Mangakarengorengo, Wairoa at low flood stage (Edit)

Here is a little edit I put together, paddling the Mangakarengorengo and the Wairoa in low flood stage a few weeks back, Kaimai goods Enjoy!!!!




 






I have moved back to Okere Falls now so I can paddle everyday before I leave.Try get the body back into shit running shape!!!

Stoked to be kicking it in the the Falls for the next few weeks!!!!!!

The Kaituna is flowing high at the moment.So good with a bunch more water flowing down it!!!

Well not to long now till I am out of here. Hoping to get some kaimai Creekin in before I leave, hopfully a lap on the Wainui!!!!

Getting back in the Groove

Well after almost 12 months of rib and shoulder problems I am finally getting better and feeling stronger in my boat. Injuries can really bring you down a level and for me this injury was a real challenge. It was a weird one as it didn't stop me from totally paddling all together. There was no real pain when paddling just a real lack of strength on my left side, I could barely pull on my left blade. It took at least 3 to 4 months for the Doctors and physio specialists to find out what was wrong with me as nothing was coming up in the scans (ultra sound, x ray, bone scan). In the end they put it down to a stress fractor in my ribs (hair line fractor along one of my ribs) Scaplar winging and nerve damage.

I am really stoked to be back on the water! I will be finishing up work at the end of next week and be back on the charge paddling everyday before I leave New Zealand. I am soo fired up to head back to the United States and get back on the charge with the boys, its sure been awhile.


Here is an edit from my local run here, the Kaituna River. The Kaituna river is one of the best runs in the North Island of New Zealand in terms of access, beauty and class 4 continuous whitewater. It takes around 4hours to paddle all the way down the lower gorges and the walls are tight and high making you feel enclosed within the gorges. Enjoy. Thanks Sean Curtis for helping me put this edit together!!




Here is also a few pics from our little kaimai mission last week. Stoked to get back in the kaimai's and hit some of the goods. Was on the low side but still had heeps of fun aahhhhhhhh so stoked to be back paddling!!!!

                                                       Dropping the ibis on the Mangas

                                                             Screen grab, dropping into the ibis

                                                       Making a boof over a nice size hole

                                          Nice sized hole at the bottom of mothers night mare.

                                                                          This one wanted me

                                                                   The Roller coaster

                                                     Greg getting soooo pitted bro!!!!

Substantial TV Episode "Viva La Agua Blanca"

 
Substantial TV EP. 3 "Viva La Agua Blanca" from Substantial Media House on Vimeo.

Check out the latest Substantial TV EP.3 "Viva Agua Blanca"
I was pretty gutted I hurt myself only 6 days into our Mexico mission, but stoked I still got to paddle some amazing White Water within those 6 days.Planning on making it back to Veracruz Mexico towards the end of the year!!!!!!

NZ Summer Time

Well I have once again been really slack at updating my blog. I am still battling with injuries, and having on and off problems with my ribs. So I have been laying pretty low trying to heal up. I am definitely looking forward to getting back on the water and back in the game.

Here are a a couple of random shots of the summer here in Okere Falls:

 Huckin the front flip into the lake. Its pretty sweet trying all sorts of tricks I would never do to dirt. Might have to sack up up one of theses days and pull the front flip to dirt mmmm maybe 

Younger brother Mitch going for the flat 3

Myself throwing a clean back-flip

Going for the back-flip 360

A sweet afternoon on the boat

Young Regan Carlyon ripping it up on the board

Back flip fail by Bradley Lauder

My youngest brother Cole Lucas has been totally killing it in the downhill race scene here in NZ and he's only 14, watch out for this kid, up and coming name in the sport for sure!!!

Life's pretty hard in Okere Falls, this is the view I look out at most days...

Little bro Cole ripping it

Well stand by for a paddling update sooner rather than later. Hoping I will be back on the water in the next week or so!!!!!!

PEACE

Substantial Media House "BC EH"

Evan Garcia, Fred Norquist have done it again with another epic episode from our time we had in BC which always delivers the goods.One of my big high lights this year was paddling the Grand Canyon of the Stikine,this episode shows the epic time we had down in thoughs deep Gorges.

  Substantial TV EP. 2 "BC,EH!" from Substantial Media House on Vimeo.


Well I am working on a little NZ summer up date I havent been up to much paddling wize due to my body still been a little broken. I have been laying low try to get my Ribs right, pretty over been broken and not been able to paddle.Cant wait to get back in the boat, get back on the shit running tour.

PEACE

Substantial Media House

From the boys who bought you Bomb Flow TV,Evan Garcia Fred Norquist present a new movement in Whitewater SUBSTANTAIL MEDIA HOUSE
Substantial Media House Premiere from Substantial Media House on Vimeo.

To keep track of the most Substantial Edits coming to you every month like there Facebook Page-
https://www.facebook.com/SubstantialMediaHouse?fref=ts


 Stand by for Substantail TV.2 BC
Substantial TV EP.2 Teaser BC, EH! from Substantial Media House on Vimeo.

Enjoy

MEXICO

On the 6th of October we arrived in Mexico! We were so excited and pumped to get back on the hucking programme.  After spending the night in crazy ass Mexico City, we headed to Veracruz. First creek on the hit list was Road Side, Alseseca

Arrival

Gearing up and making our way to Veracruz

Running the put in drop, a clean 20ft (Road Side Alseseca)

Another shot of the put in drop (Image Tait Trautman)

Such a sick angle

 (Tait Trautman Photography)

Next on the hit list was the classic Big Banana Section, Rio Alsaseca. I was really fired up to put on this section and have a sweet day boating!!!

All the crew at the put in for Big Bannana section

(Imaged Tait Trautman)

Here is a sweet shot of myself and Rafa trying to get the timing right on the first clean 25ft

(Image Erik Johnson)

Fred, front on angle first clean 25ft

Silencio a clean 40ft, it was looking on the high side, but still good to go. We were all fired up and keen to send it, but we all opted out on running the entrance and went for the easy seal launch move. Smooth lines all round!!!!!

(Images Erik Johnson)

Still shot from river left (Silencio)

Erik Johnson sending Silencio

Running the first drop on Pesma Section below Big Banana Section

(Image Tait Trautman)

Still shot- free wheeling the freestyle drop Lower Pesma

King Hesh running Truchas 1 Alseseca. This one is not an easy one to get to. A nice 80ft  repel into the gorge. It was looking on the real low side but we were still all keen to send it.I took a massive hit and couldn't hand roll -  took my first swim of the trip!
(Image Tait Trautman)

Truchas 2, this stout lies about 300 meters below Truchas 1. This is the one that broke me and stopped me paddling for the rest of the trip.It starts with a nice 15ft, which directly leads you into 60ft connected falls. Most of the crew fired it off with style. It was looking good to go and I was feeling fired up for this one. I felt like I was right where I wanted to be and just as  I was about to brace for impact I took a massive hit reconnecting onto rock. I knew straight away that I had done some damage to my lower back, I was instantly in pain. We all ended up having to hike out due to my sore ass back. It was a bit of a mission getting out of there. Big thanks to all the boys for helping me get out of there all safe and sound. Iker took me to a small little hospital in Talapacoyan. I got some X rays and they couldn't see any major damage. I decided to lay low and didn't end up paddling for the rest of the trip!!

Kyle Hull  15ft entry drop

Kyle lining her up and having a sweet line!!!!

I thought I was where I wanted to be. But yeah must of been slightly of line as I ate shit and hurt myself!!!

Shot looking back up stream Truchas 2. Well that was the end of my trip, paddling wise.I was real gutted that I couldn't get back on the water. Still stoked I got good 6 good days boating in. Will be back next year for sure!!!!!

My favourite shot from the trip.Was stoked I got to run Tomata 1 before I hurt myself. This thing is not easy to style - totally vertical lip.We all had some crazy lines, boofs over the bars.
(Image Tait Trautman)

Erik Johnson sending it

Eric Parker running twisted pleasure 60 ft lower Jalacingo

Evan Garcia styling dirty Scanchez - Lower Jalacingo

Doing some filming in the streets of Talapacoyan




After 6 amazing months on the road paddling all around North America, Canada (BC, Alberta) and Mexico,  I decided to head home a little earlier than planned as the body wasn't feeling too good. I felt the best decision was to come home and rest up. Just doesn't feel right to take large impacts off big ass waterfalls. Pretty gutted I had to cut my trip short and cancel my ticket to Chile. I think it was a good call in the long run. Can't wait to get back on the water and come back stronger.

A lot of the images used on this update were shot by very talented Photographer Tait Trautman. We were lucky enough to have Tait tag along with us and shoot the most amazing photos. Check out his website-http://taittrautman.photoshelter.com/ or Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tait-Trautman-Photography/292545030789511


I would like to thank everyone who helped me out along the way. I very much appreciate the help and  support of:

Garcia Family, Mike, Sara, Evan, Ian
Rush Sturges
Wells Family
BDP
Christopher Mctaggart
Pete Lodge
Sam Ricketts
Iker Beristain Van Dusen
Erik Johnson
Eric Parker
Chris Madden
Fred Norquist
Rafa Ortiz
Beav Lodge boys
Amy Tipling
and anyone I forgot. I can't thank you all enough!!!


Huge thanks once again to Evan Garcia for letting me tag along with you on your epic adventures, you are the man bro!!!

Bring on the NZ summer!!!!!!

Si wey