Upper Box Geezer Video

What do you have when you get 8 kayakers together and no one is under 40 yrs young? Well, we all affectionately named it the Geezer show. One fine Sunday morning, the 8 of us showed up to run the classic Upper Box in Northern New Mexico. It is a cool feeling to still paddle with folks that you have kayaked with over the last 15-20 years. There was about 150 yrs combined kayaking experience on the river this day. I have fond memories of meeting Chan at Tunnel falls on Gore in 1995, Svenny taking me down the Embudo and Upper Box in 1994, Marcia routing me down the Pueblo in 1996, Brett running the Embudo at 4.6ft in 1996, following William down the Embudo when he still C-1'd and watching him style everything. Kayaking creates friendships that last a lifetime. It was great to get together with this crew and have a fantastic day on the water. Everyone of these boaters has inspired me and shown me some incredible times. On and off the river.
This little video is for all the old schoolers still rocking it and for the newbies coming up. Kayaking for me is all about enjoying the river and the special places it takes you and the friendships generated along the way. Hope we can all do this again in another 20yrs. Cheers, Atom...

Geezer Upper Box Kayaking Show from atom crawford on Vimeo.

Embudo low flow-Junk show & Vertical Pin

Well the Embudo season has come and gone. We got on it a couple more times as the flows were dropping out. As you will see, there is a bad pin spot at the very bottom of the drop called MJ. Far river left on the last drop is a perfect pocket for a vertical pin. We were lucky that the paddler pinned during low flows, high flows would have made the pin very scary. So stay away from the far left wall when running this drop. And as most of you are well aware, always carry a rope when scouting. A rescue vest is also key when creeking. Be safe and aware out there this season. Cheers and enjoy the Junk Show.....

Embudo low flow junkfest and vertical pin from atom crawford on Vimeo.

1st Annual "Budo Fest" Extreme kayak Race

The 1st Annual "Budo Fest" was awesome. The Embudo was Flowing a stout level and we had 2 teams for the race. Tons of folks hiked into the Slots to watch the teams come through the last section. Evan Ross, Tim Kelton and Rolf Kelly had a time of 40 minutes. Pretty awesome for a 7 mile class 5 run. Kyle McCutchen, Oliver Deschler and Luke Pennington had a time of 49 minutes. Huge props to these guys for entering the race. There was a raffle Saturday evening that raised $250.00 for American Whitewater, in our friend Mitchell Smiths name. The whole event went off without a hitch. A big shout out to Colorado Kayak Supply, Astral Bouyancy, Keen, Taos Mountain Outfitters,
Shred Ready and Lunch Video Magazine for supporting the event and donating prizes for the raffle. Local artist Lex Lucious made some cool trophies for the winners. John Grace from LVM brought out the Jumbo Tron and everyone dug the big screen and movies during the party.I'll be posting a longer report with photos soon. Here is a short video of the event. Cheers, Atom...

1st Annual "Budo Fest" Extreme Kayak Race May 9th 2009 from atom crawford on Vimeo.

Crocs, Sharks & a little whitewater as well.....

It is winter time down here in New Mexico. The mountains have snow but the lower valleys are getting toasty during the day. Perfect for some nice 60 degree weather to go boating in. The Rio Grande Racecourse section flows year round and some folks kayak it all winter. Today I was joined by Thad and Lisa. Thad has only been boating for 5 months and is the most fired up individual I have ever met about going boating. Lisa has been boating for awhile,and is just recovering from shoulder surgery. A mellow beautiful day with some minor mishaps (mental delusions), lay ahead...Oh ya, Nate also joined us. Were not to sure about this Nate guy....

The putin..

Thad looking good. For only boating for 5 months, he sure does have the nicest gear. He has on the pimpinShred Ready Tdub helmet, the new awesome Astral Green Jacket, the AT2 flexi paddle and he fits perfectly into the new Pyranha Karnali kayak. I respect the fact that he bought great gear even as he is learning. Less upgrading later...

Lisa seal launching in....

Thad has been working on his roll like there is no tomorrow. Here he demonstrates the adverse effects of bringing your head out of the water first.

I didn't capture the perfect roll demonstration by him right after this. I later asked him what his secret was to perfecting the roll in any situation. Especially this early in his kayak career. He said, Atom its really pretty simple, I'm terrified of sharks and so I just pretend that they are in every river I Kayak on. If I swim, I get eaten. So it makes me roll every time. He then told me about his favorite movie. Here is a preview of it..



After all the shark talk, I had to do some Bow Stalls...


Thad charging...

Lisa during the aftermath of a rare swim. I asked what the heck happened? Oh not much she said, I just thought I saw a Crocodile and so I freaked out and tried to ward it off with my paddle. Ahhhhh, Okay?


Lisa then confessed to me that she loved crocodile movies, but is totally scared of the actual creatures. This is her favorite Croc movie..


Back on track. Thad running Big Rock


Thad looking like he is training for the Middle Kings.


Lisa Training for the Micos en Mexico.


Lisa catching the Eddy at Sleeping Beauty


Thad same..


That guy Nate finally shows up.


Yup, that is Nate's tongue sticking out. I have about 50 shots of him surfing Sleeping beauty and his tongue is out in every shot. Lisa thinks it looks hot...


Thad getting some surf in..


Lisa one upping Thad (she actually made it in the hole)


Nate going for the elusive Helix.


Afterward I asked him what he thought about before trying such a hard move. Older women, he said without hesitation.
This is for you buddy..


Well an awesome day was had by all. I'm gonna end it with a plug for the NRS Toaster Mit. My hands are always freezing in the winter time (tried pogies and gloves-all of them). Tried these out today and was actually sweating. The paddle felt fine while wearing them. I'm sold using them for play runs and easier river running. I would not recommend them for creeking. Over and out. I'm off to Chile for 3 weeks where hopefully there are no crocs, sharks or aggressive cougars...

Some of my favorite images from 2007

Summer time in November. Upper and Lower Box photos

Feels strange standing around in a t-shirt the middle of November. No snow at all, but at least the Upper Box has been running at a low fun level. Here are a few photos of the Upper and Lower in November 07. Been loving it. Atom....

Ed Hellhole

Atom Hellhole

Atom Long rapid

same

same

same

Steve Long rapid

Steve Pleasure Plunge

Runnout

Alex buried below Pleasure

Leo Pleasure Plunge

The great calm

Lost Stark Moon boat. Someone left it on shore? Anyone know whose it is?

Ed Big Aresnic

Scouting big A

NM driving scenery

My beautiful lady and our dogs at the Lower box putin

Bighorn on the box

Powerline lunch break

Calm

Michael lunch

Michael Powerline

Coming in hot

Leo slotting it

Leo Old school

C-1 Paul on the Pleasure Plunge

Seems like the Upper always gets at least one.


Thanks to all you guys that came out these last couple of warm weeks. It has been a blast. Atom...

Pine Creek Virgin

So I was on my way to CKS for the weekend to demo some kayaks. Lake creek was at a silly low flow but Pine Creek was at a pretty healthy 700 cfs, I figured I better man up and hit that S*#t! So I called around to my "posse" but I got nary a response back. I understand that my crew is sometimes scared to fire it up with me, but hellfire, this is Pine Creek boys! Just then, my good friend Marjolicious called and since she had never fired up the "Pine" she was all "excited" and "excited" to do it. There was one glitch, She was boating with the Girls tomorrow and I had to meet them first before I could rally with there crew. I guess to see if I was cool enough or something.
Well Marjolicious made me meet them at Benson's in Salida the night before and introduce myself. She mentioned that her crew was pretty cool, but that I had to really impress one of them in particular. I guess their friend is kinda shy, reserved and quiet. she wasn't really accepting of some new guy joining the posse. So after a couple of the best beer I do love, I strolled on over and had my work cut out for me.
This is how I ROLL!
press play and crank da volume

Oh ya, after some sleeping in and resting up and a breakfast of pancakes, strawberries, blueberries, giggling and text messaging I had
My new POSSE!
left to right
feeling alright
Kateclaw, Marjolicious, Jpeg, Gretsum


Happy ladies are the bomb


Kateclaw trying not to flirt


Marjolicious flirting, and yes, she is single!


M focused


Jpeg can't help but flirt


Kateclaw and Marjolicious scouting Da "hole"


Marjolicious expressing concern that I would only mother duckie them down to just above the hole. Since Pine Creek was running at such a high level, I thought it would be my best interest to get out above the hole and direct them through the last couple moves with a Megaphone while my buddy Atom shot photos from the rim.


I'm not privy to what was said during the team meeting, but i think it was something like "I gotta Pee".


So just when we got all fired up to fire up the "Pine" someone from Salida had to come on down and get a beatdown in front of us. "uncool Holrider". Hot Dam!
press play


Pine creek kayaking beatdow from atom crawford and Vimeo.

So We gotta mention for the sake of safety, It is best when you art da rope handler, to position yourself at river level, not 10ft up on a boulder. This can cause a Super Man effect on ones person when said swimmer grabs hold of the rope and you suddenly become airborne. Just a friendly safety tip!


I recommend watching this awesome collection of Pine beatdowns

As we pull out of the eddy above "pine" rapid, Marjolicious says to me, "heartbreak is a bitch" I say aahhhh, ya, okay, so? She replies, you know what is worse than heartbreak? I say, not having any cold beer? No she replies, catching on fire while barbecuing. Nuff said. We enter the rapid. That's me in front before I get out above moonpie to direct the ladies.


M firing up the leadin


M momentarily distracted (more about that later)


M doing the cool moonpie ride


Arms raised in triumph, Marjolicious fired it up and hot dam she friggin fired it up. Ya!


Kateclaw also got distracted


Kateclaw surfing. She hung in there and surfed longer than any boy woulda and made it out upright.


Okay, now we can get to the true reason of the Salida boys swim. He was on line, but he happened to glance left while coming down the tongue above moonpie. He was greeted with this shot of Gretsum setting safety near the hole. Yup, true story!


The real reason why Marjolicious and Kateclaw went into monnpie hole. They also glanced to thier left and saw--Yup, Atom and I found some lovely ladies just chilling on river left. They had beer.


The Posse at the take out. Thanks ladies, I had an awesome time and if anyone ever gets a chance to meet and paddle with this great crew, they are awesome, fun, sexy and a total blast to be with and they fire it up in all aspects! Oh ya, they feel naked with out this.


and last but not least, They whispered in my ear, as I headed back to Barbados, it is easier to fire up da S*#T, after some AD
Press play and pump da volume


And in the name of preserving rivers, My fellow cougar killer Paul Gamache is about to try something kinda outrageous. Whether or not he survies, American Whitewater will benifit from it. Please check it out and help out. Later, Ron Burgundy