Beginning of Colorado

Boyd and I headed up to Colorado this time last week, first stopping by the impressive OKC Kayak in Oklahoma City, OK. We caught the tail end of the Central Mountains using up the last of Oh Be Joyful with flows on the low side of good (still fun!) We had a lot of fun with great friends but a little more rain in Colorado than we have seen before. Here are a few photos of the rivers and beautiful scenery.

Fun surfing in Boulder

Deja ready to hike and scout

Hucking OBJ

Boyd on the big one

Beautiful Crested Butte Sunset

The 2010 Boaterchick Fest

Women's Beginner Playboating Clinic, Photo courtesy Jen Shearer

This past weekend was the third annual Boaterchick Fest. This is a fest for women, although men are welcome, to help increase the amount of women in whitewater, help these women develop their paddling skills, and provide a network for these women to support and help each other grow throughout the year. The festival takes place in the Nantahala Gorge and includes clinic that are taught on the Nantahala, Ocoee, and Cheoah rivers.

The three main women who work the hardest to make this fabulous festival possible are Anne Connolly, the festival coordinator, Salli Katz, the sponsorship coordinator, and Amanda Gettler, the website designer. You see these women everywhere throughout the duration of the festival and they work super hard to make sure everything goes smoothly, and you can believe they are incredible at it!

This year there were many awesome instructors for playboating, river- running, and creeking clinics on all of the closest rivers. This year also saw the most registrants that Boaterchick Fest has had. Both men and women came to the fest and enjoyed everything that it had to offer: clinics, yummy food, swag, door prizes, silent auction, live music, free beer.... need I say more?

This year I lead 2 clinics: beginner playboating on the Nanty, that had 9 participants, and a creeking clinic at Nanty Falls. These girls were awesome! They tried every skill I showed them and practiced those skills their way down the river. I was so impressed at the way those girls were so enthusiastic, energetic, and willing to try each skill over and over, no matter how complicated or intimidating the skill.

At the end of the day there was a beginner playboating comp at the NOC wave in which the girls could get in and show off their skills.

The BCF does a great job at promoting the ideals of women in paddlesports and paddlesports in general. A big thanks to everyone, guys and girls, for making this fest successful, thanks to all of the clinic instructors and safety boaters, and a very special thanks to Anne Connolly whose hard work made the fest happen in the first place.

The Outdoors Inc. Mississippi Canoe and Kayak Race

May is a big month for the city of Memphis, TN. This month each year we celebrate a different country to learn more about its culture as well as pack evey weekend full of activities. Along with our huge music fest that brings many big names every year and out well- known BBQ Fest is the Outdoors Inc. Canoe and Kayak Great Mississippi Race followed by the Outdoors Inc. Demo day at one of the largest city parks in the country, Shelby Farms.

Every year people from all around come to Memphis to show off their racing skills. We have people of all skill levels: Olympic athletes whose goal is to get the fastest time to frat brothers and boy scouts that fill a canoe to the rim with people and set their main goal to stay upright the whole time. Regardless of who these participants are, it is fun for everyone.

The race always takes place the first weekend of Memphis in May, also known as "Memphis in Mud" to some. The reason for this is that it always seems to rain the first weekend in May, the saying "April Showers..." doesn't apply to Memphis.

This year we had a torrential rain hit Memphis the night before the race that didn't let up for the whole weekend. The morning of the race I drove downtown to the river in this heavy rain because, of course, if I didn't go the sky would open up and the sun would shine 10 minutes before the race was to start. As I drove to the put-in through the flooded streets the rain hadn't let up. Stair wells had become cascades funneling water into the streets and towards the river. Once the rain had let up a little the race had been restricted to elite paddlers only, all we could do was wait for the race time and hope that the rain didn't start again.

The Mississippi bridge

I got in my gear drove my car to the take out, where the post-race activities were to take place, and hitched a ride back to the put in. Shortly before the race was to start I arrived at the parking lot at the put in and got out of the car only to hear tornado sirens just south of where we were. Naturally, after I had seperated myself from my vehicle, the race was cancelled and the rain began to pour again. The Coast Guard, for the safety of all of the contestants, cancelled the race and unfortunately it did not happen this year. Luckily everyone had time to get packed up and get out of there before the bulk of the bad weather hit, and luckily for me I have great friends that got me back to my car.

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The next day provided better weather for us at Shelby Farms so that the Outdoors Inc. Demo day could take place. This is the day that everyone can come to shelby farms, paddler or not, and try out different boats of all kinds and get more information about the boats and the sport. We had sunshine, great weather, and a great crowd.

Pretty Tough Interview

Pretty Tough (Prettytough.com) is a company geared towards networking for young female athletes so that they can get their names out, market themselves as athletes, and connect with other girls just like them! I joined this team later last year because I like what they stand for and I fully support their cause. This weekend they featured me in an interview for their website. I attached the content and posted the links- check it out!

Sporty Saturday Spotlight 6-23-10
January 23, 2010 by keri mikulski Filed under General, Kayak
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This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on twenty-two year old kayaker and skydiver, Samantha Brunner. Check out Samantha’s interview below where she shares what it’s like to compete in kayaking, how she balances school and sports, and much, much more.

Name: Samantha Brunner Age: 22

Sport(s): Pro whitewater kayaker, but I also skydive and like most outdoor sports

Hometown: Memphis, TN

High School/Middle School/College: I am currently a student on full scholarship at the University of Memphis. I graduate in May with a bachelors in Exercise Sport Science, then its off to Physical Therapy school

How many years have you been kayaking? I have been paddling for about 6 years.

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?
The first time I ran a creek that I had to fully memorize. The small creek was so consistent that I had to remember all of the lines because there was no time to stop in between rapids. This made me learn to trust and rely on myself.

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?
To trust myself. Kayaking, for me, is all about pushing your physical and mental limits and learning to trust yourself. Only you can truly know what you are capable of, nobody else can tell you that. Kayaking is a way in which I learn what I am capable of; it helps me become a more independent person and puts a lot of life’s experiences into perspective.

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?
Always be a team player. Getting down the river is a group effort. Your friends depend on you to know your skills as much as you depend on them to know theirs. Also, to always be respectful and truthful. Also, kayaking is a pretty poor sport, so you have to learn how to work to make the bigger trips worthwhile and how to do them within a budget. With that being said, I have learned to be able to put a lot of work and preparation into my trips to make them work and be beneficial for both my sponsors and myself.

What have you learned about teamwork?
It is the only way to be successful, you can’t do everything all by yourself. Everyone has something to bring to the table and is better at something than you are. It teaches you when to lead and when to listen.

How do you balance school and sports?
Haha, that’s the hard one. I know that school is more important and I have the rest of my life to kayak. Being in Memphis makes me a weekend warrior when it comes to kayaking. I plan my major trips around my breaks in school.

List the sponsors that you currently have:
Pretty Tough, Jackson Kayaks, Stohlquist Waterware, Keen Footwear, Kavu Clothing, SnapDragon Sprayskirts, Gaia Paddlesports, Grateful Heads Helmets, Freestyle Watches, H2O Audio, Zeal Optics, Colorado Kayak Supply

How do you plan to use your sport to influence others?
When I get out of Physical Therapy school I plan to start a non-profit, whitewater kayaking camp to fight childhood obesity and eating disorders. I find that kayaking is not only enjoyable; it can be a great motivator to get into shape. I want to show how fun kayaking can be and I think that when one is having fun it is easier to be motivated to stay active.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)
Haha, I think it would be to dress up. So much of what I do requires pants and flats or sneakers (not that I’m complaining) so when I have a chance to have a date night with my boyfriend, which comes once every few months haha, I like to dress up. I’m usually “one of the guys” so this helps remind me that I’m not always. Also, I kayak in waterproof mascara which makes me

pretty girlie ;)

Thanks, Samantha! Best of luck with your amazing career.
Do you or someone you know want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.
Happy Saturday!

http://www.prettytough.com/sporty-saturday-spotlight-17/

http://www.kerimikulski.com/

http://kerimikulski.blogspot.com/

Have a great day guys!

Samantha

BSA Centennial Celebration (late entry)

In October Boyd and I were asked to help teach a mini BSA Kayaking course to Boy Scouts that were coming to the BSA Centennial Celebration, the 100th birthday of the Boy Scouts of America. This took place in my hometown of Memphis, TN at Shelby Farms, the biggest city park in the SE. It started early in the morning and lasted all day with the scouts lining up to take their turn in a kayak.

Basically, a "mini BSA kayaking course" consists of some time of the ground talking about paddles, boats, safety, the 5 essential pieces of gear and more. After that the scouts are fitted into boats (about 12- 14 at a time) they get to go into the lake and paddle around while learning strokes and concepts and playing games.
Here are some pictures to recap our day:

All of the boats lines up first thing in the morning.

Boyd getting the scouts ready to get in their boats.

Boyd teaching the scouts how to hold a paddle

Fun Stuff!

Upper Big Creek, Jan.01

Hey everybody, just wanted to say that I have been around- I just haven't had time to blog about it. School literally kicked my ass last semester, but I plan to stay current with my blog this year;)

Anyways, not the point. New Years eve was so great and it was made even better with my first time on Upper Big Creek New Years Day. Boyd and I decided to head to Rock Island New Years weekend to visit the Jackson's and the hole, as well as see their beautiful new home! On New Years Eve Christine and EJ had Boyd, myself, and few others over for dinner and fun. Clay had a newly found stash of nice fireworks so we all headed down to the dam and shot them off to bring in the new year.

Boyd and I woke up the next morning with a list of runs to choose from. Of course, we chose a favorite.... Big Creek. I have only done Lower Big Creek, so I was interested in doing a section of the Upper. Boyd and I grabbed Brad Sutton and headed over there to meet up with our friend Drew from Memphis and a guy nammed Adam from Alabama.

We got there in time for one run down, so we threw on all of our gear and hiked up the trail, me dropping my boat off below action alley and then heading up with my camera to Midnight Hole.

Boyd Ruppelt and Midnight Hole

(photo Samantha Brunner)

Then I followed the guys down to the next fun little rapid...

Boyd Ruppelt- photo Samantha Brunner

We finally get to the main rapid, Action Alley. Boyd and Brad were the only two to fire it up. This was Brad's first time down- both of them totally styled it!

Boyd and Brad scouting the top of Action Alley.

(photo Samantha Brunner)

Boyd boofing in Action Alley- by Samantha Brunner

Brad Sutton in Action Alley- by Samantha Brunner

After Action Alley, it was my turn to get in. I have to admit, Upper Big Creek looked very intimidating to me, so I was a little nervous! Nevertheles I had a blast!! Nobody swam, but I definitely flipped a time or two!

Drew Armstrong on Upper Big Creek- photo: Boyd Ruppelt

Me and my Hero having fun- by Boyd Ruppelt

Adam from Alabama, by Boyd Ruppelt

Upper Big Creek is definitely the most continuous run I have done so far. It is one of my most favorite runs: tight, technical, and lots of boofs- what more could a girl want.... besides waterfalls??? I love this Smokies run and I can't wait to do it again, but this time I'm going further up!

Samantha

Two Days in Salida

So 4th of July weekend Boyd and I spent with his family. We did the Boulder town run, a little bit of shopping, and and a little bit of down time.

After Boulder, Boyd and I headed over to the Salida area. Boyd and I were on our way to the Numbers, and decided to stop for lunch at Bongo Billy's in Salida. There, we ran across Clay and so we decided to stay there and surf a little bit. It was going great! The afternoon storms were rolling in, but missing us and hitting the cities upstream of us. Alot of people were showing up at the hole, including the guys (and gal) from the HUGE experiences group. Everyone was surfing it up and having fun, then all of the sudden the river rose from 900cfs to an estimated 1800 cfs.









Guys it was crazy!!! After the water rose, of course it was dirty, and then stuff started to float down the river! First is was just pine needles- nothing too bad, just really annoying. After that huge logs came down the river. Some people got out of the hole to let them pass, some people surfed with them, and other were oblivious of them and, like one girl, head butted them when they went in for a loop.
Now this water wasn't just your plain old dirty water. the water was full of silt and it was so very thick. The water coated the paddlers as they rolled up.

Boyd looping in the thick, slity water.

It was cool at first, especially with the high levels, but after that it just got to ba a hassle. I got out before all of this of course, but the other paddlers would roll up spitting pine needles out of their mouth and trying to see through the coating of thick water that covered their eyes. When the guys took off of the river it started to rain. That night Boyd, Clay, and I decided that it was definitely a hotel night so that all of us can take showers and get clean. The next day We three headed back over to the Salida hole with the intention of running something else that afternoon.

Today the hole was a bit stickier than it had been yesterday before the rain hit. My first ride I got stuck in the trough and got worked a lil bit, flipped and got worked a little bit, and finally got flushed out right in time to roll up before I ran out of breath. I still lloved the hole it was definitely at a great level. Everyone had pretty great runs, and I have lots of pictures to show for it!

Boydgetting some air with his loop. He did really well today, feeling good he nailed some front and back loops getting the crowd goin' a little bit! It was an awesome day for Boyd!

Clay Wright throwin' it down as usual; he can make any wave or hole look world class anyway. A great guy, ust like the other jackson members that were out there today Lawrence and Greg

Favorite ride of the day: the tandem loop. Boyd Ruppelt and Josh Oberleas looping simultaneuosly- one of the only times they actally achieved this ;-)

A great day indeed. I am so happy to be around all of these guys. Being one of the least experienced paddlers in the group it is so great to be able to learn form them!

Tomorrow Lake Creek and then back to the hectic life of Memphis,

Sam

New video up!!!

Check out this 2 min vid of Sammie creekin' in her new pink Jackson Hero!!!

Boyd :-)