07/24/16 #19735

Forget that fantasy paddle trip to Hawaii. So much going on at the gorge. You can find paddlers, gear and paddle buddies and even paddle your own boat. Highly suggest doing gradual skill building runs with someone who knows the river. Barges and gill nets are no joke. Wind will eagerly take your boat and/or paddle away from you. But the water is warm, the shore is not over the horizon and you don't have to sell any of your children to get there.

My lingering memories will be learning more about all the amazing paddle-folk. (Shout out to Beau from Jarko and Bren - they are looking for you in Vancouver SUP race). I learned what the heck is Rivers for Change (thx Judy J). Short version: rivers are circulatory system for our land and this new change agent can help us work past the obstacles to healthy rivers in common cause. So worthy and inspiring. I saw a new side to “fish hunter” David S., 'wave killer' Duncan, “airborne” Gwyn, … OK so all the men were cool dudes, all the women were beautiful and wise, all the children and dogs were above average. I also noticed the awesome powers of organizer Helen W.

The week had some nuclear days and regular fun days. The shuttle rides worked great. As the week went on the shuttle got super popular and began to get a little frantic. The run was perfect length. A couple of days were heavy for newer paddlers - there were a few rescues, but as far as I know no gear or body parts were lost. Rumor has it, you should not throw your paddle pants into the poison ivy. Our example of how not to be was Carter. But he quit scratching long enough to pull a race together. I put my boat down on a rock and had to put tape over the hole. (and forgot booties, and some other stuff). There was a day delay in the Wildside start for wind. The Gorge race pulled the trigger for Friday, but wind faded a little on the last half. My race was perfect. I managed to be a threat to Dean without beating him. He was my ride back home and I didn't want to walk back. Most common complaint was weeds (real or imagined). I had a good line until the last mile or so. The river giveth and the river taketh away. I need to pay more attention in school. We did a run Saturday and the wind was fantastic. Time for nap.

rd

girl on fire
Reivers Dustin
07/25/16 #19736

I just figured out how much Heather beat me by. (Plenty). David S. is right, she needs a new boat. One that is much slower.

rd

allipp01
07/25/16 #19741

http://www.gorgedownwindchamps.com/

Wednesday Night Dinner - Photos
Carter Johnson
07/28/16 #19753

https://www.facebook.com/GorgeDownwindChamps/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1048099838599400

Reivers Dustin
07/31/16 #19769

“Barbarian Days”, William Finnegan. Subtitle, “A Surfing Life”.

So much of the book translates easily to surfski language. LG told me about it and I'm getting close to finishing the read. Any of you guys who did high school in the 60's will see some familiar reflections. The stuff in the book about the early years woke up old fears and bullies. Maybe that's partly why I like it so very much. The background social stuff, having heroes and villains and feeling intimidated is good story.

But now, just after I paddled a week in the gorge it reads like someone understands this paddling thing. From the book, “A set rolled through, shining and roaring in the low winter afternoon sun, and my throat clogged with emotion - some nameless mess of joy, fear, love, lust, gratitude.”

Almost every downwind run I did in the gorge there was a time of feeling that nameless mess. When it ended well, the mess turned into fierce joy that I had taken in this juice and turned it into my own expression of energy and speed. Sometimes I struggled. I stayed overly keyed up the whole week. I would talk over somebody who was saying something more interesting than I was, or actually let myself get upset about things that didn't matter that much. Maybe some of you down there did this too. Forgive me if I was stupid. For my part, I know you were wound up like I was and I'm totally cool about everything.

Two things: give some effort to learning to paddle in wave energy. Read this book.

rd

philseu@…
07/31/16 #19770

I just read “Barbarian Days” and can also recommend it. It won a Pulitzer Prize.