Owners James & Debra just opened Susitna Sled & Kayak. Located near Montana Creek (north of Willow, AK) they stock kayaks, paddles, and all the other gear you need to get yourself on the water! Save yourself expensive shipping costs from the lower 48 and support your locals! They will now be stocking Pyranha kayaks in addition to their other brand names, so give them a call if you need a boat or any paddling gear! For more information the shop can be reached at (907) 315-2119 OR 315-2118.

Take care and stay tuned for more at your Alaska Whitewater connection!

Timmy J.

NEW HORIZON, THE BRAND NEW ALL-ALASKAN KAYAKING VIDEO IS NOW FOR SALE!!! 45 minutes of non-stop kayaking and adventure including sweet lines, ugly lines, rescues, shoulder dislocations, 1st descent missions, and big smiles all set to a sweet sound track. Email kayaker35@hotmail.com to order your copy today! VIEW THE TRAILER BELOW:^)

1)Willow Creek has a channel-wide strainer on the Guardrail section about half way down on a left hand bend in the river. There is a low water bouncy sneak through boulders on river-left.
2)Hey Timmy, Just thought I'd let you know that Bird has a bit of wood. One tree across the river very shortly after put-in. You can sneak past it on the left if you are paying attention. As usual, there is still a bunch in the first rapid. Mushroom has what looks to be a few trees. Then a few stragglers here and there, none of which were hard to avoid. Just pay attention out there! Late J.D.

That's right folks! It's that time of year again. Time to get together with fellow paddlers & friends, partake in festivities, and enjoy yo self at the biggest river party in the woods! Of course, there will be free beer, free food, free raffle, and free compeition entry as always to keep everyone satisfied. Come out and either race or spectate the rowdiest mass-start race whitewater in Alaska! The downriver race is an all-out sprint race through the 3 largest rapids in the 1st canyon of Six Mile Creek (a few miles upstream from the festival grounds). Here's a quick breakdown of the schedule:

1:00p.m. : Time trial races at 1st canyon (1 person at a time, fastest wins) (kayak, inflatable, & pack raft)

2:00p.m. :downriver mass-start extreme race through biggest 3 rapids of the 1st canyon (kayak)

2:30p.m. :PACK RAFT mass-start extreme race at 1st canyon! 1st of it's kind!!

4:00p.m. boston bar freestyle/rodeo competition

6:00p.m. riverside bonfire party, raffle, with good music, microbrew beer, & hotdogs!

* If you are competing, make sure to sign up by 12:30p.m. Saturday at the main festival area tent at the riverside at Boston Bar (mile 3.4 of hope rd). Just walk down the old mining road towards the river & you will see the festival area on the gravel bar. If you want to volunteer (hold a throw rope, be a score keeper, etc please meet at 12:30p.m. at the sign up tent for a safety/volunteer briefing.

The party usually stretches to the wee hours of the night, so plan on camping out (free camping in one of the most beautiful areas on Six Mile Creek).

DIRECTIONS: The festival main grounds can be found 1 hour from Anchorage. Drive south on the Seward Highway and take the cut-off road to Hope. The festival home base is 3.4 miles down the road on your right (look for signs/balloons). *Competitors & spectators will leave the main festival grounds & drive up the road to the 1st canyon race area just off the Seward Highway before the Canyon Creek bridge overpass at 1:00p.m. sharp. * There are plenty of free camping spots along the Hope Road, most people just pitch a tent around Boston Bar.

Sponsors:
* Mooses Tooth Brewing Company
* Susitna Sled & Kayak
* Alaska Raft & Kayak
* American Whitewater
* AMH
* Bills Distributing
* Knik Canoe & Kayak Club
* Great Harvest Bread Company
* Mike of Anchorage Daily News will be covering the event
* Kelley of Blue Moon Photography will be taking race & event photos

Any questions please email Timmy @ kayaker35@hotmail.com

more pictures at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=99772&id=503276160&l=84b57b4dd5

Free beer, free food, free raffle, free competition entry = good times!

The RODEO at Boston Bar. (Winners: 1st- Tim Johnson, 2nd- Jeff Sheldon, 3rd- Dan McKay)

The long boat head-to-head extreme race through the 1st canyon's largest rapids! Winners: 1st- Obadiah Jenkins, 2nd- Jeff Sheldon, 3rd- Xavier Engle)

A large group (8 of us) paddled 2nd & 3rd canyons from the Elbows down. Completely clear of ice bridges at this point, although there's still a bit of shore ice is random places. The water level was around 600 cfs.