Flushed
Local river carnies Jeff Strano, owner of Boatwerks, and gen- eral contractor Gary George put their wallets and hammers together to build the first public access kayak flying attrac- tion at the Gull River Festival, June 28–29. At 16 feet high, the ramp was well worth a buck a ride—or all your back can take for $10. For $750 in materials and a week’s labour, the two created something Strano describes as, “Something super fun, spectacular; something safe that anyone no matter what skill level could throw themselves off.” Watch for the ramp’s reappearance at a river circus near you.
“It’s all downhill from there,” were common encouraging words from the chickens below. The first pitch was so steep, some boats would freefall three feet before contacting the ramp’s white plastic decorative latticing.
“Ain’t that a kicker.”
Hey Billy, how’s your back now?
I asked Strano what he’d change: “I’d get Gary to build it 10 feet higher, add two feet to the kicker and get an aerator so you could walk at the end of the day!” The only thing missing is a flaming hoop or a row of school buses.
Marlow Long of Young Gun Productions “hung out” on location to nab the $50 for first place in the first annual Boatwerks Rampstyle Huckfest.
Kayakers who’ve had a brush with death and have stood at the pearly gates of heaven all mysteriously describe something very simi- lar—”SORRY, MATT HAMILTON. BACK TO EARTH.”
NOW ONLINE Beating the BLUE FUNK—manage your fear; Building the Ultimate Tripping Canoe part two; Rapid’s Vertical Heroes—exclusives with Steve Fisher, Shannon Carroll, Ed Poropat & Tao Berman. www.
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paddlers clockwise from top left: Yonton Mueller, Marlow Long, Marlow Long, Matt Hamilton, Billy Harris, Dave Tiedje. Photos Rapid Stock Images
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