2010 Northwest Creeking Competition

This past weekend was the 2010 Northwest Creeking Competition on the East Fork of the Lewis in South-eastern Washington.

Typically, this event takes place on nearby Canyon Creek, Washington, but due to a massive logjam a couple of years ago, the race was moved to the more-friendly, EF Lewis River, about a half hour away.

Boater's Meeting (Photo by: Capefalconkayak)

The event consisted of two main races: the downriver race and the mass start.

The downriver race started off with a bang in a pool about 50 yards above Sunset Falls, as racers sprinted one at a time downriver through rapids such as "Screaming Left", "Dragon's Back", and "John's Swimming Hole" to the finish at the confluence of Copper Creek.

The lip of Sunset Falls (Photo by: Capefalconkayak)

Racers at the start (Photo by: Capefalconkayak)

Kim Russell taking the middle line at Sunset (Photo by: Jenna Watson)

Jesse Becker airing out off Sunset (Photo by: Jenna Watson)

Christy G entering the gorge (Photo by: Allen Satcher)

Kim Russell in the gorge (Photo by: Allen Satcher)

Kate Wagner at Dragon's Back (Photo by: Allen Satcher)

Unloading back at the put-in (Photo by: Paul Kuthe)

Downriver Results:

K-1 Women Pro

1. Kim Russell 10:38.33 (Diesel 80)
   


2. Christie Glissmeyer 10:52.20


3. Katie Wagner 11:26.63

K-1 Men Pro

1. Tao Berman 10:00.45


2. Darren Albright 10:12:45


3. Ross Henry 10:17.52


4. Todd Anderson 10:23.24


5. Paul Kuthe 10:25.84


6. Luke Spencer 10:42.38


7. Dave Hoffman 10:43.84


8. Jesse Becker 10:51.31


9. Nate Herbeck 10:53.27


10. Marco Colella 10:57.20

K-1 Men Expert

1. Drew Eastman 10:27.24


2. Nick Hinds 10:32.84


3. Dan Rubado 10:33.91


4. Scott Waidelich 10:34.56


5. ? Bib #24 10:38.77


6. Josh Knap 10:48.06


7. Danny Young 10:51.95


8. Matt Kurle 10:54.27


9. Kenny Kiley 10:57.64


10. Willie Illingworth 10:59.45


11. Tom Decuir 10:59.51


12. ? Bib #26 10:59.63


13. Dan Parnell 11:02.41


14. Chris Bensch 11:03.55


15. Michael Gordon 11:09.88


16. Shaun Rasmussen 11:12.00


17. Eric Foster-Moore 11:12.98


18. Pat Lynch 11:15.34


19. Joel Fedar 11:17.49


20. Ryan Young 11:21.85


21. Paul Kelly 11:31.64


22. John Cramp 11:46.66


23. Bart Hemminger 11:51.90


24. Phillip Kast 11:52.37


25. Brian Schulz 12:15.51


26. John Edwards 12:45.24


27. Ty Overeem 16:02.95


28. Josh Grabel 21:28.52


29. Rob Anderson 50:?

Next up was the mass start, of which about 15 of us kayakers (male and female) started a couple rapids above Sunset Falls and sprinted to the location of the finish of the Downriver Race at Copper Creek. It was mayhem... awesome mayhem.

Ross the Boss, Tao, the author and Darren Albright charging toward Sunset (Photo by: Paul Kuthe

"Ross the Boss", Tao, and Kim Russell charging toward Sunset (Photo by: Jenna Watson)

And then there was... (Photo by: Jenna Watson)


Overall Mass Start Results:

Tao Berman
Ross Henry
Darren Albright
Kim Russell
JP
Christie Glissmeyer


Check out the debauchery at Sunset Falls as us racers came through: Ross Henry is first off the falls, followed by Tao Berman, Kim Russell, Darren Albright and Christie G. Note the last paddler, Jesse Becker, off the falls who managed to pass three people in the process! YEA! He kept on passing his way toward the front of the pack throughout the race. That's what I'm talkin' about!



After the races were over, Next Adventure served up a wonderful BBQ,
while awards were passed out.

Cattle Call (Photo by: Paul Kuthe)

Glass mugs engraved with 2010 Northwest Creeking Competition as awards. Awesome!

(Photo by: Paul Kuthe)

All in all, it was a great weekend! Thanks to Luke Spencer and Next Adventure for putting together such a great event!

http://www.northwestcreekcomp.org/
http://capefalconkayak.com/nwcreekingcompetition.html


Til' next time!

Kim Russell