Class 4 Chamberlin Falls and Texas slalom training!

Even though it is winter, I haven’t stopped boating. Northerrn Nevada ’s rivers are frozen over, but California rivers are only a few hours away and that’s where I have been going. Chamberlin Falls, a class 4 section of the North Fork of the American River, only runs a few months a year and I have been lucky enough to catch it about 4 times now. My favorite drop is Chamberlin Falls itself (http://www.awetstate.com/NAmericanC.html), Staircase and Bogus Thunder. It is only 5 miles long so we usually run it a few times.  I also took a trip to Texas to the  Olympic Outdoor Center (http://wwwkayakinstruction.org) located on the San Marcos River which is 72 degrees year round. Ben (1996 Olympian) and Michelle Kvanli (2009 women’s national slalom champ) coached me in slalom racing where I was able to win in my first slalom race of the year. I have a few more, but Junior Olympics here I come! If you want to learn to kayak, they have an excellent begginers to advanced program for both whitewater and slalom.  I had even more fun because my friend Henry Hyde, another 9 y/o kayaker, was there, and I met Chelsea Bornemann, a 13 y/o slalom racer, so it was cool to be around other kids. A large group of kids from Colorado were also there for racing and training, and we did the Tube Chutes, a fun water slide next to a dam, and I ran Graduation Falls with Henry and Chelsea, a 15 ft water fall that was lots of fun. I can’t wait to paddle with Ben, Michelle, Henry and Chelsea again because they are such fun and good friends! After we got back from Texas, I was able to paddle with my friend Ria on the Coloma to Greenwood section of the South Fork of the American River. She is only 7 and becoming a great kayaker-she even did her first combat roll when we were on the river! It has been a great 2010 so far and I look forward to more-Peace, Sage