The 2009 Season

What up peps. Just want to drop a line to introduce some new sponsors for the 2009 season. It is a pleasure to begin with introducing Level Six paddling gear to the crew, they make killer paddling gear and some fresh apparel. Check them out at www.levelsix.ca



Next up is a local Shasta company, Helmet Camera Central, a perfect spot for all your helmet cam needs. They just got me a
POV 1 for this last trip and the thing is sick! Check them out at www.helmetcameracentral.com



As of yesterday I became part of the HippyTree crew. They are a itol clothing company representing some great athletes including my good friend LJ Groth. They have a great message and some killer Cali style. Check them out at www.hippytree.com



Last up is SixSixOne. They make some of the leading pads in our sport and I look forward to putting them to full use. Check out their new designs for the season at www.sixsixone.com



Thanks to all these companies for the support and contributions to keep us paddlers on the water. See yall out there.

SB

UCSC Kayak Club w/ Shasta Boyz Productions

We finally have been getting some weather here in Cali and most the rivers have gotten nice and swollen. While trapped at school, I have been volunteering at the UCSC kayak club for their pool sessions and enjoying getting to know each person individually. The club has pool session every other Wednesday and there is a trip to the American in the Spring. This group of people is a pleasure to be around and are the next generations of our sport.

My good friend Gaylen Licht is the President of the club and he is fired up to get people in a boat and out on a river. He isn't the only familiar face around those parts though. My brother always makes it out along with my World Classmate Cheski McConnaughay who just moved out from PA.

This is a great resource for students to get into kayaking and it has been fun paddling round with these guys. Hopefully everyone is enjoying the rain/snow and keep your eyes out for continued Shasta Boyz debauchery.

SB

Shasta Boyz and Rise of the Revolution

Recently I have been working on music rights for an upcoming Shasta boyz film but also for Ben Stookesberry's New Hotel Charley film "At Your Own Risk". There have been many talented artist that I have met and this band is no different.

Rise of the Revolution is having a CD release party on Friday Feb. 6 for their new CD Lethal of Equal. Sorry about the old footage, but this short vid is one of the new songs on the album. Be sure you will be seeing much more of them with Shasta Boyz and also Clear H20 Films.

If your in the Santa Cruz area be sure to come and check these guys out. Pray for precipitation!!!!!!

SB

1st Little White Salmon run of 2009

For my last weekend up north, myself, Ben Stookesberry, and Chris Korbulic headed up to Hood River, OR in search of some goods. After driving from 5:30am on friday the 16th, we arrived at Eagle Creek to scout out Metlako falls. We rallied the mile-ish hike and climbed down to the lip to check her out. It's a beautiful waterfall with a perfect line but was running a little low. We all opted to come back and give er' with a little more water and some warmer temperatures.

The next morning we arose early planning to go and snag the 1st Little White runs of the 2009 season. We had a stout crew joined by Ryan Scott, Cody Howard, Todd Anderson, Erik Boomer, and Keel Brightman. It was a epic flow at 3.9 on the gauge and it was great to see all the rapids pretty clear of wood.

We stayed there thru Monday running LDUB and the upper section which is rockin. Jesse Coombs joined up with the group for a day of boating on LDUB, including the upper, and then rallied back to Corvallis afterwards. The group expected warm weather but due to the inversion happening, the temperature never got above the mid 30's. The trip was epic and a great relief for some winter boating.

While in hood we only shot with the new GoPro Helemt Wide cameras which are epic. It would have been nice to have some shore shots, but no one wanted to get out of their boat to shoot. So enjoy the footage and be sure to check out GoPro's site (www.goprocamera.com).

Season of the Leap!

First Ascent of 'Kaya' 5.11a Lover's Leap photos: Styles Larsen

The sudden appearence of Indian Summer in January has led to a burst of route development at Lover's Leap. Not Lover's Leap of the South Lake Tahoe area, but Lover's Leap up in the State of Jefferson. Drive through Scott Valley out the Sisson/Callahan just north of Mt Shasta and you'll notice limestone plugs to the north almost immediately. While some of this limestone has been developed access issues require a little extra driving for public access. Within an hour your drive will be rewarded by a large euro style limestone plug up on a hillside.

A 30 minute hump up the hill and your at some of the best limestone in NorCal. Local climber OT has been active in route development and has just added 2 new classics, 'Lover's Crack' a 5.9 on the Choice Venue Wall, and 'Dr. Lu' a spicy 5.8 on the Marley Wall. Also still fresh with drill dust is 'Kaya' 5.11a, juggy moves down low take you to some ultra thin sustained pimping on clean grey limestone. I suspect this flurry will continue as long as the weather is warm and by spring 'the Leap' of Jefferson State will be a new destination crag for those in or passing through NorCal.

The Full Fulda Creek Story

Back in Spring of 08', Charlie Center, Shon Bollock, Ben Wartburg, and Justin Patt completed the first decent of Fulda Creek, a tributary to the N. Fork of the N. Fork of the American. This is the first time all the footage from myself and Charlie has been put together in one video. The beats are non-other than my good friend Wisdom (www.wisdomcreations.com). Hope you enjoy the adventure and look forward to some winter water.

Shon

Catchin' some of the last water in Cali. The South Feather.

In late September myself, Ben Stookesberry, Taylor Robertson, and Eric Petlock met up for some South Feather action. On the run we met up with our fellow comrade Chris Kobulic. It was very cold at night out there but during the day it was a decent temperature. Below the entry 10 footer, there is a chunky rapid down the right. As I hit the seam at the bottom, I flipped and smashed my shoulder on a rock. This was the begging of a day of beat downs. Hahhahaha good stuff. We only got some of it was on film because we were on a speed mission. We finished the run in about 2 and a half hours with a couple portages. Enjoy the little footie we got and pray for rain.

SB