custom HELMET making (part 1)

I needed something to approximate the foam thickness inside a helmet as well as become a barrier between my head and the cast tape. Cheap closed-cell blue camping mat works very well. (about $7 at Kmart) Whatever is left over can be used for tweaking outfitting in boats.




Cut 3" strips out of the foam.
Wrap one around your head like a low riding head band and cut it to size.



Next, place the fitted band on your head and do your best Karate Kid imitation. Be sure to ride it low. You'll cut away ear space and eye space later. The idea is to get the correct diameter of your brain bucket. You'll get the shape of your odd mellon later in the process.



The second 3" strip is to make a measurement of the top ofyour head. Measure it. Cut it. Attach it to the headband. Viola!




Take the whole thing off your head. You need to put some kind of protective barrier over your hair. A latex or silicone swim cap is perfect. Since I didn't have one of those, I just stretched a latex glove over my head. (Foghorn Leghorn anyone?)

Wrap the head band with 6 layers of cast tape, and put the thing back on your head. Be sure to squeeze all the excess water out of the tape so it doesn't drip in your eyes or on your clothes.
Let the tape harden before you remove it. You'll have a perfect shape copy of your head.




Repeat the process with the strip on the top and let it harden.



Gently inflate a balloon inside the the crazy looking contraption. This will give you a mock head inside the thing so you can cast other pieces of tape over top that will create good structure for the bondo.



Let everything dry overnight.
The next day you can use bondo to smooth out the bumps and create a custom design on your helmet design.

DragoRossi "Reaction"

Tony Z. got some side by side photos of the Drago Rossi REACTION and the Dagger GREEN BOAT.

http://www.donkeyflip.com/dfportal/News/tabid/54/EntryID/7/Default.aspx

Lozer Cup final results are in!!!

here's a link to the tenth (and last) race in the 2008 LozerCup series
http://www.lozercup.com/lozer-cup-results/dryway-2008/september-21-2008.html

The overall results are in this image below



or, if you prefer, they can also be viewed here
http://www.lozercup.com/lozer-cup-results/dryway-2008

Below is an image of the overall results from 2007 (for those of you who are curious for comparison)

or, if you prefer, they can also be viewed here
http://www.lozercup.com/lozer-cup-results/dryway-2007


Awards will be handed out during the celebration in October during the last Dryway Release. Be sure to check the Deerfield Release Schedule for the dates.

Mad Boy is finally in production

a link to some cool photos (video screen captures) are on Corran's blog
http://2imagine.net/blogger2008/mb3.html

and the official press release is copied below

"One of the reasons it took so long to bring this to market was that we were trying to accomplish two things at once," said designer Corran Addison. "We wanted a river runner that would not paddle like a corky creek boat - something fun and zippy - but we also knew that most people use their river runners as creek boats, and so it had to handle hard class 5 as well as the best full-on creekers. This is much harder to do than it sounds."


All who have tested the Mad Boy say that it does just this. It's fun on class 3-4 runs, but can go head to head with the best of the creekers on the hardest of runs.


"One thing you'll notice instantly is the complete change of outfitting for 2009," Dragorossi marketing director Diego Zanga said. "We have a new lower seat, with a very comfortable seat pad and backband, with adjustable/removable hip pads. The Mad Boy also has a standard style adjustable thigh brace, and a new footbrace thats locked in on aluminum tracks and is adjustable in both width and height, while weighing less than our previous one."


While many swear by the Dragorossi outfitting of the past, it has also been a common complaint of many who like the designs, but are not willing to switch the way they sit and brace into a kayak. These changes are sure to be a welcome one by the larger part of the market for a design like this.

some nice photos

DragoRossi drain plug alternative

In a pinch, I found out that the Pyranha drain plugs fit quite nicely into the drago rossi drain plug system.

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=2003%2E1

No need for a kayak

because it's still summer (at least for another week)
see video at bottom of the post



the "Flume" at Bulls Bridge on the Housatonic can give kayakers problems. It is the single largest drop (that is run by most people on a regular basis) in the main part of the section. This is a low level so lots of exposed rocks.



But, since the locals are such lozers, we decided to just forget the boats for a while, flash the lozer sign and drop, head-first into the flume.











The only way to avoid being back flipped and dumped off the tube was to lean forward when hitting the hole (kind of how you run it in a kayak). But, since we were not in kayaks, we pretty much mysteried under the hole with every successful run.













A word of caution:
These guys are all good kayakers and expert watermen (just look at them, you can tell they are!!!)
I would not recommend that anyone else try tubing this section of river.





link to video in case the embed is not working
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0soP8gAGwQ

Center Brook (second descent)

This sweet little creek runs into Sandy Brook up along the Massachusetts/Connecticut border. Ted Devoe ran this a couple of years ago with Christian Cook. The water was a little bit higher. It is believed to have been the first descent.

Continuous boogie water and many mid sized drops like this one are typical.
Here is Ted (DragoRossi Gangster), silhouetted by the mid-afternoon September sun, ready to boof into yet another pitch.
Notice the gradient in the background.



Here's a good shot of Dan Greenbaum (Pyranha Micro 230) melting down into a hole. Not everything on this run can be boofed. It requires a good combination of skills to find your way down. "It takes a very steady hand......"




Dan setting up the slide, which leads into your choice of a boof or a slot.



This is the last good boof on the run, about 100 feet above the confluence with Sandy Stream.



Center Brook collects a lot of wood, and only runs after much rain. Fortunately, it runs into Sandy Brook (III/IV), which takes less rain to get going. Hubbard Brook (IV/V)is on the other side of the ridge and also requires less rain. So, if you get skunked at Center Brook, you can always hit up one of these other two gems.

new toys on the DragoRossi Container (old school boats in new school plastic)

here's the link to the announcement on Boatertalk
http://www.boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/1530174

and a photo of the old school boat called the "Reaction" that was spun up in brand new plastic



Instead of buying an old Pirouette, and worrying about how brittle or thin the plastic is, this Reaction is super fresh and should last a very long time.

I am very excited to go super fast in this rocket ship of a boat.

the Mad Boy is almost complete (prototype comparisons)

click the link below for a comprehensive comparison and discussion about design
http://www.2imagine.net/blogger2008/mb2.html

there is also a discussion on the dragorossi.net/drboard message board
with an interesting response by Corran about what he has learned by shaping surf boards
http://www.dragorossi.net/drboard/viewtopic.php?t=839

NPR story on Soft Power Health

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92705089

Dr. Jessie Stone's clinics over in Uganda

DragoRossi kayaks with IR reggie backbands

These are the boats that I have left in inventory. Each one has an IR "reggie" ratcheting backband installed on a performance seat. In the week since I took this picture, two of the boats are gone. The Pintail was sold today, and the Gangster sold before that. The FIsh, Stinger, Squashtail, and Mafia are still available if you want to contact me.

dragorossi@gmail.com

after these boats are gone, you have to either buy directly from the factory, or place an order with Tony Zanetti in Oregon. He is receiving a container of DragoRossi kayaks in about a month. You can still get a boat for $850 (performance) and $1100 (elite) through Tony. He can be reached at

dragorossinorthwest@yahoo.com

Memorial Day boating

a bunch of Lozers spent Saturday and Sunday on the Monroe Bridge section of the Deerfield River (Dryway) doing speed runs; training for the Lozer Cup, with hopes of improving on last years results.
This weekend was the first of many dryway releases for 2008, with most Sundays being officially "cancelled" Lozer Cup race "training".



After a Saturday night double header at the drive in, enjoying big summer smash hits like Indiana Jones and Iron Man, a huge, almost out of control fire at the Farmhouse on Sunday night, it was time to head for more relaxing circumstances.......



like T'ville at 1.9 on Memorial Day Monday.



Hot dogs, hamburgers, cheesy brats, and beer should have been enough to slow everyone down into a deep food coma.



But the sun was shining, the water was warm, friendly faces were smiling and people were throwing down.



I can not think of a better way to spend an afternoon celebrating Memorial Day; the unofficial "official" first day of summer, and a terrific tribute to those who have fought to secure our luxurious leisure time and numerous liberties that we enjoy as much as possible.

(insert cheesy image of Patton standing in front of the flag here)

and here is the link to all the photos

Thruster freestyle video with Daniel Herzig

http://youtube.com/watch?v=C4NWUeZEugk

Moxie Stream (low water)

a motley crew of sleepy fools enjoying some jamming harmonica in the morning before heading up the road for a low water Moxie run on a glorious sunny May day in Maine.



a little rapid called "Junior"



bony bumpy rocky first part of the pinny pitch didn't allow anyone to run perfectly clean (Boyce staying calm in the midst of chaos)



everyone scrambled to get back on line in this steep tight rapid
(Brad, about to bounce down a rock/water combo that is mostly rock)



it's a long drop
(Matt, cleaning up everyone's line)


looking back upstream from the overlook at Moxie Falls

Gulf Hagas

Billings Falls, the third drop (after Stair Falls & Faceplant)




Brian Frost running a picture perfect standard line.



Jeff Sharpe boofing the s**t out of the center. (you could hear the "BOOF" all the way up on the cliff top)






Boyce Greer going low-stress left (he makes everything look easy)



unnamed Brunswickian (Ian?)tempting the cave (no worries, he totally styled it)


and off everyone goes, deeper into the gorge

Big Weekend in Connecticut for Whitewater Events

Willimantic Whitewater Festival on Saturday

They are building a whitewater park and already have a festival going on the site with a kicker ramp being built
http://www.npmb.com/cms2/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?94032/

The site is a stretch of river that has few low head dams on it, which will be (one by one) turned into whitewater features. It's worth checking this out to show your support for their efforts.
http://www.willimanticwhitewater.org/


Covered Bridge Slalom on Sunday

This open boat and closed boat slalom race has been going on for what seems like forever. Many top paddlers have started their racing careers with this race. For more information check out this link
http://www.willimanticwhitewater.org/
or ask Alden Bird what he thinks about the event
http://neguidebook.com/

discounted DragoRossi boats until May 24th

Tony Zanetti has a container of DragoRossi boats coming into the U.S. soon.
The order will be finalized on May 24th.
He is offering a discount to anyone who want to get in on the action before that date.
"Performance" outfitted boats can be bought for only $750 (normally $900)
"Elite" outfitted boat are available for only $1000 (normally $1400)

Contact Tony at

dragorossinorthwest@yahoo.com

Tony also imports Nookie technical paddling gear
http://www.nookie.co.uk/big-pond.html
cool stuff

Strike Three wave (photo teaser)

Dan



Ted



Ted



Devin



Chris

and many more on Flickr here

Shred Ready helmet art

the first of four showings of these helmets that are on the auction block to support American Whitewater

This one is called "Green"



and this one is called "American Whitewater"



Helmets and beer. Two things that make guys brave, and less afraid to be sideways.



There was food and drink for all. So, if you missed this one you better get out to the next showing.
http://www.becauserockshurt.com/

Strike Three wave animation

this should be an animated sequence of Ted doing a blunt on the Strike Three wave at Swift's Bridge.
If the animation does not appear hear, then click the link below and it will play in it's own window.
http://www.100waves.com/StrikeThreeTed.gifa>