Come Hell or No Water- North Alabama Whitewater Festival 2007

This was the third annual NAWFest offering just a glimpse of what Alabama has to offer the world of kayaking. Unfortunatly we haven't had rain in awhile so the flows were less than ideal but we did it anyway because if you live in Alabama (the land of drought it seems these days) you have to make do with what you got. Due to prior obligations on Friday morning I wasn't able to make it to Short Creek falls until almost noon and therefore was unable to compete in the freestyle Huckfest off the falls or Boatercross. This is one place where I wouldn't have had a snowball chance in hell of winning but that wouldn't have mattered as it would have just been fun fun stuff. I did it the last two years and had a blast but sadly it wasn't to be this year. However I did shoot lots of video which I am working on editing together of some interesting moves off the 20 footer as well as some ensuing carnage. Stay tuned for that.

Friday night was pretty tame with a pretty small crowd on hand. I still remember back to the first year though when it was just a couple dozen of us sitting around a campfire Friday night and not much else so we for sure have moved up from that. On Saturday I woke up and headed down to register for the freestyle comp. Now not being much of a playboater at all, I would rather be in my creekboat than practicing loops, I was going to jump in the men's intermediate division. However I found upon arriving that NO ONE ELSE HAD SIGNED UP!

I was taken back by the lack of turnout. Where were my fellow shitty playboating brethern? Those folks who take maybe a handful of rides in a hole, and a healthy number of windowshades in the process, and then say "screw this I'd rather be creeking". Despite the field not making (we only needed a measly three people) I was actually glad that now I could take some pictures and video and just relax and enjoy myself. All in all a good day that was topped off with the ramp competition, some serious beatdowns in the inflatable jousting arena, and then scoring some stuff in the raffle. I wasn't too much in for partying the night away like many in attendance but still hung out for quite awhile and enjoyed the band, Steel String Theory, that absolutly rocked the socks off the fest.

Sunday morning was a hot and early one as we started to take stuff down and pick up trash. Finally the heat got to Adam and I and we headed to the playhole to cool off. 45 minutes, and a few cartwheel and vain loop attempts later I hopped out and headed over to the ramp to watch the biggest carnage of the weekend in my opinion. Chad Dempsey, local daredevil, decided to go off the ramp on a little girls Huffy bike. I unfortunatly was out of juice for the still camera and my video camera had made an early trip home with friends but I did get to shoot some footy with a borrowed camera. The first go around was ill fated from the start with Chad going over the handle bars and sliding the length of the 2 story ramp. Not to be undaunted though he got back on and gave'er again this time riding it out and doing an unintentional back flip at the bottom nearly clocking his head on the ramp lip.

All in all a great weekend despite hardly any water. We had fun, we drank and were marry, and I even got to boat a little. NAWFest if a great time with a great bunch of folks. I hope you enjoy the pictures below of the freestyle comp. and I hope to see you guys next year.

Until next time

Stay Wet
&
Pray For Rain

Joey

The Judging was superb, even with these guys in charge heh heh