Team Paddler Sam Sutton Wins Gorge Games - Oregon USA - Story by Josh Neilson

Tao Berman and Sam Sutton giving the low down on how the race went - Photo Kurt Jane (contact)


After a huge success at Voss Extreme Sports Week in norway by the Kiwi crew our focus soon turned to a trip on the middle kings in california. With the news that the river had dropped out we were soon informed by Evan that there was another extreme race up in Oregon. With the cars loaded up we set out on the 13hr drive north to the border of Oregon and Washington for the Gorge Games. A similar set up to Voss week where a set of sports compete for best in each sport. With my shoulder and arm still out of order I took to the bank and camera to document yet another kiwi victory. Day 1 was a qualifying time trial for the extreme race on the Green Truss section of the White Salmon River. 3rd place was Todd Anderson, 2nd Tao Berman and 1st by over a second Sam Sutton.

Sam leading the pack in every heat - photo Kurt Jane

With the top 15 qualifying for the Extreme race and only split second seperating them it was anyones race. The course was over a series of big drops with the crux move over 'Big Brother', a 25foot drop with a cave on the exit which claimed 50% of the races. Tao's training programe paid off and took out 1st place followed by Sam in second and fellow Bliss-stick paddler Honza Lasko took out 3rd place on the podium.

One happy man - photo Kurt Jane

With a change in the programe the paddlers were now faced with the boatercross race the same day. With enough time for a feed and some water the paddlers were back on the water fighting for the boatercross title. Fierce competition took place on the river with one incident of debate of rules and disqualification when Honza was taken out half way down the course with a fend to the head with another competitors hand.

You be the judge, Honza getting a hug from Anderson - Evidence Photographer Kurt Jane

There was no disqualification but the heat was re-raced and Honza dominated. Slowly the competition was whittled down to the top 4 races. The banks were lined with film crews, photographers and spectators as the races took off.

Finals, only 1 winner - photo kurt jane

Once again Sam lead from the gate, Berman faught it out for second place with fellow kiwi Bradley Lauder with one wave slowing brad up to let Tao sneak into second. By a few boat lengths Sam Sutton took 1st, Tao Berman 2nd and Bradley Lauder 3rd place.

Left to right - 2nd Berman - 1st Sutton - 3rd Lauder - Photo Kurt Jane

Sam Sutton is making his mark on the Extreme Race scene winning his second magor boatercross this year. Watch out for him at the Sickline race in Austria later this year.
So the races are over and beers are all gone so we are sitting in a coffee shop watching the longboard downhill slalom on the main st in hood river and discussing a plan to head for the steep creeks in Washington then on to BC.
Well done Sam!

Berman and Lasko Fight for position in semis - Photo Kurt Jane

Kiwi's making bank! Photo Kurt Jane

Concert in town after the race - photo Kurt Jane

I have some more photos of the race and some video coming soon, Cheers to Kurt for getting these pics and well done to the boys for representing!

Extreme sports week in norway

The week just been has been one of my best ever! It was the week of Voss Extreme week! an event for all different extreme sports!



The worlds best BASE jumpers, Skydivers, Skiers, Downhill MTBers, Paragliders Kayakers etc all arrived in Voss, a small town by the lake to compete for the title! The kayak races started on thursday with the time trial. A race set on the branseth river over an average 2minute course. The idea is to race to the bottom as fast as you can without gettin beaten on some sick class 4+ rapids and drops.

Mike Dawson on the first drom of the race! Photo Zac Shaw

Our car for the trip was filled with Kiwi's Sam Sutton, Brad Lauder, Mike Dawson and Myself. A car which would be see to dominate the podium. With much skill speed and precision, Mike Dawson took the fastest time on the day and took out first place.

Spectators



The next day the river had come up a bit and was now home to the teams race. This time it was a race with 3 people in each team and would start on the upper section of the river and would continue through the time trial course and on the the lower section.

Sam Sutton on the main drop - photo Mike Dawson

The upper holds the crux rapids and would surely see some carnage! The semi local team of Mike Abbott, Alan Ellard and Andy Phillips took out 1st place followed by all kiwi team, Sam Sutton, Mike Dawson and Brad Lauder only 2 seconds infront of my international team of an itallian and norwegian and myself. The next day was to tak place on the Strandelvi closer to town for the head to head race. I was injured in the team race so rested while Brad Lauder took out 3rd place, Sam Sutton in 2nd and Mike Dawson taking out the 1st again! After the boys dominating the podium they drew the top 3 films from the weeks film competition.

Sam sutton on the middle Falls on the race - photo Mike Dawson

I had compiled a film from our Norwegian huck fest over the week and took out second place. With a few thousand people packed into the festival tent all screaming as the kayaking was brought to life. The night then carried on to the biggest party i have ever been to and was one of the best yet! Now with the comp all over and people heading their own ways we are left with a messy car overflowing with our prizes from the week and a few empty bottles!

Mike Dawson with the finish line in sight - Photo Zac Shaw

That was probably the best week yet and i can not wait for next year! Ill be back for sure!
Also thanks to all the people who we met this week! you made our time so good! Look forward to hangin with ya next time!


Sam Sutton Training on the tunnel rapid - photo Brad Lauder

Josh Neilson on Jordalselvi - photo Mike Dawson


Mike Dawson on Jordelselvi - Photo sam sutton


Working with NRK tv for a show on Norwegian tv of extreme week - Sam and Josh


Josh Neilson on Kittlebreaker fossen - a sick drop that packed a punch, Unfortunatly it dammaged brads arm! photo Sam Sutton

Brad Hitting a big slide in Voss! Photo Mike Dawson

Kayaking in Voss - Norway! Paradise

As i sit here waiting for the boys to paddle a sick creek i turn to the only thing keeping me going here in norway. Photos! I have been injured for over a month now and its hard to keep the motivation up when u are sitting waiting to hear about all the cool lines on the river! But i have been sticking it out and getting on the river every second day and running some cool stuff. I am not actually sure what is wrong with my shoulder/arm but i do know it hurts a lot after kayaking and sometimes during. The pain starts in my shoulder in no specific area and spreads down my left arm in my bicep and into my forearm. i loose all strength and cant paddle! so thats my sob story here are some photos from Voss, Kayaking paradise!



Sam Sutton in the middle of Lake to Lake Special! What a sick drop! Photo Josh Neilson



Me right after plugging Nosebreaker! Photo - Sam Sutton

John Jutter - Nose Breaker - Photo Josh Neilson


Josh Neilson - Nose Breaker - Photo Jan Wong


Brad Lauder Lake to Lake slide- Photo sam sutton

Sam and Brad are on the Lower Myrkdalselvi right now and its raining and high! have fun boys!

Last day in Telemark!

After a night out at a rock concert in a small town called Rjukan we headed to a creek called the Skoogsa. Sam had paddled it on an earlier trip while my arm was resting so he drove our shuttle and we headed into a cool set of gorges. The last drop on the river is the one below which was a sick drop and a good way to end our trip to telemark as we headed off to Voss.
Cheers to Sam for the photo.
Voss update coming soon, Extreme sports week starts on sunday!


Josh Neilson Skoogsa falls, photo sam sutton

norway part one! by Josh Neilson

Sam Sutton - Goyst River Norway photo - Josh Neilson

Josh Neilson- Spanemfossen (Falls) Austbygdai River - Photo Sam Sutton

Hey everyone today is about day 6 in norway and it is amazing! I got off the plane and sam was waiting for me which was sick cos we had a meen car waiting outside to get on the road with! We stayed in oslo with Sam hughes and in the morning picked up some new helmets and headed to Telemark! We were greeted in Telemark with high water levels and a lot of sick creeks! Day one we checked out some big ones and did a quick blat down popo falls which is a bunch of sick big slides. The next day we put on the Home run section of the upper Mar river with a semi local but english guy Ed. With a bunch of other waiting on the side to see our outcome we paddled down the first 3 drops sweet. I ran the final 2 first with no problems followed by Ed. He hit the first of 2 drops with too much angle and came off sideways. Falling about 20feet into the pool he went deep and hit the bottom. He thought he broke his paddle and couldnt roll so swam the last drop. NASTY... but that was not the worst of it. When he hit the bottom he broke his arm really badly above his elbow. We got him to hospital and he spent the next 12 hrs in surgery getting put back together! We havent seen him since as he flew back to England, If your out there Ed we hope you are all good! Catch you at the fest hopefully!
That night Sam and I decided to brave the section again but at super high levels! I made the first drop sweet and got pushed far left on the second. I boofed and stalled out in a huge hole. The next moments were filled with loops, window shades, and a very unplesant surf up in the pit. I thought I was out but ripped back in. Before I had no energy to swim I pulled the cord and it was clam. Next second i was going deep, then deeper, and then it was black! My ears were about to pop Finally i resurfaced in the pool and was alive! This was the worst beating of my life!
All is good though and back on the horse with some cool rivers since. Unfortunatly I am having a few shoulder problems still and have been in some pain while paddling and had to take off early today as i had no strength to paddle!
Will update more soon as we are stealing wireless from someone and have too many photos to sort through.
Take care everyone!
chur
josh

(we have had huge internet slowness problems so havent updated blog much! we are in Voss now and been here a week. Will have a voss update soon as possible.

All is good!)