Little River Canyon 2-5-2009

It was a low water day on LRC, but its always a good day when I'm on the water and especially on such a crown run.

For while now we have been putting in at the falls consistently, as apposed to the standard Suicide section put in (even when the water is too low to run the falls). See what we do is simply put in on the middle ledge of the typical river left LRC falls line. It starts the day off with a blast and all smiles for us. Below is a photo of Ray Morton taken by me, i really like this one. And above is a photo of me taken by Ray.

After good times and lines at the entrance falls, we headed off down the canyon. Passing up the photo opportunities of "Are you ready", "Martha's ledge","Mammoth", and "Terminal Eddy" rapids (for what reason i don't know)but we did however stop at "Avalanche" were i snapped some good photos of Danny and Cruise. (below)

Next up was "Mushroom boof" and some boogie until "Cable Falls." Cable Falls at low water has a couple options both at the top drop and the bottom drop, but the traditional low water line is far river left and here are a couple pictures of Ray and I on that line....

The bottom drop of Cable falls at low water has and still is one of my favorite moves out there. Its a drawn out flare into a two foot wide foam pile channel that you ride out. Here is the only successful photo of the day of my taken by Cruise.

Then it was boogie on down to "Pinball falls" and its eddy hops. This has been my favorite rapid on the canyon since i first ventured in. It involves about 100 yards of class 4/5 eddy hopping or charging ,with many possibilities for lines, spilling directly into the meat of Pinball the falls dropping about 12 to 15 feet between two undercut boulders. Followed shortly by a couple ledge drops. We all had a blast charging straight into Pinball and never got out to take any photos or video......unfortunately.

So here is a picture of me running the main drop of Pinball from another day.

But we set our sight on another lap on Suicide and headed for it.

The second lap was a blast never getting out of the boat at all and finishing the lap in just under 15 minutes followed by a hike out to our ride at Pinball.

Til next time, pray for rain

-charlie simmons-

Team Wavesport, Shredready, Ophion paddles, SkirtworkS, and Bombergear

Locust Fork Invitational 2009

Well the Alabama Slalom race season has begun, and it started with last weekends Locust Fork Invitational.

Three race events combined make what is called the Alabama Cup series; the Locust Fork Invitational, the Mulberry Fork Canoe and Kayak races, and another race hosted at the Locust fork, all of the Warrior river.I competed in Mens C1, Mens K1, and Boatercross. The Boatercross race is a mass start, "free for all", type race. It was a blast! Although only making fourth place, the boatercross race brought the most smiles all round to both racers and spectators.

Mens C1 category was pure fun for me this year. I didn't have anything to loose seeing as i have never competed in it before at this race series. But to my amazement i won 1st place! I look forward to further advancing in canoe categories.Mens K1 was good fun as well, and again although i only got 4th place, i was the first place plastic boat finish in the category. I was extremely exhausted when going into my kayak heats, because they were directly after my C1 heats, and each time i had plenty of energy for my C1 heat and then nothing for my k1 heat...... but thats how it goes sometimes.Anyway, im really looking forward to rest of the Alabama cup series of races, and hope to see ya out there!


-charlie-
Wavesport kayaks, ShreadReady helmets, Ophion Paddles, Bombergear, SkirtworkS

Photo Dump!!- enjoy

So Ive been out boating non-stop lately and i have a lot of photos and stories to upload, but to get a huge jump start on it all. So here are a bunch photos all courtesy of my buddy Wes Brown, thanks a lot bro!

Lunch Stop wave- Mulberry forkTallapoosa River- Andy's couldron flareLocust Fork- Ender holeTallapoosa- boofMulberry Fork- Lunch stopJohnnies Creek- entrance fallsMulberry ForkTraveling paddle wagon- new years campoutMe!

Thanks again for all the sweet photos Wes.

-charlie-

Team WS,SR,Ophion,BomberGear,SkirtworkS

Playboating in my Project 52

So with all the recent rain i have been able to get on some great creeks and rivers lately, and had a blast doing so. But all in all i have been missing a good 'ol playboating throwdown session, so over Christmas and New Years break i took to the Locust and Mulberry Forks of the Worrior river in North central Alabama.

With plenty of waves and holes to chose from we had a great time, i felt like i was returning to my roots.......... i have recently been creek boating so avidly that its been a while since i felt the rush, power, and speed of a play feature.

I want to take this opportunity thank my Sponsors, Wavesport kayaks, Ophion paddles, ShredReady Helmets, BomberGear, and SkirtworkS. They provide the best gear, with the best support so make SURE to check them out!

signing out

-charlie-

Little Uchee Creek - satans garden falls

11/30/2008

Yesterday Steven,Wes, and I ventured out to Satans Garden, the falls on Little Uchee Creek. Steven has just bought his first creek boat, and having only been boating since this summer, hasn't had the opportunity to jump on ANY natural flow rivers. So given the first rain of the season coming through we went out, even if it was ELF flow.

Wes and i haven't made it out to the Uchee in quite some time, so needless to say i was a little off on the directions............But we finally made it just in time for some sundown park and huck.

I still haven't picke up my Wavesport Boats, so i was in my Jefe C1, and Steven in his Jefe kayak. Wes B took the photos, thanks bro.

anyway here they are.

And here is one of steven too.

Until nextime

-charlie

Jefe + boredom = C1 creeking

11-23-2008

Zach and I went to the Tallapoosa today to run the creeklines. He kept calling it running the creek lines in alternate crafts, because he was in his Ronin and i was in my Jefe C1. It was all good. We each fired it all up and had a blast doin it. Heres a photo dump.

Tallapoosa River- creek lines in C boats too!

The Tallapoosa River The Tallapoosa river, thurlow section, offers great whitewater at all levels possible! With big water releases offering up to 13,000 cfs, the Tallapoosa makes great playboating and wonderful BIG water lines all along the river and at especially at the falls. The falls alone offers up 5 standard lines, and as many more as you're willing to try.
But, as with any other dam released river, the Tallapoosa has a minimum low flow also, and only offers up anywhere from 400 to 2,000 cfs(depending on the drought.)

At the minimum flow the river has good attainments, eddy hops, but most importantly great creek boat lines at the falls. One of the few places that you can actually "practice" creekboating.

Here is a link to an OLD video i made a while back all about the "Creek Lines" in kayaks

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhCvdz55oPg

check it out and come back.......

So, i have been kayaking the Tallapoosa "creek lines" at least a year now. And by no means has it grown boring, but its always fun to throw spice in your life....

Lately i have been both open boating and C1ing the creek lines.

Here's a photo dump, all the pictures are of me and taken by Steven Naylor, all taken over the last week......

Photo Captions- 1. Me- Dagger Rival OC1- Horseshoe ledge 2. Zach sanders- sticky hole 3. Tallapoosa Falls 12,000cfs 4. Me- The falls 7000cfs 5. Me- Dagger Rival OC1- "The Stomp"line 6. Me- Dagger Rival- "The finger" on line. 7. Going back up for more 8. Me- Blown off the finger... but it was good too. 9. Me- Dagger Response C1- Horseshoe ledge 10-11. Me- Dagger Response C1- "The Finger".

Well, that's all for now but check back for more!

-charlie simmons-