Long overdue update and media dump

It's been months since I've even thought about updating this thing, but I have been very busy, paddling a lot, and there is now much to update about. I will try to keep the words to a minimum in this post, and let the pictures and video do most of the speaking.


It's been a long time since the actual trip, but I finally edited some of the video from the Ottowa last spring. The quality isn't the best, but here it is:



This year I raced in the eastern qualifier for the LVM Giant Slalom Series. I have done many flatwater races in the past, but this was my first whitewater racing experience. The race had two parts, a downriver portion from the Big Hungry confluence to right below Chief, and the slalom part which was two laps on the awsome course set up in the slides below Gorilla. The race was a blast, and when all was said and done I had made the top 20 and qualified for the final race, scheduled for the end of August. As you may know, the organizers were unable to secure the extended release necessary due to the drought, and the final race was cancelled. Provided there is enough water next year, I will definitely be out there racing again.

Racing through Zwick's in the downriver portion

Coming around gate #3

Later in the summer I had the oppourtunity to paddle the Raven Fork for the first time. I had been looking forward to this experience ever since hiking the Raven a year earlier. We wasted no time on the hike in or on the river, as is always the case when paddling with Jeff, so I didn't even take my camera. There are no words to accurately describe how amazing this place is, so I won't even try. I just can't wait to go back!


As summer came to an end and classes began, I started to focus on getting ready to compete in my first Green River Narrows Race. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a Green boat over the summer, and was excited to start training in it. Everything was going great until the weekend before the race when my boat cracked during a practice run. I owe a huge thanks to Ben Davis, who was layed up with a shoulder injury, for letting me race his boat this year. I decided to compete inthe Ironman, racing both long and short boats. This was a lot of fun, and made for a full day of paddling and hiking. I could go on for paragraphs about how the race went, but just check out the video.



It is now winter in the southeast, and that means true creeking season. A month or so ago I got up to the Lower Cullasaja at a fluffy 4.5 feet on the gauge. I put together a video with some of the footage that Alex shot and it was recently featured on Immersion Research's website. Here's the link:


http://www.immersionresearch.com/2008/12/17/when-it-rains-in-the-southeast/


And here's the video:








Recently we've had a pretty big rain event that has left many rivers still holding water. I got on Go Forth Creek at low water for a few runs after finishing my last final at school in the morning. When I got to Go Forth all I had with me was my Corsica, so oldschool I went:

The next day started at 5am as we headed for the Bear. Jeff, Cory and I put on at daylight with a fun level of 14 inches. I got three runs in before the cold go to me, Jeff and Cory did five. On the third day in a row of natural flow, I got two runs on Suck Creek. All was fine and dandy there until Kuckle Head on the second lap.

Photo: Jordan Rice

I flipped onto the rock at the top and rolled back up as I went over, tearing a muscle or tendon in my ribcage. It's only a minor tear so I was able to paddle to the bridge, but I'm taking a few weeks off to let it heal.

I may have written a litte more than I originally intended, but oh well.

Happy Holidays,

-David Cohen

Big Three on the Green

It's been a while since I've put anything up here but the results from yesterday's trip to the Green are blog-worthy. I headed up in the morning with some guys from ATL and we made it on the river by about 11. We cruised on down to Go Left and hopped out so a couple of the guys could scout and run it their first time. Here's a couple pics of Robbie and myself going left.

Yours truly

Robbie

After Go Left my mind was set on Gorrilla, I wasn't really satisfied with my first run having my skirt implode. I wasn't nearly as nervous this time either and was very deliberate with stroke placement.

In the Notch

Spankin' it

I got a little sideways when I landed in the flume and ended up in Speed Trap. I was so happy about being right side up and still having my skirt on though that I was smiling the whole time I surfed it.

Robbie fired it up also and had a good line.

I was feeling pretty good so when we got to Sunshine I got out to scout. After looking at it for a minute I made my decision and ran Sunshine for the first time, taking the left line. Here's a photo and video, courtesy of Mason and Greg (Please excuse the excessive yelling ;).

I gotta say it was pretty scary, but felt really good. Robbie took a few minutes to think it over and decided to try the left line as well.

Success!

It was a great day on the river for sure, and definitly my best on the Green.

On a playboating note, Toby and I met up at the Ottawa a couple weeks ago for some Mini Bus action. we are still compiling photos and a few video clips and will be posting that soon. Till then, later!

-David

Spring has sprung in the Southeast

With the weather warming and the dams releasing, the last few days have been good to me as far as boating goes. Last weekend was the first Tallulah release of the year, and my first time running the gorge. We put on Saturday around 10:30 and had a great run. The run is pretty short form the putin to the lake, but there are some really fun rapids along the way. Oceana was big and fast, and the hole at Bridal Veil is big and scary looking. We paddled across the lake, ran shuttle and got a second run in at a pretty good pace. Sunday we woke up to sore legs and 700 cfs. We put on a little later, and went a good bit slower so we only got one lap in but the extra water made it extra fun. Here's a few pics.

Dropping into the middle line on Oceana

Out at the bottom

Mason staring down the Thing

A few days later I made it back up to the Green for the first time this year. The weather was great and the level was a nice 8 1/2". For the first mile or so we boogied down at a good pace until we got to Gorilla. I've really been itching to run Gorilla so when we got there I hopped out, took a look at the Notch and decided to give it a go. I got in my boat, dropped over the right side of Pencil Sharpener, and ferried across into the eddy. I took a moment to get my head right, then peeled out and charged at the Notch. I came through and didn't think I would make the eddy so a took a few strokes and there I was, boofing off the pad. Upon landing in the flume and hitting speed trap I flipped. I rolled up and realized my boat was underwater, my skirt had imploded! Longer story short, I swam Scream Machine and it took a while to get back in my boat which also ran Powerslide without me. Anyways, here are the photos.

You can tell the skirt has imploded here, half the boat is underwater as I'm about to roll.

Thats it for now, more paddling to come this weekend so look for another post in about a week.

Peace,

David