I aint no hipster (not that there's anything wrong with that)

Bryson here. So earlier this week I made a new purchase: a fixie road bike. Now, for those of you who might not know what a fixie is, it's a single speed bike without a freewheel- meaning it can't coast and the pedals are always in motion when the bicycle is moving. Kind of a bad idea when you live in the mountains of Utah seeing as you can't shift gears when you head up a 20% graded hill every morning like I do. Or even worse, when I come down that crazy steep hill my pedals turn way faster than my feet ever could and I have to kick my legs out like a "spread eagle" to avoid having them ripped off. But nonetheless, the bike was a great price and I needed a new ride.

So I've been proud of my new ride and have been enjoying it quite nicely. However, there is one side effect I didn't really anticipate: all my friends think I'm turning into a hipster (not that there's anything wrong with that). Hipsters are great and all, but I aint no hipster. My legs are just too long and skinny to look good in those tight pants. Not to mention I prefer my Chacos over Vans any day. But yet everyone "accuses" me of becoming hip (i am, after all, moving to New York City this fall- but that's another story).

No, my Friends, I am not a hipster (not that there's anything wrong with that). In fact, I have absolutely no style whatsoever. I just ride a fixie. And why should hipsters have a monopoly on fixies anyway? Why can't non-hipster folk like myself ride fixies too? Even if it is hugely impractical to ride a fixie in the Wasatch Mountains. Don't I have a right to be impractical?

Big Water at Boo Boo Rapid

Sunday, April 18, marked the first release of the season in the Black Canyon of The Bear River (class IV/V) near Grace, Idaho. Over 85 kayaks showed up to paddle the gorge, but only one raft. And rest-assured it was a Big Water Raft. Here's the footage of our little 9.5 footer bouncing its way through "Boo Boo" (Class V). Props go out to Jason "Deuce" Laughlin for keepin er upright. He did manage to find some abusive basalt boulders to bounce off, but that's nothin our boats can't handle.

Black Canyon Fest!

What a great party! The Black Canyon Whitewater Festival was awesome. Great food, beer, music, and prizes. And best of all, the boating was off the hook. The Big Water team represented the rafting community as the only rubber on the water that day. In fact, we may have logged a first full decent (no portaging) in an inflatible. Anyone know for sure?

Here are some pics (for even more pics, click here):

Dropping in to Grace Falls

Andy in the middle of his "huck-off" winning airscrew

Music performed by the Archer's Apple

Jackson Hole Kayak Park? Hopefully!

Hey there all kayak enthusiasts- I got an email from a friend of mine up in Jackson Hole regarding the possibility of a new whitewater park in the Jackson Hole area. I've copied and pasted the email here for all to read and we would appreciate it if everyone could take the time to make their voice heard in the matter. Apparently the park would be near the Wilson Bridge just right outside Jackson, and it sounds like it would be sweet but it isn't a for sure think yet. This would be an awesome addition to that area. Please take the time and read the email that the boys at Rendezvous River Sports sent to me. Follow the instructions and take a few minutes to write to the town council showing your support for the funding. We might make the difference. I appreciate it. By the way, if people could post this in other places where boaters can see it, that would increase our chances as well. I just got this email, but I think that the deadline for submissions is tomorrow. If i would have known sooner, i would have posted. Also, all those that read this post should make a comment to the thread showing support. Maybe we can use this forum to help show support. Dane's email: Hey there everyone, We need to get as many kayakers to write in to the Town Council and County Commissioners in support of the Wilson Bridge Rec Area for SPET Funding. We also need to voice our support of having a play wave built as part of the project, right now the play wave is not a guaranteed part of the project, but it can be. All you have to do is write an email to the address' below. In the email state your support for SPET funding of the Wilson Bridge Recreation Area and that you want a kayak wave to be part of the project. If you want any more info on the Wilson Bridge Rec Area go to Snake River Fund-Jackson Hole Wyoming I know some of you already know all this, but I was hoping you could forward this email on to anyone who might be interested in commenting. Town Council: electedofficials@ci.jackson.wy.us County Commission commissioners@tetonwyo.org Thanks Dane

River quotes and messing about in boats

These past few days I've been working on our website quite a bit (you may have noticed the drastic changes). As I went along I thought it would be cool to add some classic river quotes. Back in the day when I was like 17 and working as a canoe guide for the Boy Scouts, I collected a whole bunch of em. I built a little night stand in my woodshop class and wrote the quotes all over it. I lost the nightstand somewhere in Jackson Hole, but I remembered some of the quotes. My favorite by far is this one by Water Rat from Wind in the Willows: "Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." Does it get any more profound than this? Messing about in boats? Could it be that this truly is the meaning of life?

Another quote I am rather fond of is from the classic book "A River Runs Through It." You may be familiar with it. Last summer I was at a open-mic poetry reading in Jackson, WY, when my good buddy T-Bone Babcock got up and recited from memory the beautiful closing soliloquy of Norman McClain. These final words have always stirred my soul:

Black Canyon Fest!

We got a new poster for the festival! So I thought I'd make another post about it.

What: Whitewater Festival in Black Canyon of the Bear River
Where: Grace, Idaho
When: Sunday, April 18, 12:00
Why: To kick off the season and help kids in Nepal go to school
What do I get: run the river, compete in the huck off, food, beverage, live music, tons of give aways.

Check out the Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=377720675925&ref=ts

Black Canyon Whitewater Festival!

Big Water is proud to help sponsor a whitewater festival on April 18th in the Black Canyon of the Bear River near Grace, Idaho! This is an amazing stretch of river that only runs a few times per year. Thank to the folks at AWA for keeping it open to boaters!

This is a beautiful class IV/V stretch and is a wonderful way to kick off the season. We encourage all of you (including those as far away as Montana, Oregon, and Colorado) to come and participate. There'll be food, beverage, paddling, music, a raffle, and all proceeds go to kids in Nepal so they can go to school. To learn more, check out the blog at http://blackcanyonbearwhitewaterfest.blogspot.com/