Archive by Author

The Countdown Begins for the 2012 Northwest Creeking Competition

Countdown has begun for the 2012 Northwest Creeking Competition on April 21, 22, 2012! With 8 days and counting, paddlers are getting in their practice laps and dialing in their lines! We’re hoping for good water levels, and some nice weather for this year’s event, allowing two days of some solid creek races in nearby…

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West Fork of the Hood River

The West Fork of the Hood River, located near the town of Dee is a fun Class IV run perfect for those with an after work time-crunch, or those looking for a fun day on the river.   Jesse in his firecracker Diesel 80 One Sunday afternoon Team Sundance decided to mosey over to the…

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Recap: 2012 Upper Wind River Festival

With the fifth annual Upper Wind River Festival postponed 1 week due to high flows, tension was building as race day grew near. Come race day, the level was a good medium flow of 5.8 feet, and racers were ready to rock and roll! Over 50 paddlers showed up, under clear blue skies, to race…

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Stretches for Paddlers

While we prepare for kayaking with all sorts of bright and colorful gear, we should never forget to prepare our bodies! Our muscles and tendons may be tight from being cooped up behind a desk all day, or are perhaps stiff and tired from yesterday’s paddle. Stretching these muscles will not only help prevent injury,…

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The Author Celebrating After a Successful Run Through Mule Creek Canyon

Team Sundance: Jim’s First Kayaking Experience!

My first, and so far only, experience with kayaking took place in June 2011 with Sundance Kayak School on the Rogue River. In the past, I have taken many canoe camping trips with my son, and other members of my family. As a result I expected that although kayaking would be challenging I would pick…

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Safety on the river

Kayaking is a team sport. You count on your buddies, and your buddies count on you. While you’re on the river, you should make your own decisions, and choose your own lines, however you should also keep an eye out for your buddies, and work as a team to move downriver through the rapids. Look…

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Reflections: Learning to Kayak

Do you remember the first time you sat in a whitewater kayak? The first strokes you took, or your first combat roll? I do, and I blame my sister 100% for getting me involved in kayaking. No doubt about it. My sister and I started kayaking in 2001. She was 13 and I was 11 years…

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Gear Review: Snap Dragon Design Whitewater Armortex EXP

Snap Dragon Design, based out of Bellevue, Washington is known as one of the premiere skirt-makers in the paddling industry: “We are avid participants in the worldwide sport of kayaking. Our distinctive designs arise from personal experience as well as through feedback from our customers. We seek to improve performance and comfort with the latest…

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Destination: Fern Ridge Wave, Oregon

Water Levels: 1050-1400 cfs on the Long Tom River Near Alvadore Description: While feature is known as the Fern Ridge Wave, it is more of a hole. It is created as water pours over slab of slanted concrete, which at the right levels, creates a gentle, but retentive hole. It’s deepest on the river left…

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Beautiful Water at Put-In for the North Fork of the Washougal

North Fork of the Washougal

Yesterday J.R. and I were excited to see a new section of river so we headed out to Washington’s Washougal River. Flows were a little low, but we really wanted to do some creeking and decided to check out the North Fork of the Washougal. We were immediately impressed with this beautiful canyon and the…

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