Expedition Ecuador: Christmas in January

Christmas is only a few weeks away. However, this year my real present won't come until mid-January. This year my most anticipated present comes courtesy of my friend Abraham Herrera. I met Abe while we were taking our ACA instructors course in West Virginia this summer. We got along very well and he has quickly become one of my favorite people hang-out with on and off the water. On one of the last days of the course Abe mentioned his idea for an expedition he and a friend had been planning for the past few years. He wanted to know if I would join the crew. Having heard of the amazing outcome of his last expedition (http://ecuadorfirstdescent.weebly.com/) I knew instantly that I had to go.


So it began. Now, I enter the final weeks of preparation, hurrying to ready myself before I leave for Florida to spend the holiday with my relatives and attend my cousins wedding. I depart Jan 11th from Miami International, with my new Jackson Villian, a few H2O paddles, brand new GoPro Hero HD courtesy of GoPro and a thirst for adventure. The exact route we will take and the logistics have yet to be finalized, but roughly speaking we will be starting near the Valle Vicioso and paddling down to the Huayusayacu, finishing near the well-known paddling town of Tena, Ecuador.

Cancer Sucks!!!

So as many of may already know I recently had to say farewell to "Righty" because of a conflict of interest. Namely, he decided he wanted try living with testicular cancer and I disagreed. So the doctor performed an unilateral orchiectomy, removing my right testicle. We are still waiting on the results of the biopsy and blood-work, but as long as the tumor has not metastasized, that should be the end of it.

Now I have a 3 inch wound on my right pelvic region. Which, in the grand scheme of things, is not that big of deal, but it does mean that I am and will be bound to limited physical activity for a while. No lifting, no Paddling, no P90X, and no romance...at least not of the pnysical variety.

I want to assure everyone, however, that as soon as I am ready, I will be back at it harder than ever. I have many great things planned for this year, including an expedition in Ecuador that will, if all goes according to plan, take place in January/February. I am also going to get in touch with the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation to see what I can do to help raise awareness in and around the paddling community.

Bottom line, check your nuts boys, not everyday because you'll never feel a change, but every month or so. Tell your friends to do the same and maybe, just maybe, you can catch it early like I did, saving you and your family a lot of heartache.

Keep your paddle wet and your balls cancer free.

Jake

http://testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/

Wisconsin Windy Weather

Great Lakes Surfing on Lake Michigan. Record storms brought big waves to the Western Shore. 60 mph gusts and 10-15ft waves provided the rare opportunity to catch huge air along the shores of Sheboygan, WI.

Reminiscing of the fall

Here is a video of some friends (Robert Bone and Sam Ravenna) at Pillow Rock on the Gauley River. It made me laugh watching Sam's ridiculous flying squirrel attempt after Bone's flawless backflip

Always be learning...

As I approach the paddling void that awaits me and visit to Wisconsin for the holiday season I find myself frantic for ways to be continually improving my boating. Just tonight I realized that I don't need to be on the water to expand my whitewater knowledge. Accordingly, I will be beginning a series of entries involving whitewater academia. I will explore the vast resources of book, video, and internet and report back to you on my earnings. Searching "whitewater instruction" on vimeo.com provides some excellent short videos that are sure to provide wisdom or knowledge for any better, regardless of ability. Check em out when you get a chance.

Back in the Southeast

Hey Y'all! I haven't checked in for a while as things have been rather calm since I returned from Colorado. I've been training on the wave at NOC and will be heading to the waves at Rock Island tomorrow. After that I head up north for...that's right...you guessed it, more paddling. Check out the media packet I just finished editing. Hopefully I can get some more video for you folks while I'm at Rock Island.

US Team Trials and Teva Mountain Games

Wow! the last few weeks have been amazing; playing at the Glenwood wave, throwing big loops at the Gore Creek hole at Teva, and recently running Barrel Springs with Pat Keller, Jake Greenbaum, Adriene Levknecht, Bryan Kirk, and Kelsey Thompson. Talk about an adrenaline rush (not a young guns reference). In addition, the new Jackson All-Star was released and made its debut appearance at the Mountain Games.

I placed 2nd at Team Trials earning a spot on the US Team. My buddy and fellow H2O nation member, Chris Wing, of H2O Dreams hosted the live webcast for World Kayak www.worldkayak.com. check out the archived video.






Chris and I also hosted the live feed for the Teva Mountain Games



If you want to check out some of my photos from the events go to www.worldkayakblogs.com/throwdown



Me and Anne (my sister and traveling buddy...and I guess you could say manager too) are back in Glenwood now trying to make the most of the wave before it drops out. We will be headed to Lyons for the Lyons Outdoor Games next this weekend so look out for the live coverage hosted by Chris and I once again at World Kayak.


Later guys,
Jake