River Pro SALE!!!

CHECK IT OUT!!! Cheap deals on River Pro jackets!!! If you want one get in quick while they are still there and still on sale!!! Check out the Poster for details and get yourself or a friend a present for the upcoming season!!!

Be in Quick!!!

NEW CLOTHING!!!

- Team design by New Zealand designer Jason Juno

We are stoked to announce that we have just got a run of clothing back from the printers and it looks awesome!!! Check out out H-Clothing page to check it out and order yours!!!

-H-Team hoodie

NZ Freestyle Selections

- Lou Urwin getting in some practice before she heads to the Whitewater Grand Prix in Quebec - Photo BB

Over the weekend Louise Urwin and Brendan Bayly once again were the event organisers for the NZ Freestyle selections. This was our first year at Hydraulics sponsoring this event and I imagine we will be there in years to come too! I believe there will be a more in depth update coming soon but I could help but steal these photos off Brendan and throw them up! We will have an update with placings and more of a story soon! For now Enjoy and Congrats to all who competed!

- Winner of the Junior Mens - Jaxon Webber (winner of a sweet Hydraulics Play Pro) Photo BB

39 Days till the Whitewater Grand Prix Begins

In 39 days our H-Team Member Louise Urwin will represent NZ in the first ever Whitewater Grand Prix! Its going to be a huge event and we will have regular updates from lou as she progresses through the event! Good Luck with the training Lou!

-Ben Marr on one of the event waves - HUGE - Photo Tribe riders

"At the start of May, twenty-eight of the world's most talented, most versatile, and most progressive kayakers will compete in a multi-disciplined, 6-stage competition on spectacular whitewater across Quebec . The Whitewater Grand Prix brings together this All-Star group in a unique event whose images and coverage we hope can help kayaking gain more mainstream exposure.

The event includes past and present World Champions of whitewater racing and freestyle, as well as many other present and future stars. With 10 countries represented and many rivalries between the competitors, we all look forward to seeing how each stage plays out.

The races include a Time-Trial down a steep section of slides and waterfalls, a Giant Slalom which will challenge the competitors with the worlds first 18 gate course on class 4/5 whitewater, and an intense head to head down one of Quebec's infamous big volume rapids. The freestyle events will highlight the worlds best wave surfers with events on both mid-sized waves that will allow for tricks to be linked in sequence, and big dynamic waves that will show those with the most control, style, and wave awareness.

After three races and three freestyle contests the Grand Prix World Champion will be crowned.

We are obviously hoping for the normal spring levels that produce the waves Quebec is famous for, but we are running the event with great contingencies in chance of low, medium, or high water.

The Whitewater Grand Prix is hosted by the Québec Whitewater Kayaking Federation and is supported by the Association of Whitewater Professionals (AWP). The Whitewater Grand Prix aims to showcase the sport of whitewater kayaking and some of it's most talented athletes.

Stay tuned for more info as the event approaches."

Words from Whitewater Grand Prix Site

FJ Competition this weekend!

Hey there! This weekend is the NZ freestyle selections as well as a sweet event and coaching for everyone to enjoy! Come along and get some sweet pointers from some of NZ's best whitewater kayakers and have a go at competing on a great wave! This site is not open often so this is a great chance to get out and surf a sweet wave, learn some new tricks and compete in the event! You may even win some choice Hydraulics gear!!!

Cheers

Josh

Buller Fest

Alright so it has come and gone again for another year and I must say that it was amazing once again! This was my 9th Buller River Festival but this one was different! Unfortunately this year was my first year not racing due to recent shoulder surgery but I still made the trip and it was so worth while!!!

The weather came to the party for most of it and the sun roared down in between patches of classic Murchison fog and cloud. I left Hawkes Bay on Wednesday morning to pass by the Hydraulics HQ to pick up some spot prizes and some kit for the team and then made my way to the ferry in Wellington. After a meen feed with my bro and his flatties I met up with Sanga and Flick for the 2.25am ferry crossing. By 8am Thursday we made it to Murchison with no sleep and rearing to go for the weekend ahead. While everyone got ready and raced I did some last minute editing to a collaborative film Tyler and I would show that night. Mike D came in with the 1st place spot even though there was 3 others equally able for the spot.

The night kicked off with Zac, Keith and Dylan's East Waikaia Film and then we finished off the showings with a bunch of 2010 missions mixed in to make an epic flick! The rest of the night I will leave up to your imagination..

Saturday morning was the slalom race but a few of us decided to go rest our heads at Maruia Falls while some of the boys hucked it. Some interesting lines but no serious carnage.

Back at the camp people were getting restless for the party planned for the night. The theme was denim and the sneak peaks of costumes I had seen were epic! Again the rest can be left up to you imagination.

Sunday monrning got off to a slower start than the one before with some much needed cold juice and a pie before the events kicked off. This was the fun event and it came in the form for the first time this year as a cardboard cup. Competitors had to make a vessel out of cardboard and race down the river to the camp where we all watched from. it was very funny and entertaining!!

Prize giving went down a treat with some very stoked people winning sweet prizes from great companies such as Bliss-stick, Hydraulics, Skull Candy and many more!!!

THEN... as we were about to set down for a few hours sleep before an early start to make the 8am ferry home we realised that we did not fuel up and that we had 80km of Gas and 120km to the nearest gas station... We decided to get up a bit earlier and go for it and hope for the best. 4am we woke and began the nervous dash via Nelson to get gas! No trouble! We made the ferry and then 12.5 hrs later i made it back to Hawkes Bay where I set in for 2 days rest and recovery! Thanks Ben for once again outdoing yourself and producing a world class event!!!

Cheers to all the friends that come to this event! cant wait to see you all again in a few days, weeks or at Buller Fest next year!

Chur

Josh