A budding forecast (yellow). The usual gauge is around 80cm

Philipp is a young gun from the Munich area and absolutely motivated at any conditions. We started one day before Christmas Eve and had an impressive flow of 152 cm, usually you run this section at a gauge if 80 cm.

Boofing the weir at the beginning // Max Eberl

At a normal flow run the entrance weir on the very right. In that case it is more or less a slide. But a higher flows you need to run it a bit more left, so that you are jumping from 2 meters directly to a concrete surface which is slightly covered with water. My body pitched to the deck of my Remix when I landed. Just after that concrete slide you will find a big stopper…

The hole after the weir // Philipp Much

Both, Philipp and me had a deep dive at that point and got spit out like a rocket. My sprayskirt (no it was not a LevelSix sprayskirt) popped in that whole and my boat got flooded. For me there was no chance to catch an eddy so I had to run the next rapid without scouting and with a slightly maneuverable boat. It went out good but anyhow it was my first swim in 2011…so close to the end of the year.

Some slide in the middle // Philipp Much

After some time there is the big slide. For Europe it is one of the bigger ones and pure fun.

Big slide on Eistobel // Max Eberl

I ran first and Philipp second. Then Philipp got the idea to perform a Blue Angel run. Awesomeness Check the video.
Even if I had a swim, I would say it was the perfect pre Christmas day. Thx to Philipp.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sorry for the poor sound quality…

Cheers,
Max

Once the first HD Hero was released it quickly was seen in every extreme sport across the board, all the biggest names in surfing, motocross, skiing, mtn biking, and even kayaking wanted to get their hands on them. When I first met Nick Woodman (the creator of GoPro) back in 2006 his enthusiasm and aggressive marketing style blew me away. From the beginning I knew GoPro was going to go BIG but I had no idea they would grow so fast, especially during the extreme recession of the US economy. In the past 5 years GoPro has dominated the helmet camera market with many competitors continuously chasing the coat tails of this innovative company. The Hero 2 is no different. This camera will set the new standard of high definition (still under $300) with the capabilities of 11 megapixel photos, 120 fps in SD, and wireless technology coming in early 2012. If you have not gotten on board yet I suggest you do, affordable, dependable, with amazing customer service, GoPro continues to be at the forefront of wearable camera technology.

Here is a short video testing new mounts up in Mt. Shasta over winter vacation. With LOW WATER in Nor Cal and being full time in film school at UC Santa Cruz, sometimes you just gotta take what you can get. Check out some low water Sims Falls laps with the new GoPro Hero 2.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Just to show that the original Hero is still EPIC, here is a Slippery When Wet GoPro Reel featuring all GoPro Hero shots, just in case you don’t want to spend as much money on the Hero 2, we used the original Hero for the whole film.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Big shout out to GoPro and all my sponsors that have made 2011 unforgettable, my opportunities with kayaking would be significantly limited without your support, so thank you for the resources to make all this possible. I am very grateful for everything my life and look forward to the 2012 season, hope to see you all on the water.

For more visit www.shastaboyz.com

GoPro asked me to put together a 100% Hero Reel from Slippery When Wet to promote the original GoPro Hero. This segment boast footage from all over the world including California, Pacific Northwest, Mexico, and relief work in Japan. If you enjoy what you see PLEASE order the film (you can order HERE) and support the project. Be sure to check out the NEW GoPro HERO 2 with not only 1080 HD filming capabilities, but 11 megapixel photos as well. BIG shout out to all the boyz involved with this project especially those featured: Ben Stookesberry, Chris Korbulic, Evan Garcia, Cody Howard, Ryan Knight, Devin Knight, and Drew Duval, there wouldn’t have been a film without yall, thanks for your contribution! More content to look forward to with a part 2 photo update from Japan dropping early Jan. 2012.

Enjoy the 100% GOPRO REEL and feel free to like, comment, and SHARE! see more at www.shastaboyz.com

Click here to view the embedded video.

–

Die Sickline Champs hat fast alle im Ötztal versammelt, doch Max und ich haben die Chance genutzt die Bäche Tirols für uns zu haben. Ein paar von den Jungs waren mit uns unterwegs und haben uns bei diesem fabelhafen Trip mit low volume Creeking und Wuchtwasser begleitet. Gestartet haben wir die Tour auf der Wasserfallstrecke des Defereggenbach, sie ist nicht lang, aber trotz der nur 3 km absolut lohnenswert.

Max approaching the second drop

Max boofing out of the mist

On the first evening I discovered that I forget all my camping gear…no camping cooker, no knife, no spoon, nothing…not even food…only 24 Rox Energy drinks. But the boys cared well for me so that I could survive the cold night around the zeros. Next morning after a quick cup of coffee we headed to South-Tyrol targeting Reinbach Falls. Even the road to get there is totally worth the trip.

–

Am ersten Abend habe ich feststellen müssen, dass ich all mein Campingzeugs vergessen hatte…keinen Kocher, kein Messer, keinen Löffel, nichts….nicht mals essen….nur 24 Rox Energy drinks. Aber die Jungs haben mich vorbildlich mit essen versorgt, sodass ich die kalte nach überleben konnte. Nach einer schnellen Tasse Kaffee am nächsten morgen ging es ab nach Süd-Tirol zu den Reinbachfällen. Allein die Straße dorthin ist die Fahrt wert.

Fabulous East Tyrol

It’s a one way road which is opened for each direction only for a quarter of an hour, then the red light shows up and there is a 15 minuet safety break before the other direction is allowed to go. Crazy system but it works. As you can imagine this extends your journey easily by an hour or more.

–

Es ist eine Einbahnstraße, die über ein Ampelsystem gesteuert wird. Jede Richtung darf 15 Minuten fahren, dann gibt es ne Sicherheitspause von 15 Minuten und dann darf die andere Richtung…usw. Verrückt aber funktional. Leider kann sich die Fahrt dadurch locker um eine Stunde verzögern.

My gang (bang) bus. Waiting for the green light for our direction.

When we arrived at the Reinbachfalls we were pretty disappointed. Barely any water going down the high Waterfall. After a long period of twisting and turning we decided to wait for the afternoon, hoping that the waterlevel would rise.

–

Angekommen bei den Reinbachfällen war die Enttäuschung groß. Kaum ein Wasser ging über den hohen Fall. Nach langen hin und her einigten wir uns auf Nachmittag zu warten, in der Hoffnung der Wasserstand steigt…Gott war mit uns.

Me preparing for the impact on Reinbach Falls 28ft

Max grinding the second one

After we finished at Reinbach everyone had a big smile in their faces. Fully stoaked we headed back to Isel valley to check out some big water on the cataract section.

–

Nach den Reinbachfällen hatten alle von uns ein großes Grinsen im Gesicht. Voll gestoaked ging es zurück ins Isel-Tal um ein wenig Wuchtwasser zu fahren.

Me approaching the Isel cataract section

Max on Isel cataract

Check out this video I made:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Later. Anton

Click here to view the embedded video.

A week later I packed my life into my subie and made the night drive to the Cruz to get ready for school at UCSC. The journey down ended up being epic to say the least, concluding with a 4:00am arrival after over heating the whole way down and eventually blowing a bolt out of my radiator, sending locomotive style steam out my hood. From that point on I have been looking for a new whip and occupied with moving in, hence the lack of updates here at SBP. Here is the new whip I ended up with, she still needs racks but damn she’s got class.

More big things in the works for the rest of the year and going into 2012, starting off with the fully operational STORE section of the website. Swing on over there and pick up our NEW release Slippery When Wet, Wet Dreams, SBP Tees, and or a SBP New Ear snapback. Everyones support of this project was the only way it happened and stoked to have been able to work with so many dedicated athletes. Not sure exactly what is in the books for this season but there a couple brilliant ideas floating around including a tour of SWW still to come. While in Santa Cruz I will be coaching and helping out at the UCSC kayak club, so if you are in the Santa Cruz area hit us up and come learn how to kayak! For a more in depth look at the film making process, be sure to check out an interview I did recently for Sanuk dishing up all the dirt http://sanukfootwear.tumblr.com/post/10003150938/shon-bollock-is-slippery-when-wet.

Probably gonna be siphoned out here in SC until an epic rager for Feather fest with all da homies. Look forward to seeing you all out there and don’t forget to pick up a copy of Slippery When Wet! If for some reason you didn’t see all 7 trailer you can peep them here and check out my trailer below. Huge thanks to Liquid Logic for all the support of this project!!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

This summer a lot of European Liquidlogic team members spent some time in Norway. I was there myself to make an article for the magazines. The article will be about the Sjoa valley, check your favorite mag to see some cool photos and have infos about that paddling paradise. But as we were there we went for  2 days with Mariann Saether and Ron fisher to the Rauma.

We joined there a group of kiwi paddlers and spent one of the nicest day of the season. But enough said here are a few photos of the Rauma:

Mariann on the upper Rauma, first day was not really sunny.

Mariann Saether on the first rapid of the Rauma

Ron Fisher on the first rapid of the Rauma

Rapid number 2 and confluence with Ulvoa

There’s a real magic atmosphere in that place and you know why it is called the Troll’s valley. you expect to see some fantasy créature coming out of the bush at any place there.

Paparazzi on rapid number 5

Mariann flying over the entrance of rapid 7

Ron Fisher enjoying the long slide in number 7

hope you enjoyed those photos

See you
Raph

After meeting up with Max and Markus we headed to the put-in of the standard section to run it combined with the tunnel section. We had a juicy flow around 60 cm with some pretty holes and cool lines. None of us knew this section which makes a run always something special.

There was some wood in the creek, so we had to be on guard not to get in a nasty situation. The tunnel section starts with some rapids you can run by leapfrogging from one eddy to the next. When you can see the road-bridge you should stop for some scouting. In your desired line there is a tree sticking…then there are two other lines, one of them a chicken line, the other one in the main current. For the second choice you need to use a backwash to slow down for not crashing into the tree. That’s the line we choose. Max had a very smooth run and caught a cool entrance boof.

After that tricky part there’s a fun slide and a couple of meters of easier whitewater before the creek picks up gradient again. We reached the key rapid, 300m of continuous grade IV+ whitewater (at this level). It seems the rapid is not too old. Most of the rocks are crumbly and sharp edged. A swim or roll would definitively have some bloody consequences. Nevertheless me and Max decided to run it. Both of us caught a good line and managed the difficulties without having problems.

The day after the level dropped and we went to the waterfall section. It is a remote gorge with some really cool drops. We had a pretty low level but it was quiete a good run. After some bony first two kilometers the walls narrowed and it was time to scout the first drop. It’s a absolute fun drop with a nasty backwash in the approach and an auto-boof table at the fall. I started, Max followed and last Markus. And then you’re in…in the gorge. It is such a terrific piece of nature, unbelievable.

The second drop is a 20 footer with a nice cross current and a sticky eddy in the approach line. We ran the same order like the first drop but I had to run twice, because Max messed up with my camera and didn’t shot my first run….second run double fun

After we finished up at Defereggenbach we wanted to do a quick afternoon run on Isel river. It a glacier sourced river which usually has high flows on summer afternoons…and yes we did have a high flow. Markus paddled the section once before, so we thought it would become a turbo mission. But after the first bends Markus confessed he couldn’t remember one damn thing about this river

It was a fun. Markus always told something about a left-right bend combination with massive holes…we’re still looking for it. If anyone find’s it give us a call. After all it was an awesome weekend with the guys. Here’s a short edit I made. Enjoy!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Later.
Anton

Click here to view the embedded video.

…and make sure you watch the video to the end

Click here to view the embedded video.

Bomb Flow TV Episode #2 Pacific Northwest from BombFlowTV on Vimeo.

Later E.G.