Jaime Sharp

Sunset at Hobuck

Hamp bringing the Color

This year I was excited to get among numerous divisions
now that (after last year’s event) I had learned about what I was actually being
scored on and had an idea of what to do to impress the judges. Ultimately I was
still out there just to have fun, though it was also great to now know how to
play the game and challenge my skill set to match that. My first heat was in
the HP Surf Kayak Division, I had just purchased a HP kayak and this would be
my first time surfing it let alone the model in a surf comp. The waves where
small but still fun, and after our 10 minute heat with 4 other good kayakers, I
was stoked to see that I pulled out a win in my heat. This wasn’t to last with
the afternoon bringing bigger messy close out sets, where I struggled to get
out the back enough after my first two rides with nice big moves, but after
getting trapped in the inside of the breakers for the second half of my heat, I
failed to get a long multi move ride to round out my two good waves. Thus I
only placed 3rd, which had me bumped out of the finals. Despite this
I still had great fun and learnt a lot more about my paddling skills and new
craft.

Chris Bensch gettin’ at it

Author and Wave ski

I also competed in the Sea kayak division and Wave ski
division. The sea kayak division was my most competent discipline, and I
quickly established a solid placing with a 1st and a 3rd
in my two heats. This was enough to get me through to the finals on Sunday. The
wave ski division is by far the hardest discipline with you sitting on an
oversized surf board with only a seatbelt and foot straps to hold you on, and
big waves to paddle out through. The craft is hard to roll, and my wave ski is
a super technical board that tips over easily on flat water let alone in waves.
In my first heat which was directly after my Last HP Kayak heat and at the end
of the day of all heats, I was exhausted and the waves where still close out
beaters. This all meant that I spent the entire time, fighting waves, rolling
and tail standing. I got one small ride and then after realizing I was just
destroying myself and not really having fun, I decided to un-belt and swim. And
then lay on the Wave ski and body surfed it back in totaling a mere 6 points,
while others on more suitable shore break Ski’s
(a bit wider and more stable) clocked up 20 and 30’s. Luckily due to the
lack of numbers in the heat (there was only four of us) we all qualified for
the finals on Sunday. It was great to watch all the other competitors pull out
their stuff, and to see some of the USA’s top HP paddlers showing us how it was
done. That night we had a great meal around a campfire while being entertained
by tales from the local tribe representative. Then a number of us likely stayed
up to late around the fires drinking and laughing the night away, before
heading to bed and hiding from the torrential rain that arrived. Sunday brought a steamy clear morning with occasional
showers, though ultimately the whole weekend was wonderful weather.

 

 

“Sunday dawned with perfect conditions for finals – beefy 4’ surf with clean
shoulders and enough power to make advanced maneuvers possible in both long and
short kayaks as well as SUPs.
One of the highlights of the weekend occurred in the first heat of the day
Sunday, which featured a new event designed to promote hilarity and chaos both
on and off the water, as teams of five paddled and attempted to surf large
SUPsquatch paddleboards in a truly fun heat that resulted in at least one wave
being successfully surfed amidst multiple ejections, crashes and swims for all
participants.
In other, more formal categories, the two day competition included inspired
“long” boat surfing by first through third place Sea Kayak finishers Jaime
Sharp, Jim Grossman and Costain Leonard.  While surviving an incredible
drop that earned him the newly acclaimed “Beat Down” trophy, Jamie worked the
surf to wow the crowd in this highly competitive and skillful class.
In the always hyper-competitive Men’s High Performance (HP) class, masterful
performances were seen by Jim Grossman, Chris Bensch, Hamp All and Steve Jones whose
maneuvers and skills helped set the tone for the weekend.

Women’s HP, in one of the most competitive events we have seen in the NW
recently, was won impressively by Jameson Riser, but also showcased strong
surfing by Barb Gronseth and newcomer Kelly Watson.

In arguably the most dynamic in any paddle surf contest, the Wave ski event,
a beautiful performance by local wave ski builder and artist Ken Debondt took
the victory despite exceptional surfing by Jamie Sharp and 15 year old Buey
Grossman.

In WW /plastic, Jim Grossman and Buey Grossman carried the day while
favorite Costain Leonard finished a strong third, all tumbling, spinning and
tricking their way in spectacular style down the waves.

In SUP, dynamic, stylish and strong performances by every competitor
resulted in a finish order of John Sindelar, Kevin Long and Ayu Othman.

Whats SUP

Finally, in a highly competitive final, Jim Grossman continued to showcase
his exceptional surfing skills in “Battle of the Wave” event (designed to
showcase the strongest paddler at the festival and open to any paddler in or on
any craft), with a strong session that resulted in his winning the class in
another close final with Hamp All and Ken Debondt.”

More on Hobuck Site here http://www.hobuckhoedown.com/2017-wrap-up

Loads of non surf fun to be had.

 

All in all this is a great event and even if you do not want
to compete, all are welcome; the event has a fun division and this year a
SUPSquatch race just for “Shits and Giggles”. And if you really don’t want to
be in the event, then there is a large beach where you can still paddle surf
without the intensity of the comp and great paddling to be had in the area for
sea kayaking particularly if the swell drops off. In fact on the Monday after
the event Allie Carroll and I paddled out to the sea Arches and Sea caves of
Cape Flattery for the day. The surf had conveniently disappeared by then, and
that left the cliffy coastline prime for exploring all the way out to the most
North West Point of the USA.

Allie among the Arches

Deep in the caves

 

 I thoroughly
recommend anyone to come along and have fun at this event and learn some new
skills and way of thinking, or at least the area as an amazing location for
paddling and exploring, whether it is for surf or sea kayak touring.

Thanks Sponsors

~ Jaime Sharp

Jaime Sharp and Ben Fontenote

Jaime Sharp will be telling the tale of their succesful adventure, using video and photo tied in with his spoken narration to draw you into there arctic adventure. Jaime has presented this show over 25 times in over 6 countries, come along and be amazed.

 
*Large Art Poster Prints will be for Sale at all events
Many to choose from $15 each or two for $25, can be signed by the photographer on the night.

Montreal, Quebec May 10th

Time:  19-21:30
@ Lozeau. 
6229A  St-Hubert St
Montreal, Quebec

Tickets $10 p/p here
https://www.kayaklatinsdunord.com/evenements

Rochester, New York May 12th

WIN! Come along and enter to win a new Lendal Paddle on the night included in your ticket purchase.

7.30pm
BayCreek Paddling Center
Town of Brighton, Buckland Lodge
1341 Wesfall RD, Brighton, NY
 Tickets here
https://www.baycreek.com/svalbard.html

Boston May 13th
WIN! Come along and enter to win a new Lendal Paddle on the night, included in your ticket purchase.

 
7pm

Charles River Canoe and Kayak

160 Riverview Ave, Waltham, MA 02453
 Enter a raffle for a free Lendall paddle. Tickets are $10 (pay at the door).

In front of our double kayak, a wall of water reared up so high it seemed as
tall as a building, and that building was toppling on top of us. In the bow seat
Jill disappeared into the crashing carnage, with a lurch she re-appeared, not
that I witnessed this, myself now being swallowed up into the frothing torrent
and then being spat out with disdain. Blinking the water and grit from my eyes I
could see the next wave coming, though noticed I could not see the bright yellow
double sea kayak, which Jill and I sat in, it was still submersed in the
turbulent water, rearing and jumping about us. Both of us slammed through the
next wave and where paddling hard while white water exploded everywhere; or
should I call it “brown water”?

Really there was so much silt in the river from
the rains; the Colorado was living up to its name sake meaning “the color
red” and its rapids made our 22 foot kayak feel like a tiny toy riding a
chocolate milkshake in a blender.  Looking down stream danger was lurking, my
voice erupted from my mouth like an angry lion tamer, “RIGHT PADDLE, RIGHT,
RIGHT!” Jill quickly started paddling forward on the right as we steered the
vessel left of a large hydraulic, missing it’s gnashing recirculating
frothing mouth in the river… barely. Suddenly with no option we hit a large wave
side on, I threw my weight into it to brace, we struck it and I was engulfed in
brief darkness as the boat was swallowed up yet again and then spat into the
eddy. In order to counter the wave impact, I had the boat leaning downstream; as
we unexpectedly shot to the side of the main flow a whirlpool grabbed the nose
of the kayak spinning us in the same direction capsizing us. I tried to brace
the boat on its side and initiate a roll, though I noticed Jill lifting her head
to the sky, Jill didn’t know how to roll, I wasn’t able to yell to her to keep
her head down before we capsized into the dark gloom of the silty river.

Jill Brown and I have Just returned from a unique “Self Support” adventure
down the famous Grand Canyon, together in a 22 ft fiberglass double sea kayak,
we completed what has been called a world first self support journey. Over 11
days we traveled down the main 227 mile section of the river from Lee’s Ferry to Diamond
Creek carrying all the supplies we needed in our kayak with no Rafts following for safety or support, however journey was not a solo vessel journey, we where members of
motley crew of 7 other keen paddlers in a mixed bag of vessels from white
water creek boats to Single Sea Kayaks and white water Expedition Kayaks.

This
adventure was not intended to be a world first adventure; it started a year ago as an idea
of how to bring someone down the Grand Canyon, on a self support kayak trip, who
could not paddle their own kayak. I had been invited on the trip by friends, and
it was to have no rafts, thus all the kayaks had to be able to carry all their
own food and gear in the kayak. As this trip was to be my third trip down the Grand Canyon (my
first being possibly the first self support single sea kayak trip done in 2013
more here ), I felt that a double sea kayak would make a great vessel for
navigating this Iconic American white water river, after all they take wooden
dories and Large Rafts down it.

I managed to find what I felt was the perfect
double sea kayak, it was a fast expedition touring boat, was maneuverable and
could hold a lot of gear, allowing two people to live out of it comfortably, it
was designed to handle rough seas and large surf launches and landings on the
coast, so I had a good feeling it would handle the huge waves on the Grand.

Our Crew

Camp at night

Double kayaks are often jokingly called “divorce boats” and ironically I went
through 3 expedition partners during the planning of this trip before finally
the last one, with only a weeks’ notice, committed and stuck. Jillian Brown is a
brave friend of mine from Squamish BC Canada, who had expressed interest in the
trip when I was telling her about it during the lead up, with a last minute partner cancellation, I threw
the option at Jill and she
was in. She had not paddled on rivers any bigger than class 2 in a canoe, and
though she was a sea kayaker, she did not know how to roll. Though I felt
strongly that all that did not matter, in fact that was exactly what I wanted,
to be able to share this journey with someone who was not experienced enough to
do it on their own. On top of it Jill was a professional photographer, and was
able to help me document this awesome trip, for good or bad.
More on Jill and her photos at www.instagram.com/jillianabrownphotography/

On day 4 we found ourselves upside down a the bottom of a rapid, it wasn’t
even one of the big ones. we had made it this far OK, though now I was slightly
questioning what we where doing, as we swam awkwardly through the next small
rapid and worked the boat to the side of the river, with help from Kevin in his
white water kayak towing the double as we swam with it. as we emptied the double
like a big canoe on the shore, there was time to process the problem, and
basically I realized there is no reason to try and cut out of the rapids early
in this vessel, it is fast enough, long enough and heavy enough to punch through
all but the biggest the river has to give, so we just need to choose the raft
lines and stay on line all the way through the “Gnar”. 11 days later we had made
it through all the biggest and baddest and had not flipped again… well… we almost flipped on “Granite” rapid, but managed to roll back up with the help of the next wave; and we certainly took some huge hits, with Jill left pretty battered by the end of the
trip after being the first one in the kayak to impact, and always going the
deepest and hardest into the rapids. It was a solid journey, and gave us a taste
of what John Wesley Powell may have gone through with his wooden boats some 150
year earlier.

“The wonders of the Grand Canyon cannot be adequately represented in symbols
of speech, nor by speech itself. The resources of the graphic art are taxed
beyond their powers in attempting to portray its features. Language and
illustration combined must fail.” John Wesley Powell

The journey was breathtaking in scenery, wonderful in weather, and unbeatable
as far as friends and fun, the double sea kayak proved to be a great option for
journeying self supported on the grand Canyon, and I would most certainly do it
again. Though no damage was done to the kayak, a plastic one may be a better
choice for anyone looking to follow in our paddle strokes.

Here are some more images from our adventure, and a log of our days, stay
tuned for a full story coming soon in a publication near you.

Jaime Sharp

More Photos and the Trip Log 

Day 1 19.4 mile camp Feb 11th
Jill’s birthday 

Training day, 

After a painfully long ranger brief and gear check, where our Canadian coast
guard approved pfd’s failed and we got a hard time about our fire pan being 2
and a half inches deep instead of 3. We where finally on the water just after
lunch.

Tried rolling the double, it didn’t want to happen easily, so I thought we
best swim and see what we where dealing with, for worst case scenario. It was a
pretty swamped kayaked, and even with mike helping empty over the front of his
kayak, we only managed to empty the front cockpit. Got Jill in and secured her
with a spray skirt. Then I climbed in the rear and started pumping out water
from a completely filled cockpit. Eventually got it empty and underway again. It
is a real hassle to empty the boat, and to try and roll, so best we keep it up
right!!

Double handles well in the rapids, we move quickly and plow through holes and
waves alike. Side ways is not good, and steering is hard without rudder. Rudder
works well in the rapids. Jill ofcourse takes the brunt of all the rapids and is
often submerged, only the biggest rapids bury me and often I am only splashed in
the face.Dani and Heather swam Badger (the 1st big one) but we all made it
through Soap Creek and House Rock. started to rain this night.

Started to rain lightly that evening. 

Dinner tuna melts in the Dutch oven

Desert chocolate brownies in Dutch oven

  

Day 2 camped at mile 44 Feb 12
Today was the roaring 20s, camped at mile 44 , President Hardy, Neil’s sock
roasting camp, rained all day.
Dinner

Butter chicken 

Roasted banana bread with chocolate

Side Canyons abound with many adventures to be had.

Day 3 Feb 13 Camped at mile 66, palisades creek
Today was a slower kayak day. Camped at mile 66, palisades creek.  Dani is
not managing the river well and has Damaged her kayak again.
Burgers

Banana bread in Dutch oven

Day 4 Feb 14 Camped at clear creek, mile 84
This day had more action with unkar, nevils, Hanz, and sockdolager rapid.
Camped at clear creek, mile 84, where we walked over all those slippery rocks to
get water in the creek.  Danny has damaged her boat yet again, and is now
considering hiking out tomorrow from Phantom Ranch.
Steak and mash potatoes

Choc Almonds for desert 

Day 5 Feb 15 Ego Beach camp, mile 98.9.
Today we said goodbye to Danny at phantom ranch. She conveniently  meet a
hiker who was from flagstaff hiking out that day and driving back to Flag that
night, who was also happy to hike out with her and help carry the sea kayak,
even if it meant finishing up at 9pm in the dark. Awesome. She loaded up three
satchels of stuff at phantom ranch to be muled out at $73 a satchel, and started
hiking . We pushed on with mike, now only a group of 8, to hit the big four of
the furious day 5. Horn, granite, hermit and crystal. Hearts where racing and
times where pumping and we powered the double through all of them. Horn the line
was enter river center on the right edge of a big hole and then drive hard left
before being swept into the next hole,  we hit our entry line though couldn’t
get all the way left, Jill stayed out of the hole, I nudged through it sideways
with an explosion of white water engulfing holding the stern and allowing the
double to pivot and straighten Into the rest of the rapid and power through the
big waves.

Granite was one of the longer big rapids yet, we lined up center right and
powered our way through the continuous wave trains, a lateral wave off river
right pounded us, I tucked hard into it, but something grabbed us and ripped us
left and almost capsized us. I manged to get in a high brace and held the double up a bit,then with help of a buffeting wave the boat  came back upright, and we Plugged through the rest. Our center hatch had popped open a bit as on Hans
rapid, and allowed some water in. We stopped and pumped out.

Hermit was more intense than I remember, but the line was simple, straight
through those enormous waves. In we went each wave bigger, climbing high,
dropping deep, climbing, climbing, climbing the next, exploding off the top and
down into the trough, then the last big one, a continuous breaking wave,
swallowing the 23 foot kayak whole, holding us stationary for a brief second
then spitting us out into the smaller tail waves that where still quite large.
Eddied out and watched the next group through.

Crystal was next, we didn’t scout, just ran center left of the big hole at
the top and drove right between the next hole and the rocky boulder garden near
shore. Safely we all pulled out at a beach in the lower eddy and made camp in a
very cool location.  Dinner was chicken sausage Alfredo pesto with cream fresh,
then a vanilla apple cake in the Dutch oven for desert.ended at camp just below
Crystal and Lower Crystal or Ego Beach camp, mile 98.9. 

Great epic day. I am so glad the double got through. Tomorrow we aim for 30
miles all the rapids are a bit tamer than today, until we hit lava in a couple
of days. 

Cream fresh pesto pasta

Vanilla apple pie 

SealLine Dry Bags doing what they do best www.seallinegear.com

Day 6 Feb 16 Camped at Randy’s Rock, mile 127
 we started with Tuna rapid (6) and went through all the gems, side stops at
Wheeler boat, Shinumo Creek, and Elves Chasm. Camped at Randy’s Rock, mile 127
with the overhanging Tapeats. 
Dinner was steak and mash potatoe,

desert chocolate almonds. Pre cooked pancakes for breakfast. 

At the Granaries, Nankoweap

Day 7 Feb 17 156 mile last chance camp
Started with rain, great day on the water chewing up miles and enjoying the
great rapids.

Hiked deer creek, toasted to Judd’s dad who died five years earlier and his
ashes had been spread here. Judds dad had done the Canyon 5 times in his life.

Ran upset rapid and got a great line, with me kissing the whole at the end to
swing the double back straight into the rapid. 

Meet Allen Yip from NZ randomly at ledges campsite, he is moving to Squamish
this summer. Spent 30 mins talking while the rest of group headed to camp.
Powered the double down steam eating up the 5 miles and arriving at camp about 5
mins after the others arrived. camped at 156 mile last chance camp when that bigger
group had taken the Ledges already

Dinner was Mexican lasagna in the Dutch oven with chocolate for desert.

Entering Lava

Day 8 Feb 18th Camped at 182 mile? Upper chevron
Today we hit Lava! Visited havasu river, it was blue and not brown which was
awesome. Loads of fish in the river. Paddled down stream to national canyon for
lunch and a hike up the stream to collect water. Then we hit lava. Went past the
volcan rock where some of us touched it others didn’t, then soon we where
scouting lava from the right hand side. It was big and chunky, though no worse
than any other rapid we had hit already. Judd and Neil went first and then Jill
and I in the double. We hit our entry line good, juts touching the right of the
entry hole, and the. We slammed through all the features of lava. Getting
swallowed by the hole at the end, but spat out. We where solid the whole way
through not once feeling like we where going to tip.

Ryan heather and Kevin came next. Heather swam though the rest where fine.
Made it to camp just before 6pm. Great day, now it is all easy from here out.
Stoked the double has been so solid through this whole river, I was a little
worried at the start, now I feel super confident in the boats abilities. The 

Kevin adding some flair to his waterfall jump

 Day 9 Feb 19Camp at 215?

Long day, bit of rain, stunning evening light on Canyon walls. Lunch at
whiltemotr çanyon?

 

Day 10  Feb 20 camped at 220

Before leaving camp we meet up with the 3 guys “through hiking” the Grand
Canyon. They where on their last 10 days. Of the 3rd 30 day section, they had some interesting story to tell and we wished each other well.

Our group had stayed in camp today until 1pm, the. We blasted down to our last camp
for the trip by 4pm. Then it got fun, with us getting a bunch of beer of another
rafting group, and then us all drinking the last beers we all had and dressing
up and getting our nails painted pink. Fun night, thankfully not enough alcohol
to get hangovers. Stunning starry night. We had done it, we got a double sea
kayak down the Grand Canyon, through all the big rapids. 

 

 Day 11 Feb 21st

Pulled off at diamond creek mile 226

At 10.20am. Dan was there to meet us. What a trip

Dan Jill and mike drove back to canada with the double on top of the van.

Jaime checking the tie down on the double for the rough road out at Daimond Creek Photo by Jill Brown

Day 16 

On my flight back to NZ I flew Phoenix to la on the same flight was one of
the through hiker guys from the Grand Canyon, he recognized me and said “Hi” then Told me that day after we had seen them, his brother fell down a slot Canyon and
fractured his arm and needed to be heli evac’ed, it took 18 hours for the
chopper to arrive. The 3rd guy with them left as well as mentally it broke him,
the one brother then hiked on alone to exit the Canyon at diamond creek a few
days later. they where all so close to completing Hiking he entire length of the Grand Canyon together, bummer. and what Small world that we ended up on the same flight.

Jill and Jaime at the end of the Double Down the Grand journey.

The
Canoe & Kayak Awards is a forum for the paddling community to
recognize excellence in our sport. Winners are nominated by their peers
and chosen by everyday paddlers. The Canoe & Kayak Awards celebrate
all aspects of our sport, with a very simple bottom line: Which
paddlers, expeditions, and causes most inspire our readers to seek out
their own paddling adventures.
Read more at http://www.canoekayak.com/canoe-kayak-awards/about/#ULSOSlizkqJFgsQ2.99
Expedition of the Year Presented by Nexen Tire
Awarded to the team that completes the toughest, most committing and
historically significant paddling expedition of the year. Multi-sport
expeditions are eligible if paddling is integral to the mission.
              Vote HERE and help us win this prestigious adventure award

Svalbard Islands Circumnavigation
The Team: Tara Mulvany, Jaime Sharp, Per Gustav Porsanger
What: The ‘Unclaimed Circumnavigation’ of Norway’s Svalbard
Archipelago; the last team to attempt this exped’ where almost killed by
a polar bear. 3 previous attempts failed.
How: Late last summer,
New Zealand sea kayakers Sharp and Mulvany teamed with Porsanger, of
Norway, for a first-ever, 1,370-mile circumnavigation of the remote
Arctic archipelago. In 71 days marked by gale-force winds, thick fog,
and debris-choked water, the team’s route included a 43-mile, 15-hour
crossing as well a 26-hour push across the 110-mile cliff front of
Europe’s largest glacier. And polar bears. Lots of polar bears.
Online Canoe and Kayak Visual Feature here
http://www.canoekayak.com/land-of-ice-and-bears/
Expedition Website Here
www.svalbard.worldwildadventure.com

                                 Vote HERE and help us win this prestigious adventure award