It’s racing time in the southeast! With the fall colors also comes some of the best extreme races the southeast and maybe the country has to offer. This past weekend saw 52 racers (a new record by more than double) hammer their way down the Russell Fork in eastern Kentucky. The result new records, good swims, and a little moonshine to top it all off. Here’s the top three:
Overall
1. Andrew Holcombe in the Dagger Greenboat 10:03
2. Bryan Kirk in the wavesport Momentum 10:14
3. Chris Gragtmans in the Dagger Greenboat 10:16
Women
1. Robin Betz in the Liquid Logic 100% 11:41
2. Laura Farrell in the Dagger Greenboat 12:01
Hand Paddler
1. Keith Sprinkle
For complete results and video check out www.lvmvideo.com. Now we’ve all got a week to rest up for the big one, that’s right the Green Race coming November 1st!
be safe
Andrew Holcombe
Ed stands on tiptoes so he doesn't look shorter than me:)
Fellow Palm paddler Ed Smith and I became the 2008 Freestyle British Champions at Holme Pierrepont last weekend. Despite the low turnout due to other events and several paddlers already on their winter travels the competition was tough and we were up against the locals in my favourite HPP spot: the ‘Muncher’.
I was defending my title, and the heats showed that Jenny Chrimes and Claire O’Hara were the ones to beat. A knockout final format (as we were using current ECA, rather than the provisional ICF rules) meant that everything was to play for. Although as always, and especially given my high-scoring first ride, I would have much preferred a ‘best of 3’ final. I was hoping to repeat the clean cartwheels and super-clean spins of the first round; instead my rides gradually got worse, but thankfully so did everyone else’s – and I took the lead in each round. The final round was close between Jenny Chrimes and myself: a repeat from last year but I just came out ahead to take the Championship Title for the second year running.
Going for cleans
Attempt at a victory loop.
With the fickle nature of a knockout final the win for the men could also have been taken by anyone and the lead changed on each of the first 3 rounds. Local paddler Jon Best had a surprise exit in 5th place after winning the prelims. Ed had convincingly won the semis with the highest score of the competition but he only just scraped through to stay in the finals in round 2. He started to throw down the big moves again though with air loops and McNasties
Ed McNastying
and won the next 2 rounds ahead of Alan Ward and Sam Anderson, giving him the British Championship title, a union jack bib and, most importantly, a little Smurf trophy!
My trophy
Flea
