I was thinking about skipping this event because I heard that the hole was really shallow and not worth going to. I am more interested in quality paddling than to hit every event just because. However, I am very much attracted to quality events that are professionally run, have intense competition, and support some kind of good cause. This first professional whitewater event for the Reno/Tahoe area was a huge success, and incredibly fun. Let’s start off with the basics:

1. The hole allowed moves such as my own “McNasty”, the new “Phonics Monkey”, Air Loops, Tricky Woos, all cartwheel tricks, Back Loops, Space Godzillas, etc. Yes, it was shallow and was not the ultimate playspot, but if I lived in the area, it would be a place I would play because of the convenience and the location, and it is good enough to learn tons of tricks in and get a great workout.
2. The City, Convention bureau, Tourism board, and casinos were all behind the event, offering free hotels, fun parties, free food, and cash prizes.
3. There were tons of kayakers there from California, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, etc. to watch the event, do free clinics, and have a good time in town.
4. There was lots of media in town to cover the event each day and show off kayaking to those unfortunate folks that haven’t discovered it for themselves yet.
5. The Reno police let me park my RV and Mini for 5 days while taking up 4- two hour parking spots right next to the park, very cool.
6. There was both a Boatercross and a Pro Invitational Freestyle Event.
   My kids got to paddle daily.
7. I paddled well as did my competition, friend, and local favorite, Jay Kincaid.
   

Article in San Fransisco Chronicle about the Reno Whitewater Park

Here is how it went:

Women

The event started off in the morning with Prelims for Men and Women. The women went first and they took it to the top three. Brooke Winger, Nikki Kelley, and Tiffany Manchester all had great rides to put them into finals (top 3).

In the Women’s Finals- Brooke won the first round by a few points over Nikki, and getting knocked out was Tiffany Manchester who’s score was much lower than in prelims. In the Final round- Brooke busted out a great Felix, along with a flurry of clean ends both ways to beat Nikki’s front loop and “rock wheels” where she just couldn’t keep her boat from hitting bottom. Good win for Brooke.

Men

In the Men’s class- the cut was to the top 6 in prelims.

Prelims Results

1. Eric Jackson
2. Dustin Urban
3. Bryan Kirk
4. Jay Kincaid
5. Billy Harris
6. Jimmy Blakeney
7. I don’t remember the order of Javid Grubbs, Rusty Sage, Jesse Murphy, Pat Keller, Josh Matsel, and one more. Sorry. This is by memory here.

Semi-Finals

1. Eric Jackson- 352
2. Dustin Urban- 313
3. Jay Kincaid- 294
4. Bryan Kirk
5. Billy Harris
6. Jimmy Blakeney

Finals Round 1

Eric Jackson- 391
Jay Kincaid- 331
Dustin Urban- 299

Finals Round 2 for the win

Jay Kincaid- 456
Eric Jackson-448

The finals round was so incredibly exciting for me. The heat kept getting turned up on each round. There was no holding back on the semi-finals and first finals rounds for anybody, and the crowd was getting loud.

In the final round, Jay left the eddy and started throwing his boat around like a shark tearing apart its kill. No move was done on less than full power and Jay has some power in his 190 pound body. He was having trouble with his McNasty and pulled it from his routine, but added a Felix left, and a left Tricky Woo to compliment his Air Loop, Loop, all clean cartwheels right and left, as well as both Phonics Monkey’s. When the buzzer went off he pulled into the eddy to a screaming crowd and I patiently waited for his score. I ferried over to the other side of the river to congratulate him an a great ride. His score came up at 456! That was the biggest score yet by over 50 points. It was the best ride ever done in the history of this hole, period. The announcers asked if I had a ride in me that could beat that one. I gave the only answer I know, “of course I do”. To put everything in perspective, I did a quick stern stall and took a look at the beautiful blue sky above, with a pigeon, and a hawk overhead. Once satisfied that life was good, no matter what happened, I let my bow slowly fall and turned my attention to the hole. I quickly did the math and knew that if I added a lefty Felix to my ride and nailed all of my big moves, I could beat him without a single cartwheel, and still have 10 seconds left to do any move I wanted. A smile was on my face since this is what being a competitor is all about.

I peeled out with speed and threw my fastest Felix to come up in position to look at Jay and say, “NASTY” as I threw my first left McNasty. It was a big one, and I could feel that the moves would be coming easily. I quickly surfed back into position to do my righty McNasty. I was the only one there who had one to throw, that was one ace up my sleeve. My Righty was a little slower, but I was able to stall out on my bow long enough to look Jay in the eye as he sat with a grin on his face that was saying, “It’s Game On!” and then tucked for the loop to finish the move. I then did my lefty Felix, which, I must admit I was a little embarrassed to do, because it was a little cheesy for that spot. I didn’t look at anybody after that move, that was like buying some insurance when the Blackjack dealer has an Ace up. You hate to do it but it pays off. I then went for my front air loop but didn’t get a good “pogo” off the bottom that time and only pulled a loop, no air. I was still way up on Jay at that point in his ride, so I didn’t bother to go for it again, because that is when bad things start to compound. I went right to my Tricky Woo which came easy enough. My righty Phonics Monkey was next and I did the pirouette over on river right, next to the eddy where Jay was looking a little more intensely at my boat and not my face. (I find that I paddle better when I am doing my moves for the crowd, not for my self, so I make the time to either watch the judges, my wife, my kids, or my competition. In this case, Jay was my victim and he was getting my attention. My Phonics Monkey to the right was OK, not like I would use it in a “how to” video, but good enough to count. I went immediately to the left Phonics Monkey and did a nice pirouette to the left but fell out of it before doing the loop. I quickly reset and tried again only to do it again. Now, I looked up at Jay and said, “I’m not finished yet” and did a sweet one on my third try, only to blow my 10 second “free time” and then I did my signature Mystery Move under the hole, coming back to the surface, starting with the “peace sign” parascope coming up first, then my head and boat. I was happy. That was my best ride in this hole yet and I was certainly on par with Jay’s ride, but not so far ahead to be able to call the winner without the help of the judges and the added scores.

Within minutes, the organizers had the top six men and top three women up on the awards getting their, “check’s in the mail” letter and sweet silver “rodeo buckle”.

Everybody got theirs before they announced second place in the men’s. I heard a word that rhymed with Jay and was sure the announcers were going to say his name as second place. But, instead, I heard my name, and then they announced Jay as the Champion of the Reno Pro Invitational. It hit hard, only because I wanted the win, and felt I had it. I got over it in a few seconds and was already looking for our next meeting where I intend to settle the score. There were three judges and all scores are added together. Two of the three judges had me at 4 points over Jay, but one had me at 16 less than him. That put him at 8 points over me. Jay isn’t at all insecure in his, abilities, so I can talk smack with him and even do a little dig now and then with no negative effect on our friendship. He does the same. On this day, I just reminded him that I am still competing in my river running playboat, and that he will have to step it up when I start competing in my rodeo boat, the All-Star. He laughed, of course, but I got him thinking. It also got me thinking how happy I am that my Fun family is performing like I hoped on both waves and holes on the playboating side of things.

Anyway, I can’t wait to tell you about Emily’s head to head racing abilities.

EJ