Jakub Nemec - freeride kayaker

2011-05-18T06:37:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Last night I got to NYC and I am counting down days to go out west. Colorado and all west coast got loaded with snow last winter so it looks like a good summer already.

Here is something special you have to see. Movie made by Petr Kaspar from Czech Republic. We have been shooting in Italian Alps few weeks ago and this is how it looked. The whole story and idea of this film sounds very interesting. Cant wait to see the whole thing next year. Here is a show reel no. 1 so check it, enjoy and share!

http://youtu.be/eHBxTgAFqgs

Have fun and stay safe out there!

Jakub

Italian Alps

2011-05-02T02:45:00.000-07:00

After cool two weeks in Corsica me, Meg and Jakub Sedivy moved up north into European mainland. Exactly Sesia river valley in Italy that offers some granite world class kayaking all year long. We also met upú with professional filmmaker Petr Kaspar, his wife Jana and Pavel Pilka Faustus and started our filming/kayaking mission. Weather was cold, rained a lot and waterlevels werent too high. Good enough for some classic fun rivers like Sorba, Equa and upper Mastalone where we spent a long time setting up ropes for filming, thinking about new HD movie techniques and of course kayaking.

Feels good to be back in Alps

And kayak with friends

Meg riding Sorba slides

The biggest thing we have run last week is definitely Devils Slide on Sorba river me and Jakub S. fired up. Good lines, good times, sweet footage and these amazing pictures taken by Meg Smith. Thanks!

Entry drop into the šit

Massive Devils Slide, Sorba river

Here is a short movie from my headcam on Devils Slide. Looks pretty intense just like this but footage from other three cameras we got is way cool!

Meg on Equa river

Jakub rippin it

Cruising down Zkumavka

Such a good times HD filming and kayaking in Alps. Place I went into since I started with whitewater kayaking. Sweet granite slides and never ending options to go just a little bit bigger.

Have fun and enjoy the spring!

Jakub

La Corse Part 1

2011-04-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hi yall,

Three days ago I cought a ride with friend down to Italy and met up with my buddy Jakub Sedivy. In few hours we were buying a ticket to ferry to Corsica. After two first days we got to some internet access finally. Here is some pics for you to check out. More to come soon.

Good times in Bastia

And one of our first rivers Fium Orbo

And one of the first fun moves

Its been really fun so far. I will keep you posted soon.

Later

Jakub

Picture of the day!

2011-02-21T06:43:00.000-08:00

Hey,

Here is another picture I found to post up this winter. Its from 2007 winter trip to Galicia (Spain and Portugal) where me and my friend Jirka Kopecny are running the dam on Rio Lerez. I love this picture and hope yall do to!

Picture courtesy of Pavel Bendl

Edit from fall out east

2011-02-08T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here is a short easy edit from couple of runs I have done last year in fall on the East Coast of the U.S. Dont expect any super hard stuff but its fun video to watch for sure. More snow videos and pictures coming soon!!!!

Mt. Crested Butte

2011-01-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

After not being able to go to Mexico for kayaking mission in January and February. Me and my wife Meg moved to Crested Butte in Colorado. Tickets are cancelled and they are ready to use anytime once I get the Green Card document. Working hard these days, shoveling snow and working out hard for kayaking season. Meg is still killing it sharp at graphic design and we also ski and snowbaord a lot. Here is a couple of pictures from today, snow was quite deep, fast and it was a lot of fun!

Meg shreding pow

Our friend Milo bombing it

Some head perspective of me in the chute

Milo coming out of trees

It was awesome out there, cant wait to be back

All pictures courtesy of Jakub Nemec

Have a great winter!

Photo of the day!

2010-12-17T10:50:00.001-08:00

Few days ago my friend Shon Douglas Cottrill posted this picture from last year. We were up in Alberta/Canada. We had good times and ran South Ram river. Its cool overnighter with this huge 80 ish footer. Big first D miles away from civilization... Cant wait for more days like that. Soon though, stay tuned!

Happy holiday and all the best in 2011!

Jakub

Fall on the East Coast

2010-12-01T05:18:00.000-08:00

Since mid September I have been hanging out and kayaking around East coast of the US. Its been fun times for sure. I found a job to make money for some kayaking trip in winter and have been living with my wifes family in Pennsylvania. Of course we took some weeks off to go kayaking, explored what big boys PA has for us and did some playboating on our local playhole on weekends.

Here is a bunch of sick pictures for you to check.

Courtesy of Meg Smith

Jared Seiler scouting roosting stout in Nothern Pennsylvania

After not even two weeks in PA there came a huge rain and I got a phone call from my friends Jared and Graham Seilers to go run the shit. Those guys grew up here and stayed for fall as well so I was ready to see what Pennsylvania has to offer. It was sweet.

Check out this roosting stout and Jared firing it up!

In October there was not much going on except work, kayaking flatwater, playboating and paddling the Upper Yough. We did a lot of mountain biking and I was looking forward to go visit North Carolina again and run some of the classic rivers out there.

I love to mountain bike when there is no river to run and there is work to do. So easy, convenience, fun and taking just for a few hours.

Anyway, by the end of October we bounded to North Carolina to kayak and compete in Green Race. We hung out around Asheville for over a week, talked to a lot of friends, kayaked heaps and got to see Astral LE4 Meg designed.

HAving a lot of fun on Green River

Spanking the monkey!

Cruising down slides below Gorilla

Meg bombing down Rapid Transit

Jakub doing left line in Sunshine

Unfortunately, North Carolina didnt get much rain when we were there so we had to kayak the Green for most of a time, which is sweet though.

Getting interviewed for a Green Race daily coverage

During the Green race week we visited our friend Charlie and his parents who have a JEt ski we rode. Good times

GREEN RACE is definitely my most favourite race in the world. No doubt. Friendly atmosphere, amazing river and all the cool kayakers make this event more than just special.

This is my race run in Gorilla part of the river. Such a good times

When we came back home from North Carolina we already missed Green river and our friends from ASheville. Its so cool down there. Beautiful mountains, creeks and great people.

Now the winter is here and no snow, just cold while mountains out west are getting covered with deep powder. Its kinda said we cant go ski and snowboard because Megs knee was dislocated this fall and its not in skiing shape yet. All we gotta do is work till end of December and go kayak somewhere down South. Where is still unanswered question but I will keep yall posted for sure.

Here is what we do while we are not working or kayaking.

Rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, running. Having good times while were not working and making money for January and February kayaking/filming/picture and waterfall hunting mission down south...

Have a great winter whatever you do!!!

Jakub

Few new videos

2010-10-14T04:59:00.000-07:00

Yoooo,

All good here. Check out few videos I was working on for last couple of days.

Here is Bryan Kirk on the Gauley river with prototype of Wave Sport Project X styyyling macho move off the wave.

Here is just a fun movie I edited from Red Rock Desert in MOAB(UT)Check it out!

Have a great day
Jakub

Kayaking Crystal Gorge

2010-09-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

Yo, this a late update from my run in deepness of beautiful Crystal Gorge in Colorado. Nowadays, I am catching up on video editing, pictures, updates, articles and so on. On the East coast, where race and creeking season is about go off in a few weeks.

Anyway, here is a video from my run. Shot on Go Pro HD headcam, music by Mr. Bob Marley and Rakim - bad ass song. ENJOY!

Have a good fall!
Jakup

Black Canyon of the Gunnison VIDEO!!!

2010-08-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

Jakub

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

2010-08-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

All good here in Colorado. Summer is getting to the end, we got last full on week of work and then who knows what is gonna happen.

Last weekend I had a great time on Black canyon of the Gunnison with some of my best friends Yonton Mehler and Bryan Owen aka Astral buoancy, Brent Toepper aka badass guy who reps for Sweet in Colorado, Milo from Crested Butte and Daniel Windham from Boulder. We all rallied in on Saturday night to stay in Montrose, set up shuttle on the next day and meet rest of our crew. We put on in early afternoon, entered beautiful canyon and paddled down stream…

Our crew: Jakub, Daniel, Milo, Brent, Bryan and Yonton

Milo lives in Crested Butte and tried to talk me into running Black Caynon several times. This time it finally worked out and I understand why in his age of 46 it was his 46th run of the caynon.

We paddled in for a while and walls of canyon started to get taller and whitewater got spicier. There was two super fun rapids before portage of nasty looking rapid called triple drop.

Fun rapid number 1 and Yonton getting after it

Fun rapid number 2 - going for a boof

After portage of nasty looking rapid called Triple drop with really unnatural line we got to another badass rapid. Double drop with tight line continued with some juicy drops and cool moves. Daniel and I went and had a great lines.

Entry moves in rapid called Ball Crusher

Few rapids below Ball Crusher is a great waterfall. Gets better at higher flowes but our summer level 620 cfs was great for the entire run.

Big boof of fun 15ish footer

As you can see. Black Canyon is totally different river than anything else in Colorado. There are big boulder garden rapids in 2000 feet tall vertical walls. Waterfall also marks a big mandatory almost 1 mile long portage of sieve city deep in the canyon. The good thing is that after you get done with portage there is the best campsite on the world called cave. There is also big pool for fishing full of delicious trouts. Yumm!

View of the canyon while we were portaging

Our cavesite

So happy to make it down the portage and see the most beaautiful campsite on the world. After that we got few hours to relax, fish, eat and if we werent pussies we could swim in freezeing cold water. Some whiskey drinking afterwards and good night of sleep.

Daniel enjoying some fresh trouts

Thats what we saw in the morning before good stuff started to happen

When we put on in morning on the next day we started with big portage of huge river wide siphon. We dropped back in the river from big boulder jam. Next thing was a long big rapid and while everyone else was portaging I looked at it and decided to fire it up. Rest of our crew set up safety and few cameras and some exciting moves started to happen. Entry move is nice boof and then you gotta move to the left for the actual entrance.

Big boof to enter the rapid

This is the entry move of the rapid called Next Genaration. Right downstream of this thing is tight sketchy waterfall landing on the rock on the right and going in the undercut on the left. Downstream of that is few other bigger moves to do before the rapid melows out.

On the edge of the world dropping in the goods

Thats how main drop and bottom of the rapid looks like

After I ran Next Genaration I felt pretty good. There is no other place on the world I have been which has the big canyon and such a good whitewater to offer. Also, it runs 365 days per year. Almost makes me wanna live here!

After like two miles of fun class 4 whitewater there is a last portage to do. I scouted the rapid and saw big maze made out of siphons and manky looking drops. So I portaged my boat downstream. What I saw down there I couldnt just portage. Bottom very technical rapid ended with nice 20 feet waterfall. There I came, ran that thing and it felt like heaven.

One of the coolest moves in the whole run

Right below the waterfall we took a break, talked about what we just did, kept looking at the huge walls and after few minuttes paddled out to the take out.

After couple of miles of easy water we rolled in the take out. Ate granola bars, filtered some water and started hiking to the parking ground where our shuttle vehicle has been parked for last two days.

Happy to make it to the take out

Hike out is pretty brutal, almost 1 mile long and up the very steep hill. After we got that done we drank few beers and enjoyed being with a good friends. That was absolutelly one of my top 3 river trips in my life and I already know I will always come back there.

Thanks for a pictures to Bryan Owen from Astral buoancy!!!

Stay tuned

Jakub

Lake Creek video!

2010-08-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

Here is a short movie from my favourite convenience creek in Colorado.
Enjoy!

Peace
Jakub

Lake creek pictures

2010-07-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

When I posted video called My Home I called Pine creek rapid my home run. It is true but its easy, accessable, convenience and fun run. In this blogpost I would love to introduce you some of my best home runs ever called Lake creek. It flows in valley next to the road no. 82 called Independence Pass. Most of the summer its really high and running bottom section would be pretty hard core. You can run upper section though and it includes some fun class IV-V kayaking. This time of a year waterlevel drops low enough to run bottom two miles including 4 big and very fun rapids and tons of boogie whitewater in between.

The best thing about it is that is just 20 minuttes drive from my place. Welcome on the Lake creek photo tour

First rapid of the bottom section called Brains

First rapid called Brains because of big bubble at the bottom of the first drop. Better boof it! Right after that you have few hundred meters of boogie class III-IV before you get out on the left to scout rapid called Paralizer.

Paralizer rapid from the river right

Paralizer has a very tight line on the left. If you hit it good you get sick air a great feeling landing just few inches next to big chunk of rock. In case you would get pushed right you would probably find out why is this rapid called Paralizer.. After few runs almost better not to scout and just have fun.

Enjoying air time landing next to sketchy and dangerous rocks

This is great view of Paralizer from the bottom. You can see the rock you wanna stay away from on the river right.

Cleaning the line on Paralizer

Right below Paralizer there is another quite sketchy rapid called Kiss me. It is a slot going from the river right to left right under ugly rock. I ran it just once and I got pinted to the rock for a few seconds. It was pretty wet kiss I gave to the rock and it wasnt easy to roll back up. Made it eventually though.

Kiss on the Lake creek means getting pushed against the rock

After Kiss me rock you have about mile of great and fun class III-IV whitewater to enjoy. Below artificial 5 feet boof eddy out on the right to scout last big rapid called Cauldron. Its easy class IVish lead in with tight technical drop at the bottom. Coming from the right to the left into tight slot with some undercuts I always go deep no matter what. Probably need more laps on this creek to line up this one..

Entry in Cauldron rapid

Running tight Cauldron chute

Bottom of Cauldron is nice technical right hand curve where you can totally ride the wall. Its pretty fun!

Crusing down the last move on the river

Once you get to the bottom of the creek it melows out and your feelings are really good. To me it still feels like pretty hard class V even though I ran it like five times already. Section is just 2 miles long but excitement you get on all 4 big rapids is as much as a full day river. After you take out on the left under old broken bridge drive the shuttle or go for a nice high elavation run to the top which kicks your ass.

Kicking it next to Twin Lakes where Lake creek comes into

Have a great day!

Jakub

June Video Update

2010-07-18T22:02:00.000-07:00

Last week has been pretty busy for me. Have been working as a safety kayaker on Arkansas river, kayaked every day after work, worked for catering company making lunches at nights and also edited movie from June spent in Colorado. Here it is, hope you will like it.

Only 20 minuttes drive from my place there is a nice river flowing down the steep valley. Couldnt be any better its flowing at the perfect flow these days. Its called Lake creek and you can expect a bigger update and better pictures in next days. Here is a few freeze frames from my Go Bro waterproof camera.

Great double drop as an entry rapid

Dropping down into "Kiss me" rapid with nice undercut on the bottom

This is just two rapids out of whole 2 miles long run. The biggest and best rapid is called Paralizer and has some nasty stuff in there. You dont wanna miss the line. My lines were all good though and we got some nice footage and pictures. Stay fired up for the next update!

View I get if I hike up the hill at my place not bad huh?

Fireworks on 4th of July Independence Day

To see more pictures from Lake Creek visit: Sweet Protection Blog

Have a great summer!!!

My Home

2010-07-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

This July I am based on the Arkansas river in Colorado. Its great out here. I work almost every day as a safety kayaker for Timberline Tours. In my time off I go kayak somewhere else or work on my videos, designs and gear improvement for next years..

Here is a video of my home run called Pine Creek. Its super fun class IV+ run I kayak every day. Sometimes twice or more because we raft it comercially as well. I already tried to run it backwards, do kickflips in there, try some tight creeky lines and hit all the boofs I can.. Here is edit of my run in the main line together with sick song from Fast Food Orchestra

I also love to freeride. Combine freestyle, river running and creeking makes kayaking the best thing on the world. Here is nice shot of me doing kickflip the other day.

Have a great summer!!!
Jakub

Oh Be Joyful creek

2010-07-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

After almost two weeks working every day I got two days off to visit my friend Brent Toepper in beatiful Crested Butte area. Of course it wouldnt be me just to go visit friend. There was an Oh Be Joyful race going on Sunday..

Thats what OBJ is all about. Slides, drops and FUN - Jakub kickin freewheel off 8 footer

After safety kayaking run on Saturday me and my girlfriend Meg jumped in a car and rallied towards Crested Butte. Rolled in around 6PM to catch the highest flow of a day.

PICTURES COURTESY OF MONICA GOKEY AND MEG SMITH - THANKS!

My girl Meg on the entry waterfall

Oh Be Joyful creek is one of those rivers you have to deserve. From the camp site you gotta hike up for almost two miles. Run itself is like 1 mile long. If you want to lap two or more runs get ready for solid work out hiking your boat up and then kayaking it down. But as always, its totally worth it and thats what we live for!

Good fun out there!

On Sunday after 4PM Oh Be Joyful race has started off. Brent Toepper and his local crew did amazing job organizing this event. Prize money for winner and SWEET protection helmet for second place got lot of people solidly fired up.

Racing over 25 footer waterfall

In my race run I felt pretty fast and smooth all the way down, except the first drop. Then all the class 4 section and coming down over slides and waterfall. Below them I was fired up and kept going hard over final slide serie.. After finish line I thought I have a good chance to be top 3. Hiked back up to the put in and went for another lap with my girlfriend to get some footage and pictures then...

Evening sun makes pictures damn good looking

Ride to live, live to ride!

Happy days
Jakub

Yule creek pictures

2010-06-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

By the beginning of last week I got a day off to go kayaking. Called Demshitz crew and the word was a Yule Creek. One of my favourite runs in Colorado so far. Little creek flowing into Crystal creek from the left side has tons of big stuff to do! On the way up we checked the waterlevel and it seemed little low but totally runnable. After hike in and like a mile of warm up rapids we came to horizon line which means two big slides and technical moves coming up!

Great pictures taken by Nicole Mansfield
The wors ones by Jakub from the river...

Graham Seiler in the "warm ups"

Scouting the first technical combination

Jared firing up the entry waterfall

David Fusilli taking a right slot in the "Wall Ride" slide

Jared on the perfect line of "Wall Ride"

Entry waterfall and Wall ride slide is the first part of big ones on the Yule. Right after that you get to horizon line which brings a big slide called “Oriental massage”. We got out and scouted. It was little rocky and shallow. Looked good though so we ran it.

Jakub getting Oriental massage on the Yule

Jared running last drop on Yule

..and gigling after successful run

Demshitz brothers Dave Fusilli and Jared Seiler paddling over the lake to take out

Our paddle/photo/video/rescue crew ;)

On the next day I had to be back in Vail area working hard. Kayaking along with raft trips. So we did easier section of Crystal creek down below and rallied home. It was a great trip and I cant wait for another one like this one.

You better stay fired up for video!

Jakub

Gilman Gorge video and pictures

2010-06-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

Week before Teva games I got a phone call from the boss of Timberline tours in Colorado that they are looking for a safety kayaker for this summer. Chance of getting paid, being able to kayak every day doesnt come every day so I said “Yes, of course!”

These days I kayak every day. Safety kayaking for rafting trips in the morning and almost every afternoon I go out to explore or run something harder. One of my favourite runs around here is Gilman Gorge on the Upper Eagle river. Enjoy short headcam video from my run I did with my buddies Sam and Brandon yesterday!

Yesterday started raining a lot and its cold. Because of that, river trips got cancelled today so I took advantage to post up some pictures for you guys. Hope you will like them!

So nice to see snow in the middle of June

One of the funnest rapids on the Gilman Gorge

Sam scouting Slory Pipe rapid

Kiwi dude Ryan Lucas firing up Slory Pipe

Stay tuned!!!

Jakub

Homestake race with a headcam

2010-06-05T06:08:00.001-07:00

Teva mountain games kicked off on Thursday with Steep creek championships on the Homestake creek. Its such a great event, 55 best kayakers from all over the world come every year to show their skills on manky class V whitewater. In the first run I was 9th, so I tried really hard in second run. Unfortunatelly, at the bottom section I lost few seconds not being on the fastest line. That meant 11th place overall.

Right now I am waking up at 6am to get ready for downriver sprint and freestyle kayak semi finals. Its gonna be fun!!!

Jakub

Homestake creek practice - Day 1 and 2

2010-05-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Just got to Colorado yesterday and started cruising at the Homestake creek to get ready for Teva mountain games. Tonihgt heading to CKS fest in Buena Vista, then OBJ creek, Yule creek, Barrel springs and much more before heading back here next week!

Pictures courtesy of Meg Smith - Thanks!!!
Check out more of her great job at megsmithdesign.com

Went for a run and scout of the Gilman gorge

First steeper part of the race section

Fun part about to begin...

BOOOOOF!!!

Such a good picture - thanks Meg!

Bottom drop-pool-drop rapids

Last drop

Lets go one more time

Thats what can happen to you at high elavation...

Stay tuned
Jakub

Video of my day

2010-05-27T05:40:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Right now, we are on the way to Colorado for Teva games, some amazing creeks and kayak races.

Edited this video on our stopover in Salt Lake City.

Its my usual day in California

Have a nice day

Jakub

South Branch of the Feather video!

2010-05-15T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

All good here in Cali. Last week was full of kayaking. Upper middle Cosumnes, South Yuba, South Branch twice and South Yuba again on the way back.

Working weekends and kayaking on weekdays - way to do it except the money are pretty low then... ;)

Anyway, Check out movie I edited after first run on the South Branch. Hope you will like it!

South Branch of Middle Feather, CA

2010-05-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Hey,

After not even a year I am back in California, my favourite place to kayak. Found a job and ran one of the best rivers out here in last days.
South Branch of the Feather river

Enjoy great pictures from Darin McQuoid and Laura Ferell

Jakub on one of the 10 footer boofs

Everyone says its 50 feet but its not that big...

Will Styling the line of 99 problems drop - stout 40 footer with tight line

Jakub backfreewheeling one of the 20 footers on the run

Jakub stomping it!

Will on the 45 footer

Time to take a break and take out.. ;)

South Yuba run on the way back - Meg styling the ski jump drop

Smooth boofs!!!

California warm up!!!

2010-05-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

Ahoj,

After ski season in Utah we drove 600 miles to California. Warmed up @ North fork American river and South Yuba. Started raining, got broke, looking for a job in Coloma, getting ready for the GOODS OF CALIFORNIA in next weeks!!!!
Its gonna be a good summer out here...

Leaving Utah

Driving thru Nevada

Putting on high water South Yuba

It can rain out here too!

Meg in melow part

Do you like my 2010 outfit??? ;)

Cruising

With Sweet gear is any weather good

Stay tuned for some action pictures!

Later
Jakub and Meg

2010 Promo video

2010-04-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Just finished my promo video for this year.
Check it out!

Happy days
Jakub

Freestyle clinic in SLC

2010-04-12T23:04:00.000-07:00

Come learn how to playboat and freestyle next Monday!!!

SLC, Utah
JCC swimming pool @ 7 pm

More info @
http://utahkayakschool.com/freestyle.html

Have a good day
Jakub

Teva Life agents submission

2010-03-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

DVD Honest is out!!!

2010-02-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

After a busy week. Me, my girlfriend Meg Smith and Petr Kaspar finally put all the parts of movie together and now its in burning and printing process.

Its available in Prague kayak shops. you can also order it at http://ww8.cz/web/?p=1243
Hopefully it will be all around Europe in March and then North America and New Zealand left.

Here is a short part of it. Hope you will like it.

Now I will stop working, start freeriding again and do some other work than editing... ;)

C U out there
Jakub

Interview @ Spicak.cz

2010-02-11T11:40:00.000-08:00

Hey all,

Check out http://www.spicak.cz/component.php?cocode=article&arid=105&acid=1

Nepal movie

2010-01-18T02:49:00.001-08:00

Hi guys,

Glad to show you my movie from Nepal. Almost one year afterwards but there was not much time yet.

Have a great winter
Jakub

Happy New Year 2010

2009-12-29T06:15:00.001-08:00

Picture courtesy of Meg Smith - Thanks a lot!!!

All the best to you in 2010!!!
Jakub

Rider Of The Year Awards

2009-12-26T03:23:00.000-08:00

Check out http://www.rideroftheyear.org/ to see some cool lines, big drops, styled tricks and heaps more!!!!

All the best in the year 2010!

Cover picture of Hydromag No. 6/12

2009-11-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

Heya,

Stoked to let you know about this issue of Czech whitewater magazine called Hydro. Main topic is a pro boating which means heaps of good pictures, my article from North America and interview with bunch of pro boaters including myslef...

Also check out the cover picture with me first descenting the Tapestry falls in Alberta/Canada. Courtesy of Bryan Kirk

Thanks guys from http://hydromag.cz

Have a great day
Jakub

Toxaway river and Ravens fork video!!!

2009-11-10T18:27:00.000-08:00

Nice video by Gareth Tate from the Toxaway river and Ravens fork river...

Green river pics

2009-11-02T06:59:00.001-08:00

Ahoj,

Some pictures from Green river to check out. Also two more from Overflow river we ran yesterday.

Have a good day

Jakub

Pictures courtesy of Megan Smith and Jakub Nemec

Frankenstein rapid @ Green

Gorilla bro

Sunshine rapid

Meg stylin the stout

Overflow put in

Toxaway river 29th October

2009-10-28T22:27:00.000-07:00

Yo, After Russel Fork festival we moved to Asheville to hit some spicy rapids. Classic run on the Green river was sick. Super cruisy river.

Today steep freeride and sliding the shit out of it @ Toxaway river.

Comes from the Toxaway lake in one of the oldest mountains on the world. The Appalachians. After dam burst in 20th of last century gorge got really smooth and stayed steep.

Takes like 6 hours and its totally worth it. Even tho there is a bitch hike out 4 miles long.

Check out some pictures - Courtesy of Laura Farrell

Put in slide

Chad running Energizer rapid

Random rapid - Chriss

Jakub @ Landbridge

Sun was shinning above bony 40/40 rapid

Bottom of Landbridge rapid/slide

Billy launchin´

Edge of Winter green slide

Bottom of Winter green

Rollin´ in

GOOD DAY OUT THERE!!!

HONEST trailer

2009-10-22T05:46:00.000-07:00

Whad up,
Here we go. Check out trailer of my upcoming kayak movie. Hope you will like it and get fired up cuz the whole film will be way way better. ;)
Have a nice day
Jakub

Devils X race movie

2009-09-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

Short movie from Devils X race below the Lipno dam. Edited by Karel Hlavacek - Thanks a lot

Oetztaler ache...

2009-09-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

...check out bunch of nice pictures from one of the best European rivers...
60 kilometers of class 2-6

runs 365 days per year

Its fukn freezing.. :)

So much fun out there..
Thanks for pictures to PAVEL BENDL

bridge to bridge section - fun level

entrance

cool views...

Sweet lines and see ya out there!

Devils extreme race 2009

2009-09-01T05:26:00.000-07:00

After yesterday is whole race done. We organised it with Mira Kodada and Jirka Kopecny. There are also thanks to Eliska, Marta, Krakora, Stepan, Romik, Medved and Vobejda who helped us to make it happened. There was sweet slalom, sprint, kayak cross and team race thru the whole thing too.

I am stoked becausee I won the Czech kayak cross championship. I organised the race I won sounds good doesnt it?

Have a good day and check out pictures from Hanka Bubnikova and Honza Herstik - Thanks!!!

Final heat of kayak cross

entering the section for team race

One of the semifinals

Going for the touch = myself

START!!!

another one...

Right after start

Have fun on the river... Jakub

Devils X race invitation

2009-08-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

After long way from British Columbia to Colorado over White Salmon river, North fork of Payette and sweet M wave there was time to race again. This time at Gore canyon race. Its such a sweet run and its cool race section. I finally ended up first in main class over 8 feet and under 10 feet. And also 3rd overall which is cool because its together with rafts and long boats...

I also wanna invite all people to Czech championships in extreme kayaking and kayak cross this weekend. Event is organized at really good section of class 3 to class 5-. There is a sprint, slalom, kayak cross, team race and freeriding in the rest of time. Bet if you will come you will have fun!

For more info check out http://devilsextremerace.com

Have a nice day

Jakub

BC update

2009-08-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

Yo dudes,

Kayaking in BC is sick. Surfing Skookumchuck wave and doing some fun rivers around Whistler and Squamish. Love it so much. There is nothing to say, just check out these awesome pictures taken by Robert Peerson...

Have a nice day
Jakub

First drop on upper Check river

Starfish on the Skookumchuck

Upper Check

Kelsey Thomson stylin it - Helix

Bryan Kirk on the upper Check

Kelsey pan am

upper Check

Bryan cleanin it up

Sunset at Skookumchuck narrows

Pictures by: Robert Peerson - Thanks a lot!

One week in Canada

2009-07-18T17:14:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

After one week of running the shit in British Columbia and Alberta in Canada I am on my way to Salt lake city. Outdoor retailer show is beginning in few days and we have to set up Confluence demos and promos. Though now is a time to make an update from last week. Lot of things happened. I ve met new friends. We ve run some new rivers and there was one bad injury too. Its reminding me to stay safe and do what I wanna do and not whats good for pictures and video. Can definitely recommend that to all the people. But I love to be scared before running some hard shit and be stoked after I ran it. Its hard to decide...

Its definitely more dangerous to watch TV and drive car though. So lets go kayaking!

Later
Jakub

Pictures: Bryan Kirk - Thanks!

Our crew: Trip Jennings, Andy Maser, Scott Feindel, Bryan Kirk and myself

First descent of Wapta falls - me

First descent of Tapestry falls - me

Trip Jennings taking footage of Andy Maser on a cool 30 footer

Nice canyon on the South Ram - cool overnighter with sweet 80 footer :)

100 footer at the put in of South Ram - next time :)

Pictures by Bryan Kirk - Thanks a lot!

Upper Cherry creekin'

2009-07-06T17:44:00.000-07:00

Yo,

Happy to be alive after 4 days mission middle, west and upper Cherry like 10 days ago. Upper was too high and that was an oppurnity to come back again few days later with Tim Collins, Eric Giddens and Jake. Was great. We took our time to scout and stay safe. We did all the shit includinng Gorilla, Cherry bomb gorge, Double pot hole, Kiwi in the pocket and Dead bear with leadin.

All of you who can, just get out there. Its flowin perfect for few more days. I am getting scared already because tomorrow we should meet with Epicocity and Wave sport crew to do some shooting and run big waterfalls. Hope will survive it. :)

Have fun

Jakub

Pictures: Eric Giddens - Thanks!

Exhausted after hiking

Dead bear - jakub

Put in slide - Timmy

Cherry bomb falls - me

Gorilla rapid

Dead bear - Tim

Scenic Cherry creek

Kaweah valley

2009-06-20T11:03:00.001-07:00

Yo dudes,

After Fantasy falls we drove with Ron Fischer to Cherry creek to catch up with Nate Garcia (17!) and Davis Gove. We hit West fork and had a great time. Unfortunelly without camera. Upper Cherry is too high so we drove for like 200 miles to Kaweah river. This Valley is so good. This valley is the shit! Firts day we hiked up couple of hours to do some propper whitewater and yeasterday we just had a good fun on classic Hospital rock section. Unfortunelly, have no pictures of Ron. He is taking pictures. I am doing the footage so you will b able to see him too. Dont know when though. Hopefully soon. :)

Have a good day

Jakub

Kaweah upper part

having fun during hard work :)

Our van in Sequoya national park

One of the good ones on Hospital rock section

Bigger one at the beginning of Hospital rock

Another one

Road trippin'

Pictures: Ron Fischer - Thanks bro!

California classics - South Silver and Fantasy falls

2009-06-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

Hi there,

After couple of days finally sitting behind computer and relaxing before next mission. I came to California from Teva games with Ron Fischer to paddle some shit and there is a lot of it to do...South fork of Silver creek for warm up and then three days of class 5 on Mokulemne river. This section is called Fantasy falls and its really great. Shame we have done it just in two of us so we couldnt paddle the hardest stuff. Anyway. We are safe and ready to hike west fork of Cherry creek tonight. Cant wait. Those pictures dont need many comments. Most of them took Ron Fischer and like two of them myself.

Enjoy
Jakub

wilderness

put in of Fantasy falls

Ron stylin the hardest rapid on South fork

One of the best drops on F. falls

One of the last rapids - Ron

Fantasy falls - myself

One of the parts between

Classic one on the South fork - Josh

Mokulemne river

Fantasy fall No. 2

scouting

Our beatiful van from Teva - Thanks a lot!!!

Yule creek, Teva games........CO warm up

2009-06-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

yo bros and sis,

Came to Buena Vista, CO like two weeks ago to join with Paddle fest event and do Pine creek rapid and Numbers rapids on the Arkansas river. After couple of days I came to Edwards to visit friend of mine Tim Kennedy and paddle with him. We met kiwi guys Sam Sutton and Bradley Louder. We drove with them to the Yule creek. Met with Bryan Kirk, Rush Sturges, Fred and Nick and hit really nice and big rapids. That was a good run and on the next day we did a classic Oh b joyful creek on the other side of mountains. Was a good fun. After that we drove to Homestake river for some competing on Teva mountain games. Nowadays we are competing and having fun on Teva moutain games in Vail. Friend of mine Honza Lasko from Czech did well. Fourth place on Homestake steep creek race. I fucked it up and did 16th place. Looking for a ride to California to join with Ron Fischer and do some overnights.... Cant wait for it. Will let yah know. Have a good one.

Jakup

gear up on the OBJ creek

Kelsey on OBJ

Johnny on the entry drop

Honza Lasko competing on the Homestake

Bradley launching massive slide on the Yule creek

Sam doing the last one on Yule

me on da Yule creek

warm up part of Yule creek

pictures by: Bryan Kirk and Eva Fillova - Thanks!

Italy and Switzerland; movies from Uganda and Norway

2009-05-15T01:38:00.000-07:00

Hi,

We spent a last week in Italy and Switzerland and conditions were just great. Huge snowpack, nice weather, good crew and cool rivers of Tessin. Located by the borders of Italy and Switzerland.

We have paddled Verzasca river, Ribo river, Cannobio river, San Bernardino river, Stronna river, Rovana river, Bavona river, Isorno river and hiked up Basso river. All the rivers had like little bit more water than usually during this time. Was just perfect. And I can promise everyone that season in Europe is gonna b big. There is still heaps of snow in a mountains all around.

We made just one picture during the whole trip. Petr Kment is a good C1 kayaker doing really well. And he is a good photographer as well. Unfortunatelly, his camera broke down after first river Verzasca. Anyway it was a great trip and at least you can check out one picture and my movies from Uganda and Norway. They are posted on my new partners page:
http://www.moab.cz

Its an internet TV with a good concept.

me running Verzasca river

movie from Norway

movie from Uganda

Hope you will like it.
Thanks Peter for a picture!
C yah
Jakup

Czech rivers pics

2009-04-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

heya

Two weeks already cruising around Czech rivers and managing my trip to US and Canada. Season is great. Good snowpack and warm weather. We have done two first descent. Second huge waterfallslide on Cerna desna and upper upper Mumlava (like 4-5k from Mumlavsky waterfall). Having a good time. Unfortunatelly without many pictures...At least some from Cerna desna though. Enjoy

Mira on the second drop

another rapid

myself

George

Nevis river pics

2009-03-18T22:42:00.000-07:00

Heya,

Here are some pictures from Nevis river. Its such an awesome run. So continious and so steep. Good crusin and one runnable huge rapid. We portaged that one tho... Otherwise all goin good in Queenstown. Workin kayakin a goin to westcoast for couple of days tomorra. Yeah, here we go

pictures: Jakub Sedivy - Thanks!!!

way there

blue sky and amazin view

nice drop in the main part

Scottish Sean on the sealaunch

another drop - myself

US Charlie and English Simon

one of the best runs in Central Otago - Nevis river

Jacob (photographer of the other ones) stylin up one of the main rapids

Charlie comin to cave rapid

Break

World tour cancelled! Lets go snowbaording

2009-03-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

Heya,

After a while I decided to stay in Queenstown for winter and spring. Already started to snow and might gonna do a bouncer in one club. That means work in night and free time during the day. Cant wait for some snowboarding.

After year of kayaking i am quite fed up and dont want to chase myself for some kayaking succes cause everyone is gonna forget it soon. Competition is nothing in real live and rivers are place to relax, not to work or compete.

i fsome of my sponsors are not happy. Just spot supporting me. I want to paddle for myself and have a good time on the river with good friends.

So no california and canada. maybe next year. Maybe after couple of weeks without kayaking. Never say never!

Have a good one
Jakub

PS: Might gonna post some pics from nevis river because its awesome creek. Who knows

Another update from Central Otago

2009-02-10T00:59:00.000-08:00

Hi from the beautiful New Zealand again

After couple of weeks there are already some new pictures and some more stories to write. I had to stop the work in Cromwell because they didn’t need anymore thinning on the vineyard. Thanks god! :) So I tried to apply for a job all around the Queenstown and in some another orchards… Nothing… So I was like I should start with a job and saving money for trip to California and BC in summer.

But there was no job and nice weather so we decided to go to the west coast. For me it meant spent all last money and punk it out. Why not actually. We took my Mazda and fit three guys (Pavel Bendl, Jakub Sedivy and myself) in there, put three boats on the roof and fill the last room with all other stuff. We have run without warranty of fitness and registration. Sooo much fun. We came to Hokitika at around midnight and just fell asleep ready to paddle on the next day. We tried upper Kakapotahi cause you don’t have to fly in and it was a good test for my car. J we have come and we weren’t sure about the waterlevel. Looked quite dry but we decided to check out the first drop and see. We have seen the line so I had paddled. Quite tight and bony so we decided to go back to the road. Was a good idea because guys who have done it before told us we wouldn’t be able to paddle most of the stuff. So we have checked out waterlevel on Waitaha and looked good. we called Bruce Dando because of flight and it was another bad luck. His helicopter had a broken gear box. So we gave it up as most of the people who were on the coast and went to the freezing Fox river flowing from the Fox glacier.

On the next day we switched our creekboats for playboats back in Qtown and went to Dunedin for a surf. First day it was so good and the other one was like tooooooo windy out there. Our car almost flew out couple of times. I ve just done couple of surfs in the evening when the wind wasn’t so hard. Next day was Monday and we started to run out of money so we tried to find a job around Roxburgh. There are lot of orchards but we have found place just on one of them. So we have worked for seven days and then was no more apricots and peaches to pick. It’s a long way from the Kawarau anyway so we drove back to find a job in Queenstown. Still nothing but I already had an interview in tradestuff agency and seems good but will see. So we have paddled the wave all day long and have done the Nevis bluff rapid couple of days ago. Hope to have similar day tomorrow…

By the way. On te way back from the Roxburgh we have been stopped by police and we had no Warranty of fitness and no registration. Police man even didn’t want my drivers licence and was just like I understand u guys u have no money but u must fix it. He gave me one week to fix otherwise have to pay 400 bugs. The car is already in garage to fix and seems little bit cheaper than 400. So will finally have a legal car and hopefully gonna find some job to make money and finish my trip around the world with a kayak.

Next place to go is California and Canada. Then back to Europe for a while and South America in winter. Will see… At the moment it pretty much seems like I am gonna stay here for one year. Why not. Queenstown is just lovely place with good options for paddle and work. That’s pretty much all what I need.

Have fun

Jakup

what a view eh?

our crew (from left myself, Jakub Sedivy, Pavel Bendl)

paddling against the walls..

da beach

Nevis bluff - Pavel doing the right line

Fox river - Pavel going for the stroke in freeeezing water

West coast drivin

Nevis bluff - me and Jacob

end of Nevis bluff

Put in of the section with a playwave, and beautiful picture as well

All pictures by Jakub Sedivy - thanks a lot bro!!!

kayaktripsonline.com

2009-01-20T15:19:00.000-08:00

Hey,

For those who are interested in improving their skills I ve just started a new website. kayaktripsonline.com There are trips with a guide and some freestyle clinics. First possibility to go somewhere is New Zealand of course...

But you have not much time left so decide soooon. :)

Website is still under construction so stay tuned...

See yah

Jakub

http://kayaktripsonline.com

Kawarau gorge and Qeenstown

2009-01-17T20:34:00.001-08:00

Heya,

After one week finally based on the beautiful south island of New Zealand. I ve come to Cromwell like 5 days ago where I met three mates from Czech and one mate from US. We ve spent last week by working on Cherries or Wineyard and kayaking in afternoon. Awesome time. My mates are Jakub Sedivy who took the pictures, Pavel Bendl who is based in Qeenstown for last 18 months and Jindra Benes who is awesome slalom kayaker, he is always keen to paddle the hardest shit and paddles so smooth. Fourth guy is Ty Bequette from US Idaho and is really good kayaker as well. Perfect crew for working and kayaking as much as possible.

We have paddled classic rapid of mighty Kawarau river called Citroen rapid. There are three nice lines to do. Left is the hardest. Central is central and nice and the right one is technical and really good fun. Always good to do all three lines and then the rest of the rapid which is just bigwater fun.

Last Friday we have decided to paddle Retrospect rapid which is like 8 kilometers below the Citroen rapid. Its pretty hard rapid with two nasty holes. Bigwater entry on the left, nasty hole on the right and right behind it is another nasty hole on the left. I have paddled it with Jindra. He is one of the best kayakers I ve ever seen and he has not fear at all. Cool. He hit the right hole and then missed the left one. Good line. I tried to miss the right one and then couldn’t paddle over the stream to right so I ve got spanked in the left hole. Unfortunelly had to swin after one year but it was a good signal from the river. Thanks.

On Friday night there were some showers around Qeenstown and in Fjordland so we have called our local guy Pavel Bendl. He told should be good to paddle Routeburn river. And it was! Its beautiful technical, and quite steep kayaking. We caught perefect flow and had good fun all the way down the river. Thanks to Pavel for a good kayaking day, place to sleep and drink beers in Qeenstown.

Today, on Sunday morning we are drinking coffee and looking for some good rivers to do. We can do Shotover which is like funny class 4 or can do our home run Citroen rapid at higher flow. Might will do both or might just hang out in Qeenstown. But probably do some kayaking before next week when we have to work as a slaves haha.

See yah

Pictures by: Jakub Sedivy - Thanks a lot!

drinking beer in qeenstown

Qeenstown view

Pavel in a last rapid of Routeburn river

me in a last rapid - Routeburn river

Pavel in entry to last rapid

Routeburn riva'

One of the main rapids

Pavel on the Routeburn

Driving to Routeburn...

...in my bautiful Mazda 121

me in a Retrospect rapid before spanking

Jindra in a Retrospect getting out of the first hole

Jindra entry of Retrospect

Ty on a Citroen rapid

Jakub (photographer) on Citroen

Pavel and Rich on Citroen

Taking a ferry to south island...

2009-01-10T17:44:00.000-08:00

Heya,

All is going well. After some two weeks of working just ready to huck. We have booked eticket for tomoroow morning and now just hanging out in Wellington. So boring...

I hope all the helicopters on the west coast are still allright and ready to flight. Cant wait. So hope to update some pics and report after this trip. Stay tuned

Jakup

Huka falls pictures

2009-01-01T16:02:00.000-08:00

Aloha,

Here are some pics from my last run of year 2008. Huka falls. What a popular and awesome run. I had quite high water but still pretty much OK...

Check it out.

Later
Jakub

Pictures by Martin Bednar

unfortunelly just from one place

Thanks a lot anyway!

entry rapid

entry hole

another rapid

preparing for the last stroke

Main drop, I am already getting up to the bank

Stoked after successful run

New Zealand best pics

2009-01-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

Heya,

Here are couple of nice pics from Zealand. Just little bit of kayaking and others just from hanging and nice places.

For those who prefer kayak pics wait about five minuttes. Gonna post pics from Huka falls. :)
See yah

pictures by: Martin Bednar and Jakub Nemec

me loopin on kaituna bottom hole

Martin droping the main waterfall on kaituna

having fun on Christmass Eve

Martin kaituna

Martin Rangitaiki river

What a nice rat

On da beach

Beach view

Beautiful caravan

Auckland

Happy New year

2008-12-30T01:43:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I am just sitting behind the computer after a while and I want to wish you good luck for a 2009 year. I already finished 2008 season with the awesome run of Huka falls. Unfortunelly, I have just couple of pics and now I am more tired than I would like to be. I am working near Napier and i stay by my mates house and it is really good place to be. Today after work I have tried a water ski and it was really good fun. If someone will have an option to try it, just do it!

Otherwise, sorry that I didnt post pics from Huka falls but I want to go to the bed. Have to wake up at five am so i will do it as soon as possible...

Party hard

Jakub

Video from kaituna...

2008-12-23T19:47:00.000-08:00

...with a head camera. Check out http://playak.tv/view_video.php?viewkey=7f6a2822bf4c61f9dc4a

and enjoy

Jakub

X-mass update

2008-12-22T23:32:00.000-08:00

Heya,

After couple of weeks I finally got to some pictures of me and my mates Martin Bednar and Pavel Hurtik. I have met them in Auckland and it was random as hell. I was out of money and they had a car. Finally they said I can join with them in a car so we work and paddle together.
Now, based at a Papamoa beach and building a house. So we can go to surf the ocean and Kaituna is still just 40 mins from here. Last weekend we have been on Wairoa and I hope you will like the pictures from there. Otherwise, still collecting money pretty much to have enough for live and way to the west coast. Cant wait for it. hope all of you guys are having fun at the Christmass time.

Check out some pictures from last days and stay tuned for a head cam movie from kaituna. Trying to upload now but we are connect to some wireless around here and it is pretty bad connection...

Merry X-mass

Paul at the wairoa

Me and Paul on one of the nicest drops

bush section of Wairoa

Rotorua lake

Painting hard :)

McLaren falls, can u find my paddle on the top?

Last drop on the Wairoa

Beautiful landscape around Tahepe

me at the Wairoa

pictures by Martin Bednar - Thanks!

Kaituna update

2008-12-17T16:32:00.000-08:00

Ciao,

Right now having a lunch brake in Sunspots kayakshop where I make paddles. Awesome time because after work i paddle couple of runs on Kaituna every day. I guess will stay here for one or two weeks and then go to do some classic north island stuff like Huka falls or Wairoa. Hopefully will do some pictures to post. :) After New years party and after i have some more money will move down to the south island to paddle some hard shit. Cant wait for it. Then, I hope will find some good job near Queenstown so will be able to earn some money and move to BC and California.

Otherwise, for Czech guys bored in their sofas. On Sunday 21st you can watch some footage and talk about Nepal. it is gonna be on TV Prima at 9 am. Svet 2008. Enjoy...

Then I wish Merry X-mass to all of UUUUUUUUUUUU guys. have a nice time and party hard. :)

Peaaaaaace out bros

Jakup

Auckland 6.12.

2008-12-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

Aloha,

Finally, based in Auckland for tonight and checking out some wreck cars. Then I can go down the island and find some job and kayaking. Hell yeah.

New zealand seems pretty good about the people and scenery but I am still stucked here in a city. I am pretty much looking forward to see some mountains and rivers but this is coming. Soooon!

Peace out
Jakub

Upper upper Bhote Kosi

2008-11-26T21:17:00.000-08:00

Ciao,

Right now we are hanging out in a Kathmandu after cool three days of kayaking on the upper section of Bhote kosi river. River is flowing from the Tibet and right after borders there is a power station. First possible put-in on the Nepali side is behind the power house so we put-in up there.

First part of river is really nice class 4 4+ boulder creek style. It is like four kilometers and then is upcoming class 5 rapid with hard entry and hole in the first slide and quite rocky drop is right behind it. Good rapid. After one portage (possible runnable but too rocky) there are some nice class 4+ rapids again for like 5 ks. Around the middle of this part there is a big syphon but with easy chicken line on left. Right behind is coming really nice gorge with some easier rapids and a suspention bridge at the top that is used for bungee jumps and swings. Really nice place.

me at the first rapid

Ron at the second drop of a first rapid

Behind the gorge the river turns into the left and makes two class 5 rapids with two trashy holes. Definitely not good place for swimming. :) Behind this part is coming the borderland resort that is put in for the classic part down to the dam lake which is still really good these days but no more that funny class 4. We have paddled the upper section for the first time on Sunday and took us almost all day. On Monday we did the second run double fun and on Tuesday Ron and Luke went for a bungee swing and jump and I paddled myself because Basti was just hanging.. Bhote kosi is really one of the best rivers in Nepal. Together with Humla and upper Karnali definitely one of my most favourite rivers over here.

me at the last hole of the upper section

Lukas boofing one of the trashy holes

Ron sliding down to the river after portage

Tomorrow we are heading off to the Trisuli event. This year called Mountain dew himalayan whitewater challenge. Hope it is gonna be good fun. There are Xslalom, freestyle and downriver race and you are able to use just one kayak so I am looking forward some newschool freestyle with my Habitat 80 haha.

Later
Jakub

Karnali - Simikot to Chisapani 385 km and 2 weeks of kayaking

2008-11-21T03:01:00.000-08:00

Aloha,

After three weeks we are back in Pokhara enjoying proper food and relaxing after long multi day trip. We started the mission with a busride to Nepalgunj that was the most possible place to get a flight to Simikot. After two days of waiting and hanging out we could finally leave dirty Nepalganj and get to the beautiful mountain village Simikot. There we had to hang out for two days because Basti didnt take his passport that you need for entry to this area. We were managing photocopy of it by fax for long but then we could finally walk down to the put in of Humla Karnali. Three hours of walking wth kayak (me) or with a portrers (the others) and then we finally started with kayaking.

Simikot airport

Trekking down to the put in

During the first days there were some unrunnable rapids and some long portages but that was a fee to the river. After that there were coming more and more nice rapids and just little bit of portaging. After one week or so we get to the confluence with a Mugu Karnali and river was getting bigger and bigger. So coool. On the tenth day came the final part of upper Karnali and the rapids were just awesome. Big water and big clean rapids all the way down for like 30 ks.

river was getting bigger haha

awesome part of Humla - Ron

cooking breakfast

After this part came a long flatwater. (sometimes class 2-3, what a whitewater:)) we paddled it two days and then we got to the put in of the Lower Karnali which is a classic bigwater run with some nice rapids in nepal. Thats what I heard before I came to Nepal and I am pretty happy that we did the Humla and upper section. Lower part was like class three four and nothing special. Then after next long flatwater (100 ks) we got to the Chisapani and took a busride to Pokhara where is a good food and some beer of course. After two weeks of kayaking and eating just instant noodles, milkrice or cookies it is time to hang out little bit and have some easy days here at Lakeside of Pokhara. Such a nice place to be.

Now we are finding some small mission for five next days before Himalayan whitewater chalenge on Trisuli river. Stay tuned

Jakub

Pictures by: Sebastian Striebel

Lukas - first gorge

one of the best parts of the river - Lukas

local boaters

Campfire

Basti flatwater day

Taking off to the Humla Karnali

2008-11-04T01:15:00.000-08:00

Hey,

After we stucked in Nepalganj with Soluting flight tickets to Simikot (put in of Humla) we finally go to pay it and tomorrow morning we are taking off. :) It means 10 days trip. We already have a pot, spoons, sugar, tea, biscuits, instant noodles, milk powder and peanuts. Haha I am looking forward our healthy food. :) After we will pay the tickets we will pack up the kayaks and here we go...

I will write after Karnali
CU
Jakup

Mission changed again :)

2008-11-01T05:20:00.000-07:00

After a cool hang out in Pokhara during the day we changed our plans. Madi khola is like 10 cumecs creek and we came for some bigger rivers so we go to the Nepalganj where we will take a flight to upper Karnali. After that the water drop little bit down and we will go to the upper Khali Gandaki which is one of the deepest gorges on the world and volume is over 100 cubics. The gorge is situated between Annapurna and one another 8000 mountain. Sounds good because it is pretty steep and there is a lot of possible runnable places. Hope we will do most of them... Write more later

Mission upperupperupper Madi khola is beginning

2008-10-31T21:13:00.000-07:00

Ciao,

Yesterday evening we spoke with one local guy and he advised us the first descent fo Madi khola from Annapurna basecamp. That means 5 days of hiking up and then serious whitewater kayaking. Today we have a day off because Luke and Basti feel quite sick and tomorrow morning we start the mission. I am looking forward to paddle something big. It is already time for it. :)

Later

Jakub

Pokhara 31.10.

2008-10-31T04:58:00.000-07:00

Ciao,

We came to the Pokhara yesterday and it is a beatiful place to be. Nice lake, mountainviews, and lot of good rivers near from here. Today, we did a local river upper Seti in team race style and it was good. For good fun you would need like 200 cubics but 15 was also good. In a couple of minutes we have an appointment with one local kayaker so I think tomorrow morning we are going somewhere close from here to do some good kayaking.

Otherwise, everything is going well and we are ready to huck. Tamba kosi was good but still not enough for four adrenalin junkies. :)

Check out some pictures from Tamba and Marsyandi. Nepali lifestyle including.

Pictures by: Lukas Wielatt

Peace out

Jakub

Tamba kosi

mountain view from terasse of our hotel

Kathmandu bus station

Ron Fisher - nice big hole :)

Our room and sleeping Basti

Suspention bridge - Ron

me freewheeling on the Tamba, unfortunelly last picture of sequense

Basti - Marsyandi

Nepali sunset

Warm up pictures

2008-10-22T01:45:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Finally we have a rest day beacuse of Napali banda, which means that the roads are closed and there are some demonstrations going on. So here are some picures from the warm up week. Tomorrow we are going to upper Bhote kosi and Tamba kosi which should be fun bacause of high water. Then it is time to go to Pokhara and wild west.

Stay tuned :)

Pictures by: Sebastian Striebel

me on the Balephi kola

me Balephi kola

bus ride back to Kathmandu

little hiking to Marsyandi

Nepali boy with Sebastian' s sunglasses

easy rapid on Balephi kola

bus ride up to Balephi

Beach break

Waiting for the bus

Marsyandi river

2008-10-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Right now back in Kathmandu after 50 kms of paddling on the beautiful Marsyandi river. Marsyandi is middle volume class 4 4+ but just awesome. There is still something going on and you have a lot of fun out there. Right after this post we are leaving to east again to paddle upperupper Bhote kosi and Tamba kosi which should be fun. For the next eastern rivers we need a lower water so we will come back there in four weeks or so.

After upper bhote and tamba we go to Pokhara. To paddle something around and then we go to upper Karnali and also some mission on the west...

Stay tuned for the pictures. Waiting is getting shorter no worries :)

Namaste from Nepal

2008-10-18T23:42:00.000-07:00

Last week I have spent on the Bhote kosi river and Balephi kola river. We paddled with Sebastian Striebel from Germany and were having good fun. We lived in a hotel for 1 euro per person, ate for 2 euros per day, took a bus rides for 50 cents and then spent the same money for two or three beers. :)

Otherwise, the rivers are quite bigger thean they seems from the bus, haha. Asia is so nice place to be for kayaking and taking busrides on the roof which is like local adrenalin sport.

I just came back from Bhote kosi river to the Kathmandu for pick up Ron Fisher and Lukas Wielatt from Switzerland. We are leaving to Marsiandi river and something around for the warm up with them and also paddle the beautiful Marsiandi. Then we are planning to paddle Sun kosi and all the inflows of it.

Stay tuned for some pictures. The connection is pretty slow and we have not many good shots.

See yah bros and sis! :)

Bahrain 12th October

2008-10-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

Heya all,

I am waiting in Bahrain for the flight to Kathmandu and getting looking forward to this trip. After bullshits on Check-in in Frankfurt where I had to pay 370 USD for an oversize and overweight and forgot it and hope that everything will be OK since know..

Stay tuned for updates from Nepal kayaking.

Jakub

Video from Lipno dam

2008-09-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Finally, here is a short movie from the Lipno dam. Enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8TTBNOL1ak

Devils extreme race and the FIRST DESCENT of Lipno dam

2008-09-07T13:45:00.001-07:00

I just came from the Lipno event which is a big celebration for all kayakers and rafters. There was Czech slalom championship, Czech cup in down river, rafting competition and also DEVILS EXTREME RACE…

Lipno is situated in the south of the Czech Republic very near of the borders with Austria in direction Linz. We came on Thursday night and there was an opening party on. Next day we had to build the rest of ramp for competition. Our deadline was at 2 pm because that was the time when the dam opened water. We did few runs and then most of riders started coming to Devils X race. The campsite was a football ground where was also a bar, plenty of banners and the stage with a DJ…

DJz and party

On Saturday morning we had to build a race course for slalom (Touch the banner style) and hang the banners all around the course. Then the extreme slalom started. Men category first and then were women. I did a third place. Second was Lukas Horyna and the winner was experienced whitewater kayaker Eda Sluka. Out of women Lenka Borovickova was on the third place, second Betka Brabcova and Lunka Novotna won. After slalom event (at 11 am) was a free riding until 6 pm when the dam stopped the water. I enjoyed the rest of the day with riding down the Devils rapids behind the race course. It is probably one of the best parts to paddle in Czech. And you don’t need rain or snowmelt because of the dam. Around 5 pm I decided to do the first descent of the gate where water overflows the dam. It is like a big slide into 8 meters waterfall but on the edge of the slide are four concrete tables so only four places to go. (each like 1 meter wide). It was quite crazy to do but I had a good day full of paddling and I wanted to do something big in the end. ;) Lot of people had thought about this run for a long time so I thought it was a right time to do it. But it is pretty dangerous and I don’t want to do it again for long time.

Some of the best pictures from the dam

Then there was an afterparty on Saturday as usual with DJs, Czech beer and a lot of happy kayakers.. On Sunday morning kayakcross with the touch of banner started in the middle eddy. I was going good until quarterfinals. There I came to the eddy on the first place but I took a bad line too much upstream and the other guys bet me. Semifinals and finals were really nice to watch because there were a lot of fast kayakers. In finals were Honza Bubnik on fourth place, Tomas Cernohorsky on third, really good Swiss paddler Severin Haberling on second place and the winner was Viktor Legat. In women was on the third place Eliska Beranova, Lenka Borovickova on the second place and Lenka Novotna won again. The overall winner of the race is Viktor Legat in men and Lenka Novotna in women. After pricegiving on football ground most of people left home. Devils extreme race is behind us and we could speak about another event in this year.

Kayak cross

Main stage on camp site

Big thanks to main organizers Mira Kodada and Jirka Kopecny. Good job guys. See yah next year!

Photographers:

Martin Nykles, Karel Kubovy, Misa Hradkova - Thanks!

Here are some more pictures from the event. Stay tuned for a movie from the dam. Next weekend is a Czech championship in freestyle so I think I will try to post something from there...

Swiss boatercross masters and Freestyle World cup

2008-09-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

On 6th of August (Wednesday) I have left Czech because of Boatercross masters event in Interlaken on the White Lutschine river. We came in Thursday morning after 10 hours of driving so we went to sleep for few hours. After that we did the race course couple of times and we also paddled the team race part behind the race course. On Friday came most of the kayakers and we enjoyed nice day on the river with them….

Competition started on Saturday morning with qualiruns for the boatercross. I tried to paddle the good line, without mistakes and full on which meant 4th place for me. I was quite happy for that because there were a lot of good kayakers. After qualification for boatercross there was qualification for Freewheel competition. I like freewheeling a lot so I decided to take a part in this event. We had two runs so I decided to do a switch freewheel and a kick flip for the second ride. The kickflip wasn’t so good and I ended up on the 3rd place. But really good idea to make competition like this because there is a lot of people who love freestyle on the rivers. Not only waves and holes, which is more waiting than kayaking. The Saturday schedule was finishing with team race. I paddled together with Honza Lasko and Honza Kolar from Czech and I am pretty happy that we did the first place. That was enough for competing. After nice day like this its good to make some party of course. Main organizer Simon Hirter managed the free entry to swimming pool where we spent like two hours with chilling, swimming and drinking little bit.. ;) After that there was a barbecue in Outdoor Interlaken place. Barbecue means little warm up party for the bigger one in streets of Interlaken..

On Sunday there were finals in kayakcross and freewheels. First two heats in kayakcross were successful for me and I went through to the semifinals. Before semifinals was the final run of freewheel competition with only one ride so I did a switch freewheel again. That was the second place for me behind Ron Fisher from Switzerland. He jumped from the wall up the waterfall backwards and right after landing he did the switchfreewheel from the drop. Respect to him. Kayakcross semifinals seemed good for me on the second place almost till the end where I took the back stream and it turned me around so I ended up on 4th place in this heat.. But I enjoyed all the runs and it was good kayaking. After price giving we went back to Prague where the first Freestyle World cup was starting and I had to work there. See you White Lutschine for now. Thanks a lot!

Since Monday till Wednesday we were working and preparing all the stuff for event. Picked up people from the Airport and so on.. On Thursday we finished all preparations included ramp, banners, info tents, sound technique, party tent, tent for judges and stage for speakers and DJs.. On Thursday evening there was an opening ceremony with concert and DJ. Friday was qualiday for men. In evening were concerts of three young groups from the south of Czech. That was really impressive to see these young guns rocking hard. After that was the right time for DJ and very nice. ;) Saturday means quaterfinals of men category and all the semifinals. All was going well and we could see some interesting rides from most of competitors. In evening there was semifinal for K1men. It had a nice atmosphere and people enjoyed it. Competitors were doing full on to make it into the finals but they enjoyed it too. After that was a DJ time again. Full party tent of drunk people who love the ragga praga music and have a good time. Sunday was a final day and it was nice to see the best freestyle paddlers on the whitewater course in Prague. Finals were really top of competing in Prague so after price giving and few hours break was the right time to be at the top of the parties. Afterparty was awesome. We could listen one of the Czech best ska group Fast food orchestra.. More info at

http://www.cnawr.cz/

Jan Spindler enjoying ramp in Prague

Dustin Urban loopin´

On Monday I had to work again because we had to return all the stuff and clean up the whitewater course.. After all the work was the right time to go to Augsburg for the second event of World cup. Waschmaschine was still crowded but you could still find some place to ride in national trainings. The event was organized well and during the weekend we tried to figure out where could be good water for some creeking.

Simon Strohmeier launching McNasty

Daniel Krumreich with his Switch entry loop

Peter Csonka finishing Phonics monkey with nice loop

Jirka Langer flying big!!

On Sunday night we left Augsburg with direction upper Lech and then upper Reuss. I was going with Jirka Kopecny and Jirka whos surname I don’t remember (sorry for that). We came to Ga-Pa at around midnight and we went to sleep. On Monday morning we woke up cooked a coffee and went to upper Lech.. We saw the waterlevel and it was less than the last time. But still enough. We did the both parts of it because we know it and we could enjoy nice canyon with class 4-4+(5) whitewater.. On evening we decided to visit our friend Florian who lives in Sonthofen which is on the way to Reuss. We talked, drank and smoked until 1 am when we decided to go to the bed. It was nice to sleep in the bed after few weeks. ;)

Next day we came to Reuss at afternoon and there was really good waterlevel. Because of time we decided to do easier part behind California section but there was still good class 5 kayaking with 8m slide, 4m drop and one another slide with landing between two rocks. And some parts between of course. Then was the right time to go to Thun where we saw overcrowded eddies around 10 pm. Uncredible. Since next day the national trainings were starting. Our one was at 6 pm so we decided to go to White Lutschine which is only 30 minutes from Thun. It was nice to do it again. It is not super hard but it is really good kayaking with nice drop for freewheels… Then I paddled wave on the training and also few hours in the night.

Tyler Curtis Donkey flip

me bluntin´

Jirka Kopecny helix

Winner of the World cup Peter Csonka and his clean blunt

Next days we were paddling the wave in night hours paddling the white Lutschine during the days and also competing. The whole world cup wasn’t successful for me and Thun wasn’t different – 21st place. On Saturday we left Thun and we went to Plattling wave for Sunday. From Plattling it is pretty close to Czech so we didn’t have so much driving for Sunday. After three and half weeks I came back home because I have to work in September. That sucks little bit but… I spent nice time on boatercross masters and then on World cup. I have met some new people. I met some old friends and definitely had a good time with paddling.. Now I am looking forward to next two weekends because there is Devils extreme race on Lipno and next weekend is Czech championship in freestyle in Sopotnice. Two weeks and then Sickline event in Oetz walley. After that one week off and I am leaving to Nepal on 12th of October. Stay tuned. ;)

Happy paddling

Jakub

PS: Sorry for missing more pictures from Lutschine, Reuss and Lech - I am still waiting for them

Kayaking in Norway

2008-07-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

Ciao,

3 days ago I came back from Norway. It was pretty good trip full of good rivers, drops etc.. Check out some pictures from there..

happy paddling

Jakub

Possible first descent of the first drop of the slide on upper Jori. Put in is behind it.

Blog is born!

2008-07-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

After few months I decided to create my blog. I am planning the Kayak world tour for 2008/2009 so I think would be good to post news somewhere. Otherwise, the blog is going to open your mind by adrenalin and outdoor...

Live in peace
Jakup