Hello from VT!

We have had some strange weather here in VT. The winter started off great with 3 feet of snow. Then it turned bad when we got rain and 60 degree weather. Some rivers ran but by the time I got home from work it was to dark to paddle. It was a rough week when that happened all I could think about was paddling while I was sitting in front of a kid at work teaching him how to produce the /r/ sound correctly.

What we have been doing is going to pool sessions and watching lots of football. You all must know that the New England Patriots are the AFC Champions and are on their way to make history as the first team in NFL history to be 19-0.



All they need now is to win the Super Bowl! Jeff and I went the to AFC Championship game. It was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. To be at a game with that much at stake and win was unbelievable. I don’t know how many paddlers are football fans or sports fans in general but here in New England we love our sports. We have the World Series Champions the Boston Red Sox, the soon to be Super Bowl Champions New England Patriots, and the Boston Celtics who are playing lights out Basketball. It is a great time to be a New England sports fan. Two weeks left before the Super Bowl and we are very excited. It would be amazing to go to the Super Bowl but don’t have that kind of money to toss around.

Even with all the excitement of the Patriot’s all I want to do is paddle. Winter bring us some more snow and give us an amazing spring paddling season!

Take Care,
Elaine

LF Tour Across Germany

Wasserski-Langenfeld (the SR wake and kite distributor for Europe) is kicking the Liquid Force Tour across Germany to promote LF and the new Shred Ready Standard. Go to http://www.liquidforce.de/ for more info.



Also, LF will be hosting Rock This Town to kick off thier tour. Rock This Town

Mexico

Greetings Whitewater World!

I just got back from a sick trip to the country of Mexico... the place has an unbelievable amount of whitewater and some very very large waterfalls. Mexico is an awesome place to go for paddlers of all levels, but carries a special attraction for class V paddlers looking to step it up and start freefalling long distances.

Scouting in Mexico...


Pat Keller, myself and Jake Greenbaum rode down in Pat's truck, and met up with Austin Rathmann, Ian McClaren, Jon Meyers, and Lawrance Simpson in Valles, Mexico.

Ready.


The reward after 35 hours of driving!



Filming at the lip of the first drop of Day 1, the Micos. 2 ran, the rest did a sick rappel off the side.



Micos waterfall from below... about 75 feet of total drop and 55 feet of freefall... Lawrance knocked out the First D of the left side on this trip, sick!



After Pat and Lawrance ran the Micos, we did the beautiful travertine waterfall run-out below and packed up to go to the second huck of our trip, Cascada El Salto. This waterfall has to be one of the coolest looking drops ever, dropping about 100 feet over three tiers. I've always wanted to run this beast, but my head just didn't feel right to do one of the biggest hucks of my life, so I opted out.


Two bad lines on El Salto...



Unfortunately day 1 took Jon Meyers out for the trip. He flipped on the 70 foot second drop of El Salto and fractured his left elbow. McClaren flipped too and although he didn't break anything, his elbow wasn't quite the same after that... the big drops will get ya!

Getting hassled by the fuzz. They had big guns.


Another 6 hours south and the next day we found ourselves in the final destination for our trip, Tlapacoyan in the state of Veracruz. This is where the Rio Alseseca makes its 30 mile plunge from the mountains onto the coastal plan flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. Other than the Middle Kings, I have never seen any other river with sustained sick, (marginally) runnable whitewater for so long. The thing just keeps falling and falling, and unlike the Kings, this river is formed by volcanic basalt, and its jungles hide a tonne of huge waterfalls. Several different sections of the Alseseca were our focus for the remainder of our trip in Mexico, and I can't wait to get back and explore more.

The jungle here just makes you want to run everything. "Looks a little low but the portage is horrible, I'm gonna run it!"



Austin on Rapid 1, roadside Alseseca.



Lawrance styling one of the coolest rapids in existence, S-Turn.



The author enjoying the tropics.



Great drop on the Pezma section.



Pat Keller doing what he does best... plug in first and probe that shit for us!



The trip came to an end somewhat abruptly due to pending school responsibilities and some sickness in the group, but I know that we'll be back. If you are planning your own trip to Mexico in the future, I would advise the following precautions:
1) Wear long pants to avoid poison ivy/bug bites.
2) Don't carry anything illegal in the car... you don't want to go to jail there.
3) Take the toll roads, they are very worth it.
4) Bring tonnes of climbing gear... ascenders, two big climbing ropes and rappel gear
5) Take a vehicle with big clearance, the speed bumps are killers.
6) Bring your A game, you can go as big as you want!!


The boys satisfied after an awesome trip. We're pretty tough in case you can't tell.



Until next time...
Chris Gragtmans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELSEASE
1/15/08

SHRED READY, INC. ANNOUNCES BRH1 Helmet Art Gallery to benefit American Whitewater

AUBURN, AL -- Oil and water don't mix. Or do they? Come discover firsthand as Shred Ready hosts the first of several art galleries featuring original artist creations painted on their new Standard helmet.

Phil Mechanic Studios in Asheville, NC will host the first event, called BRH:1, on March 13, 2008. Along with the event, Shred Ready has launched www.becauserockshurt.com to create a place where helmet art can be celebrated and discussed. The site will feature work from Artists around the country in various styles and media.

All helmets will be available for sale or auction with proceeds donated to American Whitewater. Sponsors include: Kayak Session and American Whitewater, LVM and Pisgah Brewing (who will be donating kegs!). Look for future galleries at FIBARK in Salida, CO, The Outdoor Retailer Tradeshow in Salt Lake City, UT and Gauley Fest in Summersville, WV. Looking forward to seeing you there.

For more information go to becauserockshurt.com

Press Contact:
Shred Ready, Inc.
(334) 239-0179
customerservice@shredready.com
www.becauserockshurt.com

China update from Tino

CHINA! This is the new place to be. There are huge rapids, easy rapids, giant waves, small holes, canyons, open plains, cities, countryside, well you get the point. I was traveling with the New River Academy teaching their video class and helping to coach their world-class junior kayaking team! What a privilege. We paddled three rivers. The Mekong, Salween, and Yangtze. Each of these three rivers has a big water feel but all three have very different features. The Mekong is canyoned in big water. The Yangtze is a lot of flat water with a few big rapids but seemed to continue the trend of the rivers there being mind blowingly beautiful. Then there was the Salween river. My favorite. There are giant rapids on it but what I really fell for there was the play. There were some huge huge rapids that were just super fun. 15 feet tall with eddy service. It will make you fall in love faster that you thought you ever could. It was awesome to walk around there in my gear. People would touch you and your gear and for the kids I loved letting them try on my Shred Ready Helmet. All in all the culture and rivers combined for my best trip. I can’t tell you any more about it because the rest of it will be in the upcoming movie Shades of Green which is being made by Vital Films out of Aspen, CO! Hope everyone is having a great holiday season.

Paddle Hard,
Tino Specht
Team SR

Photos by: Sam Fullbright Michelle Yates Matt West Brian Boyle