Chile Update: Stephen Forster, 30 Footer, Yesso River

This is Stephen Forster here coming from Chile. Today, David Hughes, Tino Specht, and I ran a 30 footer on the Yesso River by Santiago. This drop had a class 5 entrance and a cave at the bottom. The waterfall was a lot of fun even though I broke my paddle. Now I am off to the Rio Claro to run some more, big drops. Here are some pictures fro the Yesso

November in West Virginia

Ahh...November in Fayetteville. Most everyone has left for the season, and the rain goes directly into the river instead of being sucked up by the trees. I've been waiting for one of the best wave features anywhere to run, and today it finally did. 5 Boat hole is known to most as a wide, shallow surf during Gauley Season, but with higher flows in the riverbed, it becomes a sweet wave that gives up almost every wave trick. Here's some photos to give you an idea. Hopefully some rain tonight and creeking tomorrow!


Brian Jennings
Team Bliss-Stick

Northeast Update- Jason LaSelva

Northeast Update...

The northeast has received some rain and with temperatures in the 50's we have had some perfect weather for boating. I ventured to some of our regular runs and tried my best to get some quality photos for Bliss-Stick. With most of my paddling companions retiring for the year--this is usually the case after Moosefest--I ventured off to paddle the Poultney Creek at flood(see my previous post) and the famous Mettawee Creek.

The Mettawee is a rather new find. Some of my friends, including the late Chris Wolski, completed the first descent in 1997. It can be paddled at various levels for about 8 months out of the year and is often compared to the Bottom Moose, but in my opinion can be way more fun at higher levels.

Thanks to Daylight savings and shorter days I was unable to get to all of the drops today, but fear not, I will have more photos in the next few days.

Cheers,

Team Bliss-Stick
Jason LaSelva

Team Bliss-Stick- Jason LaSelva- Poultney Creek, NY

I checked out Poultney creek, which is usually run from 200-1100cfs and today we found it at 2300cfs. I've sent a pic from the first rapid and I have to say that it +2000 is the way to go.

More to come!

Jason LaSelva
Team Bliss-Stick

Bliss-Stick Agent, Jason Bordwine Getting Exposure

This is a website that gives you information on what to see and experience in Damascus, Virginia. Scroll down the page and see Jason running Big Rock on the White Top Laurel!

CLICK HERE!

Russell Fork Race Update- Brian Jennings

After a Gauley Season of too much work, and not enough boating, I was stoked to get back to one of my favorite, and one of the most beautiful rivers anywhere...the Russell Fork. I love this run, and the scene is one of the best on the whitewater circuit....super friendly locals, and lots of familiar faces.

While I usually race my longboat for the race, my WS Momentum was stolen out of my yard this summer, so I decided to try and beat Tyler Fox's short boat record (in a Bliss-Stick MAC) in my trusty Mystic. I'm stoked that I succeeded in beating it by 2 seconds, but ended up second in the unoffical short boat category as my buddy Adam Johnson laid down a blistering time to set the new record in under 12 mins. Well done AJ!!

After a practice and race runs on Sat, I shredded with my girlfriend Eileen, and did a session on the take out wave in the afternoon. Here's a few pics..

Next up: lots of playboating on the New and Gauley and creek season begins!!! 'Till next time.

Brian Jennings
Team Bliss-Stick

Stephen Forster- Fall Break Update

Hey this is Stephen Forster checking in. I am currently getting ready for my 5-month trip to Chile. The past few weeks I lead a trip down the Moose River in New York, and Fall Creek in Massachusetts. Both easy class 4+ creeks with some really fun lines. During November and December the Airborn Athletics team will be heading down to Chile to run some big drops and take footage for a new and upcoming video. This movie, so far, has two sections planned out, a spring Canada section and a Chile section. Hopefully there will be some Colorado footage in there to. Here are some pictures from the Moose River and Fall Creek.


Knifes Edge, Moose River...




Fall Creek...

New Backband Buckles for 2010 on Bliss-Stick Designs

We are pleased to let Bliss-Stick paddlers know that we have replaced the old style cast metal buckles that we used on our backbands, to a new specificly designed Stainless Slider buckle, that will now make our backband buckle adjustment solid and secure enough to handle the extremes of modern whitewater kayaking.