(Graeme stylin' the left line at Pine Creek.)
The Go Big Rig rolled into Salida, CO on Wednesday. Our first stop was the Pine Creek rapid on the Ark.. Graeme and Bobby were keen to get some practice runs in on this rapid before the boatercross on Thursday. Seth wasn't going to race, instead focusing on the freestyle event, but still fired up the intimidating Pine Creek rapid. The river was flowing quite high and the big hole in the middle of the rapid was quite large! All the boys took slightly different lines, all with great success.
(Graeme making the move while one of his competitors isn't so lucky.)
(Bobby lovin' the L Solo and looking smooth as usual.)
(Chad Hixon presenting the boys with cash money.)
After getting a short playboat session in the upper Salida hole Wednesday night we got up bright and early to be at the Pine Creek Race well before the 10am start time. Seth stayed in Salida to dial in his freestlye competition ride. I ended up working at the start line helping people get in their boats and keeping track of start times for the time trials. I also ended up being the MC for the head-to-head heats. Bobby, Leif, and Graeme all represented Fluid well in the race. Graeme qualified in first in the time trials with a two second margin over the second place competitor and Bobby had smooth fast lines for a third in the time trials. Leif also placed in the top 10 in the time trials. All the Fluid crew did well in the head-to-head heats. In the end it was Graeme, Bobby, Jason Beakes, and Jules Campbell in the final heat. Jason and Graeme got away quick at the start and Jason powered away with the win. Graeme had smooth lines as usual and finished in a solid 2nd. Bobby and Jules battled it out and Bobby took third when Jules flipped on the edge of the big hole. The L Solo, at only 8 feet, proved to be quite fast, even in the 8'6" class, with 2 spots on the podium.
(Seth throwing a BIG loop.)
(Deb stylin' the cleans with a big smile.)
(Graeme catching some air in the Mens Pro prelims.)
(Leif flying high with his Huge rockstar mullet!)
(Bobby thowin' down.)
Friday was a long exhausting day. The freestyle prelims for all class took over 7 hrs to complete. I ended up being one of the three judges for the freestyle competition, keeping me in the judges booth all day. Deb O'Keefe made the cut to 10 US women for tonights finals. Seth won the C-1 event and also placed 6th in the Pro Mens event, also making it to tonights finals. Graeme and Leif held their own throwing down big loops and consistent rides, missing the cut, but coming in around the middle of the huge Pro field. Bobby went old school and tried to rack up points by throwing every know end possible, with a few loops thrown in. Although cool to watch the new big moves and variety only scoring system took Bobby's rides out of contention.
(Judge Bryon.)
FIBark is tons of fun as usual. Fluid has a booth with the full line of boats on display on the Salida boat ramp, along with the full line of H2O paddles. People have enjoyed taking the boats and paddles out on demos between the competitions. There is a lot going on here and the finals for the Pro Freestyle competition are looming closer. I'm off to get some food before getting locked down in the judges booth.
See you on the river- Bryon
