Snow!!! And Melting!!!

Monday night and Tuesday brought us our first snow of the season.  We got about 6" on the ground here in Potsdam.  It made the hunting during the week pretty good, and it is supposed to get up to about 50 here today, which will send things off this weekend.  I took today off to get a last hunt in on the snow, but tomorrow it is right to boating.  I think the plan is for either the South Grasse or Section III of the Oswegatchie.  Needless to say, the excitement is building...

LaFlair

Independence/Oswegatchie

After sitting on the couch all day Saturday recovering from the wicked flu I caught from Moosefest, I couldn't stand this apartment anymore and had to get out and paddle.  It didn't help that I was getting calls from Danny and Jim all day telling me how much fun they were having with some sketchy people on the Moose.  Anyways, I got in the car and headed down towards Lowville.  After checking out some of the options we had, we decided to get a lap in on the Independence.  I would guess that the level was around 700 cfs, which was pretty good.  I forget how fun that first upper stretch of class III stuff is.  And the slide was really fun.  If you see Uncle Jim, be sure to ask him who the only one to catch the middle line!!!

After we got off (thats what she said), with some careful persuasion of Jim and Ron, we decided to go up and get another crack at Section IV of the Oswegatchie (Out-to get-me).  And yes, it did get me.  We were at the bottom of the first rapid when I noticed that it was a little cool in my boat.  I developed a crack in the hull of my boat about 6" long.  I was pretty upset about loosing a good friend, but we continued on, not really having much choice.  Other than having to empty my boat like every 5 minutes, the run went pretty well.  Apparently, I got a pretty cool launch off Panther Falls (aka "The Juice" or "The Cure for Cancer").  It was a really fun day, and I can't wait to get back there to run Section III.

LaFlair

My Match(s) with Magilla

Let me just say right off that this rapid still scares the shit out of me.

But on Sunday of Moosefest '08, I finally got one back.


As they say for the Monster Truck Rally....Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

My first run occurred about a year ago. Lets just say I got right and never recovered. I was subbed out when I rolled the lip, and was whited out till I landed. I flipped, rolled up beyond the walls, was missing and elbow pad and my dignity.

After watching some really great runs since, I decided to give it a go on Saturday of Moosefest (not my least hungover day on the river). I was giving it a really good go, and actually thought I had killed the line as I was much further left of my previous decent. But right as I reached the rolling lip, my boat caught the worlds smallest eddy, and started spinning my boat. It literally spun my boat at the lip, and continued to until I was completely backwards upon landing. I flipped but was not hurt, nor did i really hit anything. Again, a little piece of me died.

(Saturday's Line)

And then their was Sunday. By this point, I was so juiced up to run it that I really don't remember much other than spotting my landing and thinking "this was almost better when I wasn't able to see where I was landing". I wouldn't say it was the best line I have ever seen there, but it sure pumped me up. The rest of Team SPED had an awesome weekend on the rapid. I can't wait to go back and do it again!

Cheers!
LaFlair

Why the Change?

Well as anyone who has read this crap more than once knows, not much has been happening with RBD Productions as of late. While Team Special Ed has continued a commitment to video boating, I myself have found it harder and harder to find time to get on the water. Anyone who knows me, knows not only work, but my various other outdoor afflictions (snowboarding, hunting, fishing, hiking, my new harley-davidson, etc.) have been pulling me way from the water. But after a few really solid weekends this fall, I have "renewed" my obsession with white water.

However, as the work hours increase and I find it harder and harder to get on the water, I find it more enjoyable to leave the camera in the car and keep a good pace on the water. While obviously this would result in a less than visually stimulating blog, I will continue to try and keep the cameras rolling, as well as rely on my SPED friends for footage and stills.

RBD Productions was brought about on the idea that I wanted to convey what white water kayaking was to me. And though I have yet to put out a full length "feature" film as I had always hoped, I think reshaping my thoughts towards my current lifestyle may revitalize my ambitions. So keep checking in, as I plan to document my travels here...

LaFlair