Snowboarding in the Utah Powder, Matt Carter

Winter River Ramblings

So it is that time of year again. Time to put away the paddle for a few months, and take out the snowboard, or skis (if your'e into that). When I was a teenager, I lived for this. I would sit on my parents couch (the same one they gave me for my apartment when I "grew up" and still use now) and watch the snow pile up on the mountains. I hit the mountain at least 60 days a year throughout high school. I thought I was going to be the next Jeremy Jones, snowboarding everyday, and never wanting to see the snow melt again.

Then something happened. The summer after I graduated high school, I took a job guiding some boats in Jackson, Wyoming. I had some friends talk me into it. I was pretty reluctant at first, but my first day on the river changed all that. I decided it was ok if the snow melting meant that we would have waves and eddies and current in the river. It was my new obsession. In just over a week, I had gone from being obsessed and addicted to snowboarding, to thinking about traveling to South America so I could get two summers in a row. Such is the power of the river.

There is only one problem. When I snowboard now, I only think about the river. If there is something flowing in February, I would rather hit that than a couple feet of our famous Utah powder (spoiled, I know). So I say to all you boaters out there, enjoy the dreams of endless whitewater, and try to enjoy the long winter. Hopefully you can make some trips to the warmer climates like Costa Rica to enjoy your paddling fix. If not, then at least do so in your dreams.

Let's get up-to-date

A couple months ago we received our first major shipment of boats to deliver to our customers. We were thrilled. The order contained boats of every size and was to be shipped out to river-rats around the country. We had worked for months to get everything arranged. Things were finally starting to look good.

We pulled out each of the boats and began our inspection process. They looked beautiful. Everything was right with the world. Arne even threw one of the boats in his truck and hand delivered it to a customer in Moab, Utah (really, he was just looking for an excuse to get down to the beautiful deserts of the Beehive State).

And then the unthinkable happened. Within a few days, we discovered a major defect in the product: the glue was bad. As soon as it got a bit of direct sunshine on there, it all came undone. No boat on that order was worthy to float. We were going to have to issue a massive refund.

And that's where we've been ever since: gathering the money to pay back our dear customers and friends. Fortunately, that task has now been accomplished (much to the demise of our personal bank accounts). We feel blessed to have had some extremely patient, understanding, and forgiving customers. Thank you to all those who were willing to stick it out with us. We know it took extreme patience and kindness on your part. You're amazing people.

As of now, we're still figuring out the kinks. We do not want to repeat this process. Our number one goal in this outfit is to provide QUALITY boats at a great price. But when that goal is compromised, we won't stand for it. So for now, until we get this figured out, we are not taking any new orders. We just can't stand the thought of sending someone down a creek on cruddy rubber.

We'll let you know when we're ready to go at it again. Thank you for your patience. Until next time, happy boating.

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