Attaining upstream is about the easiest social distancing type of whitewater paddling we can do right now. No shuttle needed and no contact with others. But it’s a heck of a great physical and technical workout. Learn the attainment lines on the Nantahala River as I walk you up stream in my Pyranha Kayaks 12R […]
Author Archives: Chris Hipgrave
April
01
PODCAST: Between 2 Beards
posted by Chris Hipgrave
Last week I visited the Between 2 Beards podcast, hosted by two paddle-sports industry veterans Brian Vincent and Brad Scott. In episode 8 we discuss the effects of the pandemic, Brexit, the state of the whitewater industry, and touch on my fitness/work out regimen. The Beards also theorize a possible shave to show support for […]
February
22
2020 Jess Cup | Start Chaos
posted by Chris Hipgrave
Watch the first two minutes of carnage at the 2020 Jess Cup on Elkhorn Creek KY, not part of the National Paddling Film Festival. From last to first in two minutes! The Jess Cup was a new race for me and heaps of fun. Already looking forward to going back.
January
09
2019 & SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR 2020
posted by Chris Hipgrave
With many posting their 2019 training data, I thought it might be interesting to take a closer look at my data in a little more detail and then examine what you could do to have a successful 2020. My 2019 goals were two fold. 1) Have my best Gorge Downwind Championships yet and 2) Refocus […]
May
08
LAUREL HIGHLANDS DOUBLE-HEADER
posted by Chris Hipgrave
Finding new challenges keeps the pursuit of achievement refreshing. Once such challenge just came together with the possibility of competing in a double-header by combining the whitewater focused Cheat Canyon race on a Friday evening with the Youghness Monster 25 mile race the very next day, all in or close to the Laurel Highlands region […]
April
04
East Coast Paddlesports Symposium
posted by Chris Hipgrave
The East Coast Paddlesports Symposium was the first sea kayak symposium of 2019 and a great chance to blow off the cobwebs and the winter blues. Centered at the James Island County Park on the edge of Charleston, SC, this symposium aimed to build technical and leadership skills for sea kayakers of all abilities. The […]
January
27
DADDYS CREEK “GO FAST” DAY
posted by Chris Hipgrave
Nestled on central Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau, there’s an iconic little whitewater run called Daddys Creek and every year a group of dedicated volunteers runs a race thru its spectacular gorge to draw awareness to the runs splendor, do a trash pick up and have a great time. And with lifes distractions pushed to the side […]
January
20
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA – 2019
posted by Chris Hipgrave
Kayaking in Antarctica continues to fascinate me. This continent is full of surprises around every corner. Enjoy a few photos from some of my personal high lights that came from this past trip, where I worked as a kayak guide for Aurora Expeditions.
December
16
Downwind Camp: Fish Hoek, South Africa
posted by Chris Hipgrave
We’d been on the beach for just 2 minutes before the Mocke brothers started dropping nuggets of surfski knowledge on our international group of paddlers, underlining just how little I knew about the finer points of the downwind surfski padding. Over the next 2 weeks we’d be participating in their Downwind Camp at the famous […]
