Clay Wright, the 2005 National Champ accepting his award - photo by Karen Kowalski
The term 'Deep South' would definitely apply to Wetumpka, Alabama; this year's home to the US Freestyle Nationals on the Coosa River. While this remote locale kept some of the West Coast boaters away, it also made for a unique and totally memorable event.
The Coosa river runs as a recreational dam release (negotiated with help of the organizer and Southern Trails Outfitters owner, Lonnie Carden). On the specified days 4-8000 cfs of warm, brackish water entertains kayakers, fishermen in bass boats, as well as rental canoers all enjoying the back-woods feel while hoping to see the elusive resident alligator. Combine 90 degree water with class 2 and 3 rapids and you get a pretty good place to play. And the locals do like to play. Be it Southern Comfort bottles passed around on the rocks at noon, 4-shot margaritas served as 'medium' at the local Mexican restaurant, or the massive quantities of beer provided at every site in the campground it's pretty clear these Southern Boys weren't going down without a ruckus. To the music of Hood River's Moe Dixon the boathouse was hopping till midnight despite long days on the water. Perhaps it was the bonfire's smoke, or maybe the moonshine, but Alabama makes even the recent West Virginia partys seem tame. We had 4 cars sunk deep in the red clay near the event site and another that tried in vain to 'jump' the 5' tall bonfire while it blazed amidst sleeping campers. Yee haw!
Despite our event-site access road becoming a mud-pit due to construction and recent rains causing hectic last minute shuttle arrangements, Kristine Jackson kept the event running smoothly and we were able to get through the heats with enough time to spare not only for a 'freestyle through a rapid' but also for contestants and volunteers alike to get back in a enjoy the surfing those warm waters without the pressure of competition of any sort. The results were:
Women's Pro: 1. Karen Roy (MA) 2. Tanya Shuman (WV) and 3. Devon Barker (ID)
Men's Pro: 1. Clay Wright (Rock Island ,TN) 2. Eric Jackson (Rock Island, TN) 3. Bryan Kirk (WV)
C-1: Jonathan Souter (MD) 2. (tie) Gary Mullins (CO) and Jeremy Laucks (PA)
Emily Jackson (15) took 1st in Jr. Women and Dane Jackson (12) took 2nd in Jr. Men to Billy Baudin.
Women Finalists - photo by Karen Kowalski
Thanks to event organizer Lonnie Carden, Southern Trails, and to Kristine Jackson for making this event a reality.
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