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When my boss (me), assigned myself to go and cover and the first Big A Surf-Off on the West Branch of the Penobscot River, I couldn't have been more pleased with the timing.
I had been having a rough week (with root canal pain, an erased hard drive, a misplaced wallet, and, not to mention, I lost a game of basketball to a six-year-old girl) and a bit of whitewater camaraderie was just what I needed to turn my frown upside down.
So on Saturday, July 3, I packed up my rusty red Toyota and hammered down for Millinocket, Maine.
Typical of my recent luck, it rained buckets all the way across routes 16 and 11 and I was bracing for a wet afternoon there at Ambejackmockamus Rapid.
However when we pulled into the parking lot above Ambejack at about 5 p.m., the sun was a-shining. I shook off the iffy stomach that comes with too much coffee and Skoal, and I put on above first drop of Big A. I warmed up on a nice little glassy wave there on river left for five or ten minutes before heading downstream.
When I paddled over the first drop and rounded the corner, what I saw below made me feel I was in the right place for good company and great paddling: at least 25 paddlers were already sessioning at the two lower Ambejack holes with more kayakers putting on every second. Good deal!
I followed Mike Wiltse into the eddy next to Big A where Karyn Roy was sitting on the rock explaining to the kayakers the rules of the event.
"Basically, the Big A Surf-Off is a round robin where you guys all take turns surfing for the next hour. Mark Adams and I will judge and give out awards for Biggest Air, Overall Ride, Raft flip..." she said.
Big A is a perfect spot to host such events, as it is eddy-serviced and there's plenty of room for boaters who aren't competing to pull their boats onto shore and watch the action. Also, the feature is in full view of the opposite riverbank, so non-paddling types can easily enjoy the show.
As far as the feature itself is concerned, Big A is a bit choppy on surfer's right, but there is a nice steep green seam in the middle with a great foam pile on surfer's left. That foam pile is at the far right of the raft surf spot.
Even if you get completely thrashed in the hole, it's pretty easy to catch the service eddy; and if you miss that one, it's no problem to catch the next eddy down and hike over a big smooth rock back up to it.
As things got rolling, the bank on river right filled with smiling spectators of all ages. Kayakers took their turn in the turbulent Big A feature, while boaters and spectators alike roared their approval for awesome moves.
In fact, there was nothing but encouragement spoken or vibed as the different riders took their turns in Big A.
A big highlight was Hutch Brown splatting a big yellow raft while it surfed. Also, when Jeff Billings hopped in the huge Dragonfly and stuck his bow into the current for a wild ender, hooting and hollering while in the air, the entire gallery cheered.
During the Surf Off, Wavesport had three of its 2004 boats available to demo. I took the ZG 54 for a spin ... I liked it, but I need to try it again when there are less eyes to watch me get worked.
Other paddlers at Big A had much better luck than I did, however.
Karyn later described her and Mark's favorite rides.
"Len [Eckstein] and his black Riot Air hit one of the biggest loops of the night. Clark [Gallo] also hit a large loop! Drew [Duval] from Northern and Laurie [Brown] from New Brunswick had some of the best overall rides of the night, hitting many different moves and really ripping it up! Hutch [Brown] was leading the Big Trick category but then pulled out a dynamic RAFT SPLAT to claim an award! Mike Wiltse pulled off a flat spin in a 13-footer followed by Jeff [Billings] and the massive ENDER!!! Jelly flipped over his shredder after he threw away his paddle- very cool - and Andrew Whitaker was the guide to the raft which had an almost vertical HIGH SIDE!! The other rafters all got beer."
Those boaters all received killer stained glass kayaks, handmade by Karyn and friends, Kim and Meaghan Fish, as prizes.
The Big A Surf Off award ceremony was held in the evening at the Crib Works picnic site where many raft guides added to the already boisterous crowd.
Paddlers, guides and spectators alike all mingled and got their full of hot dogs, hamburgers and river stories. By the time the coals in the fire began to finally cool, it was clear that the Big A Surf Off was a time to remember. Hopefully it will happen again.
Organizer Karyn Roy had this to say about her motives of putting on the event:
"The whole idea behind the Big A Surf off event was to get a bunch of boaters in one place for an informal surfing competition. I didn't want to limit any type of boat so all rafts, duckies, kayaks, etc were invited and ... no bibs, times and numbers were handed out. I just wanted to have a lot of people get together in one spot and enjoy the sport and the beautiful Penobscot River," she said.
"I have traveled to many different rivers in the US the past couple years for events and they really seem to draw people together. Not only the boaters, but the general public who might not know what we are up to out there on the river. It also sparks interest in people to learn to paddle and get out there and experience the wilderness. The Northeast is a relatively small boating community compared to other parts of the country and the more we can do to make boating more popular, the better."
Helping Karyn organize the event was her husband Jay Roy; and Wavesport Kayaks threw down for the hot dogs and hamburgers.
At the end of the night when I got into my sleeping bag, I had little of the petty worry in my mind that had been bothering me for the week. I mean, in the scheme of things, what's more important: some minor root canal pain and a blank hard drive or sharing rivers and life with good people?
Big A Surf-Off Awards
Biggest Air
Jeff Billings - orange Dragonfly
Clark Gallo - orange Riot Air
Lenny Eckstein - black Riot Air
Overall Ride
Drew Duval - orange Dagger Kingpin
Laurie Brown - yellow LiguidLogic Scooter
Best Flip
Jelly - Shredder
Raft Splat Award
Hutch Brown - orange Necky Vibe
Big Boat Flat Spin Award
Mike Wiltse - orange Dragonfly
Best Raft High Side
Andrew Whitaker (Guide)
Jelly
Jay Roy
Jake Van Tuinen
Josh Dunn
Mike Wiltse
P.S. Dear Thieves-
You may think you are pretty smart, pilfering paddles and other gear from the vehicles of Big A Surf-Off participants. What you don't realize, however, is that I happened to be taking a leak in the woods nearby with my camera. I realized what was happening as your car was pulling out of the Crib Works parking lot. As soon as my photos are developed, I will be forwarding your license plate number to the Maine State Police.
Not only will you be busted, but, since you have just fallen out of favor with over 100 members of the Penobscot paddling community, it will be very difficult for you to find a sympathetic ear around here when you need shuttle or rescue (or, for that matter, a face full of pretty teeth).
I will give you until the end of July to return the gear, no questions asked, to the porch at Big Eddy Campground.
After that, AMFYOYO.
Signed,
Your newest worst enemy,
Aka The Peeing Photographer
Email nick [at] noumbrella [dot] com with your questions, comments and concerns.
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