For the past few weeks rivers have been rising and dropping up here in Nor Cal. A gauge I always keep my eye on is the McCloud river about 25 mins outside Mt. Shasta. During the middle of last week I saw it was on the rise and tried to rally the troops. Unfortunately everyone has a life or something and can’t drop everything to come huck a perfect 50 footer, so I weighed my options. It was pretty clear the flows were going to peak thursday and I was pretty sure there wouldn’t be another chance for me to run it this year. With those facts in mind I rallied out with Callie and my father to check out the falls. When we arrived at Middle Falls thursday (April 28th) around 4:00pm it quickly felt different from my previous … Read More »

Slate creek is one of the most fun runs in northern California. It is short but filled with lots of quality rapids and minimal portaging if any. It is also a perfect run especially if you live in the Siskiyou/Shasta county area since its pretty easy access and a good training ground while here at home in Mt. Shasta. It gets better and better with more flow, when it gets above 1.5 ft on the gauge there are some solid holes that will rock your world. The flows that we have been seeing it at this early spring are right around 9in.-1ft on the gauge but a little rain is all it takes. Enjoy this little edit of a couple different laps down Slate a few weeks ago.

Just north of Slate about 10 mins is Mears Creek. Since … Read More »

Well here it is. The highly anticipated release of the 4th of 7 Slippery When Wet trailers featuring the man, the myth, the legend, Ben Stookesberry. This man has proven himself world class filmmaker, kayak icon, and easily one of the top expedition kayakers on the planet. I can say openly, after knowing Ben since I was 14, that he possesses the mindset of no other kayaker I have met. If its possible in a kayak Ben is the man that will make it happen. One similar trait that you will find from all athletes featured in this film is an overall calm demeanor with an immense respect for the river. Ben’s shear passion for exploratory kayaking has put him at the forefront of the kayaking industry.  Here are some screen shots from his trailer.

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With heavy snow pack throughout most of Cali, including up here in Siskiyou county, the Sacramento has been swollen most of the winter bringing in rare waves and hosting really fun water very close by. The Sacramento is one of the smaller drainages in California but holds water extremely well and can be run as high as it ever gets. Kyle Hull came through and was keen to get on some water so we got on the Sacramento @ 9500 cfs for a couple days with some Tunnel of Love, Mears Creek in there as well. Good times, enjoy the edit shot completely with the Go Pro HD Hero and look for the next Slippery When Wet trailer featuring Ben Stookesberry to drop in a week or so.

Here are a few photos from the couple days on the … Read More »

So I have been caved out up here in Mt. Shasta as we have been getting lots of snow in the past week and expect at least another foot by the end of the week. Sure as hell doesn’t feel like spring except the rivers are swollen and the lakes are full. I will be the first to admit that my play boating is the weakest aspect of my kayaking but this wave is fun no matter what your skill level. At normal flows this feature is a nasty low head dam but when Keswick Dam starts releasing at least 38,000 cfs or higher the Redding Wave forms. This happens about once ever 5 years, as the last time I surfed it was before I went to World Class Kayak Academy in 2006.

On Monday morning I decided to rally down … Read More »

So here she is, the third installment of the 7 trailer phenomena from our upcoming film Slippery When Wet. To see the first 2 trailers click here. Next up is good friend and amazing athlete Drew Duval. Duval’s humble beginnings started right here in southern California before moving to the East Coast and continuing to progress his skills there. There are a few reasons why I decided to feature Drew as one of our starring athletes. A prominent factor was Drew’s utter love for the river and passion for being in his kayak. He is one of those guys that loves to kayak regardless of what he is paddling, it can be the gnar class V or a mellow day cruising, it doesn’t matter to Drew, he is all about the swirl. These are highly respected characteristics in my … Read More »

So finally here it is, the second trailer for the 7 trailer phenomena from Slippery When Wet. Next up we have dear friend and long time boating compadre Chris Korbulic. If you are not familiar with this paddler then you must not use the internet……ever. Chris has been making noise in a kayak from a tender age growing up in Gold Hill, OR along the banks of the Rouge River. He is one of the most talented kayakers/photographers in the outdoor industry today, not only because of his abilities in a kayak but because of his attitude. You would never know how big Chris goes in a kayak because of his modesty and calm demeanor. He is one of my closest friends and favorite paddling partners for that reason alone. Here are a handful of screen shots from his trailer … Read More »

It has been an interesting winter here in northern California as we got some great early storms to build up the pack but we just got through a week of sunny 60 degree weather (which was great for boating). Recently I took a quick trip to Santa Cruz to meet my new nephew Skye and lend a helping hand putting the final touches on my brothers new house. In the past week I have been doing a little local boating and busing out heaps of media management deep in da cave.

Living in the greater Siskiyou County area up here in the far northern reaches of California has many benefits. The first of many being that there is usually another fellow filmmaker deep in the editing cave sharing similar ambitions of winter kayaking. With all this warm weather us cave monsters … Read More »

Here it is. The first trailer for the current project here at SBP, Slippery When Wet. This is 1of 7 trailers for the film, one trailer for each athlete featured (minus the Knight bros they count as one). This project is going to be a lot of work but I am hoping it can give some deeper insight to each athletes style and passion for the river. Here are some stills from the trailer.

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First up on the roster is none other than fellow WCKA graduate Evan Garcia. If for some reason you have been in the dark and don’t … Read More »

So things have been wicked busy since I got back from Christmas in St. Simons Island Georgia and then Santa Cruz, California for New Years, just in time for my brothers baby shower. It was good times hanging out with the family and I am excited to be an uncle here in the the next few weeks. Here are some photos from the holidaze adventure.

Photos courtesy of Shon Bollock and Callie Daniel.

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There are … Read More »