I didn't get one...yet. I borrowed Sam's boat b/c I cracked mine and just got the new hull. I have to build it today so I can boat tomorrow.

I will say I was impressed with the Mystic today, though. we did a super fast, high water Wilson run on this great Christmas morning. The level was 2 feet and it handled great. Not quite as fast/zippy as my other boat, but it it responds really well and is quite comfortable. We had a blast out there today.

Anyway, thought you might enjoy that.

Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas and have a great New Years!!

Later man.

--

– Trent Thibodeaux

- United in Nature

After a long hiatus due to lack of water in the Southeast the Tallulah finally ran in the fall! Eager to take advantage of the release, a weekend trip down to the famed river was in store. Most know this classic run for the mega slide, Oceana.

Oceana is a huge slide with a big rock sticking up about ¾ of the way down the slide, creatively named “The Thing.” Sketchy would be the initial reaction of most, but A LOT of people huck themselves fearlessly over the daunting horizon line. A great entertainment to watch, and also quite fun to run. The beast offers two great lines. The most common being the left line, which allows for a crazy amount of speed and just barely avoids a collision with “The Thing” or for those wishing for a little something extra from the rapid they choose the middle line and do the ferry above “The Thing.” Certainly a rapid to remember.

The rest of the run boasts some awesome ledges and slides perfect for a good rail grab or skirt check as well as some amazing scenery. The run is short but sweet and ends in a long lake paddle out, but it’s certainly worth it.

Trent Thibodeaux, Kira Tenney, Casey Sande and myself joined up with Chan Jones and Taylor Fearrington for two runs of Saturday at 500 CFS. Trent, Kira, Casey, and I only had the leg strength to fire up one run on the 700 CFS Sunday because of the 500+ stairs to reach the put in. It was great to finally get in that coveted fall run on the Tallulah.

Sam Fulbright

Team Bliss-Stick

Pilot Collective Media

In order as follows from Nov. 15th at the Madison Wave.

Norton, Giebs, Zack, Chuck, Todd, Then Geibs again charging another random drop from this summer.... and a Blunt in a SCUD.

Happy Holidays and take care,

Adam Swett

Hey Man,

Here are a few pics of the latest drop. Rio Palguin, The Middle Waterfall. Photographs are courtesy from Aaron Fricke and Matt Smink. It was some fun stuff man! The dude with cut eye is Jake Greenbaum, taking one for the crew.

Right now I am living solo up north, hanging out and kayaking every day on some sick sick white water. Probably a thirty footer for Christmas. Then eat a lot of good food. Speak a lot of spanish. Dance.... Ha Ha!

Talk soon,

Tino Specht

Team Bliss-Stick

Hey Michael,

Life has been good on the Nile! Surfing almost everyday, twice a day, on two great waves. With fluctuating energy demands the river is lower in the morning and Club wave comes in. Club wave has a nice retentive pile on it and can serve up some air making for a good place to learn new tricks. As the day goes on the river rises and the Special comes in which is the sickest wave I have ever been on. Two shoulders, glassy, steep, and bouncy makes for big air. Everyday the possibility for progression is endless.

Off the water is pretty intense as well, riding on the back of motorcycles(Bodas) at break neck speeds, dodging pot holes, cows, bikes, and trucks while the driver is on his cell phone is scarier than the massive holes. Here are a few photos from the action so far, thanks for all your help and Happy Holidays!

Dustin Stoenner

Team Bliss-Stick

Last weekend me and a few friends drove out to Hood River again to run the Little White Salmon. The Little White Salmon is one of my favorite creeks to run. The creek is super fast and super continuous. With the speed and intense boulder gardens, this run can get very technical, especially if no one really knows the lines. Me and Mike had ran it once before but couldn't remember any of the lines, Jeff and Cliff had never ran it. With the continuous nature of the creek scouting can take along time. It took us about 4 hours to finish the run. We took out in the dark and then hitched a ride.

The first pic is of me on Spirit falls.

The Second pic is of Cliff Mailloux airing it out on Boulder Sluice.

Seth Stoenner

Team Bliss-Stick

Hello Michael

The snow is starting to fall in the northeast and the water is getting a little on the cold side, but rivers are running. So it’s not quite time yet to pack away the boats and break out the snowboard.

We have a great play-spot just 5 minutes away from my apartment and is good 7 months out of the year. It is located on the Hudson River about a mile upstream from the dam in Hudson Falls. From 8500-13500 cfs the feature is a pretty solid hole and from 19500-27000 cfs some pretty nice waves come in; great for boards and boats.

For those who live around the Lake George and Saratoga area this is a must to check out. I worked out parking arrangements with a local business owner, which allows boaters access to the eddy right by the waves. This is a perfect spot for beginners and experts alike. The eddy is huge and super easy to get to in case of a swim.

I’ve tried a number of playboats here and without a doubt the Smoothy is the easiest and most fun kayak I’ve used here. Let me explain my reasoning. The Smoothy is fast for its length (6’1”), it is retentive and super easy to adjust angles while cartwheeling—this simply helps you stay in a small non-retentive feature--, and it loops effortlessly. I’m 190lbs and was almost able to go completely aerial is this very small hole. I cannot wait to get back out there at a better level and really see what the Smoothy can do!

These pics are from a couple of days ago and the level was a bit low (around 9000cfs).

Team Bliss-Stick Member

Jason LaSelva

Hey Michael, I hope you are doing well, here is a blog update...

I just made it to the epicenter of whitewater kayaking in South America, Pucon. So far I have ran the Ojos del Caburgua which is a set of clean waterfalls, and a 30 meter slide on the Rio Nevatos.

Here are some pictures of the slide! I am in the lime Mystic and Tino is in the red Mystic.

Stephen Forster

So basically I really like kayaking. Luckily my mom birthed me in the Boise area and my dad kayaked,so at a young age I lit the fire for my passion of being in the outdoors and using a kayak to paint my picture. The Payette was, and still is an untouchable training ground which has given me the experience to take my kayak to other destinations.

I have paddled in Argentina, Chile, all over the western half of the United States, eastern Canada, and today heading to Uganda to bring in 2010. Traveling and experiencing new cultures is one of my favorite parts of kayaking because it gives me different perspectives that I can apply to life choices.

I look forward to continually progressing in kayaking, pushing my self to run bigger waterfalls, and linking up combos on waves. I'm super excited to be paddling Bliss-Stick boats and to be working with such friendly people. I hope to get some updates soon.

Can't wait to see everyone on the water.

Peace,

Dustin Stoenner

Team Bliss-Stick