June 30, 2004

Bruce Lessels and Karen Blom are the owners of Zoar and I have known them since the early 80’s. Bruce was a many time member of the US Slalom Team in C1. I spent a lot of time with him and Karen in Brazil in 1988. Well, they now own Zoar Outdoor, which is one of the most impressive combinations of a kayak school, rafting company, and retail store in the Northeast. I was asked by Bruce and Greg (retail manager) to come to their big weekend of kayak clinics and demos. Kristine set it up for me and I flew from Colorado to Hartford, CT while Kristine drove from Colorado to Rock Island with the RV and kids.

The demo was three days and they weren’t shy in booking me for all three days, all day long. I did three runs down the dryway, which I mistook for the West Branch of the Dearfield (a class V run) but wasn’t disappointed when I ran it. It is a great class 3-4 run with a fair amount of play and tons or rock moves. I paddled my Fun each day and had lots of Fun for sure.

I got put up in their Hawk’s nest or something like that. It is a sweet old New England house that they bought, fixed up, and made into a great place to stay, check out room #4.

I also spent hours each day showing people that: “If this isn’t the most comfortable boat you have ever been in, you are doing something wrong.” A Jackson Kayak is still like a puzzle to most people that they need help putting together. The Happy Feet Footbag takes a little explaining for most people to get it to 80% right and I need to do it myself for them to get it 100% (their first time trying it) The hip pad positions, backband, etc. all require a little training to get it just right. My dad always said, “if you make something idiot proof, only an idiot will use it.”

It was very exciting to get Bruce Lessels into the Super Fun. He didn’t think he would fit being 6’7” or whatever size he is (big). Then I suggested that he try the 4 Fun and he laughed at me, but only 2 minutes later he was sitting comfortably in it and was duly impressed with it.

I also showed my “EJ’s Rolling and Bracing” DVD followed by an auction of my Demo Fun that I have been abusing. It went for $945 ($50 over retail, and the extra $50 went to American Whitewater, compliments of Zoar and EJ)

Zoar got in 14 Jackson Kayak’s that week and we sold 14 of them, cool.

Now I am back in Rock Island and ran the falls with Dane, been surfing the waves and hole (running 24/7)

EJ