Changing Seasions

Back in WI now... spending some time with the folks before setting off on my next adventure. It's amazing how fast the summer always seems to come and go. Looking back, i find myself getting lost in the wake of the all the good times spent in WV. Worked 67 days on the water this year between the New and Gualey river. I love my job! Thats been the greatest part of my summer, loving my job and all the people i work with. Class VI had a great video staff this year, full of personality. :)





Chillin with the Class VI crew out at long point.














Gauley Season Rocked!! We were lucky enough to have a really warm fall with great fall colors. I learned righty phonix monkies and took 6th in the Animal Race. I also got really good at getting juiced at the bottom of Wood's Farry. Gotta love a good mystery...

































Russel Fork...

Lance and I made it out for race weekend on the Russel. This was Lance's first time down and my first time seeing it at 1,000cfs. The race had a huge turnout of 52 competitors. Records were broken, swimmers were swimming, and respect was gained. I ended up with 23rd and a time of 11:30. I really liked the solo timed racing style compared to the Gauley's mass start. It becomes a personal battle with yourself, seeing just how hard you are willing to push yourself. One sec here, one sec there... I know where i lost time and i'm excited to push it harder next year.























Climbing...

This summer i became very involved with climbing. Wild Bill, Curt, and myself (both class VI videographers) spent many afternoons climbing till our fingers bleed or we til we couldn't see anymore. I'll never forget the first time climbing with Curt, we ended up climbing in the dark with our headlamps on. For me climbing has been another great way to stay in shape and push myself mentaly. Its amazing to see how far you are willing to push yourself mentally and physically before saying "let me down". There's nothing worse than being lowerd down after a vicious battle with the rock and losing... Then its back to square one and a rematch another day.

























All in all, it's been an awesome year in WV and i miss it already. But like the fall colors, its time to change and move into winter. For me this means heading south of the boarder, Mexico here i come.....

The Animal Race

The Animal race is nothing short of just that... an Animal race. If you want to win this one you better drop everything and just go.. never stop, not even to look back. The mass start reminded me of motocross racing, everyone charging forward for the hole shot. Tons of fun and great competition. I ended up with a time of 55:28 and 6th place in slalom.

One of the video boaters for Class VI (Sara Van Wesep) was filming when the racers came down. So i through a short video together with what she got. enjoy


Check it out here

Check out race results at... http://usawildwater.com/


Live from WV,

John McConville

Life in WV

Gauley Season is upon us!!! Oh yeah. :) After paddling around 75 miles of whitewater on the Gauley river these past 4 days its nice have a day off. The first weekend was awesome and week 2 of Gauley is 3 days away.

Looking back through some of the photos of the summer it reminds me of why i love living here. I'm thank full to be living here in WV with the New river Gorge outside my back door. World class boating, climbing, biking, scenery, and people is what make this place so beautiful. I love every bit of it...

The week before Gauley a tropical storm dumped water in North Carolina and brought the New up to 6 feet. This was a great change of pace from the low water Weeks before. Owen and I both were getting some big air at Ender Waves. Upper railroad and Greyhound were stomping at a good level too.


















Last week Monday i meet up with some really cool climbers from Kentucky. We hiked from Rodgers campground down to butchers buttress for 4 different climbs. I'm really starting to get into climbing, its another sport that's both mentally and physically demanding.



















Mill creek has been my favorite place to take photos. There was a really cool mist in the air the day this photo was taken.





































I find myself spending alot of time at the place i work. But with views like this from the overlook its hard not to love this place...



Live from WV,

John McConville

Midwest Freestyle Championships 2008

After a long 15 hr. drive back to WV I've had plenty of time to reflect upon this past weekend. What i came up with is... I LOVE paddling! Especially when I get to paddle with all my friends in one place at the same time. This past weekend was more of a family reunion than a competition. I'd like to make a shout out to Team PBR and everyone involved that made this weekend possible. Thanks for a great weekend. :)

My week started off with helping teach a freestyle kayak clinic with Colin Kemp. There's nothing more rewarding than helping someone progress there own skills and push the limits of what they though was possible. Seeing someone land there first loop and come up with the biggest smile on there face. Its what keeps me coming back again and again. We all know that feeling of accomplishing after doing something new, that wave of energy that surges through your body. All in all, i really enjoyed helping teach this kayak clinic and watching all the progression that happened over the weekend.



















Coming back to this event has been something I've been looking forward to since last year. Last year i placed 3rd with like 140 points, and the year before i scored 3 point. Year after year I've progressed my own skills and have pushed my own limits of what i thought was possible. This year the progression continued which lead to my first freestyle comp win and a score of 185 points. After 2 years of paddling and countless hours spent on the water I'm proud to take the name of Midwest freestyle champion. Whats next?.?.? maybe the world freestyle championships, EJ better watch out. lol making finals at the worlds has been a goal of mine since I've started kayaking. I know if i want to make this a reality that I have alot more countless hours of paddling and pushing myself even harder to get to that level. I think I'll take lots of small steps to bring myself to the top of the staircase instead of running to the top and talking the risk of falling back down. Anything is possible if the right steeps are taken.

In the end, the Midwest Freestyle Comp was once again a weekend to remember. Everything from the freestyle clinic, to Team PBR, 4 square, the night of the living donkey, and even having Pearl there to watch Jim Jensin take 2nd place. Everything that happened and the people that made it happen, thanks for a great weekend to remember. Speaking of the people that made it happen... thanks Cole Jacobsen, Chad Kehn, Colin Kemp, David Lemke, and Julie Walraven for making this weekend happen.

































Live From WV,

John McConville

A New River Adventure 2008

I put together a new video/intro for my New River movies here at class 6. All the footage is from the New River. Justin Kleberg (a new video boater to class 6) and I worked on the first 2 shots together, tons of fun and totally worth the time and effort.


Check it out here



Live from WV,

John McConville

Back in WV

Wet and Wild WV, its good to be back... I've been kayaking just about every day of the week since I've been back. Working 5 to 6 days a week on the water and boating when i have off its hard to find time for my hammock. I love being able to paddle every day of the week. I've also been shooting lots of photos with my free time.




















Last week the rain gods graced us with enough water to bring Mill Creek in. Mill creek is one of my favorite WV runs, its like the classic intro to creekin WV style with a sweet 20 footer on it. The rain also borough up the Gauley to about 7,ooo cfs. A few of us got to enjoy some good water on there too. OOOHHH YEEAAAHHHH!!!!






Sam England and I running the falls







Here's the falls at low water.





Headless Horseman is the next big drop right after the falls.



A few of us have been heading down to Canyon Doors at around 1,000cfs after work.






Looking down at double Z in the hart of the New River gorge from beautie mtn.













Its good to be back in beautiful wet and wild WV. I love every day of my life here, everything from the work to the mountains. I can't get enough of it and i never want to leave.

live from WV,
John McConville

North Shore Paddling Part 1

Once again I’ve fallen in love with a place where the whitewater is amazing and the locals talk a bit funny. That’s right, up dar in da North woods... For a few weeks every year these cold woods become home to some of the most amazing people/paddlers in the country. The snow starts to melt, rivers start to flood, and boaters start driving.

When a group of people like this join together something amazing happens. Something that can only be explained by taking that first step and going there and experiencing the journey yourself. That’s what it’s all about... "The journey" Meeting new people with the same interest and working together to enjoy what matters most. Living in the moment, enjoying life to the fullest, and don't forget, firing up that 30 footer downstream!!! Oh yeah :)



There’s nothing better after a long day of paddling than hanging out with all your friends at Paradise Beach and talking about all the thrills and spills of the day. My favorite part of hanging out on the shore was getting to sleep on the beach at night and watch the sun come up in the morning. Good stuff






This is a very common site to see on your way up the North Shore. There’s one road that goes up the entire shore line on up to Canada. This photo of the Beaver was taken from the road on my way up the first day.






Day 1 on the water... The Manitou

Chad, Tony, and I all put on at a really high level for a warm up run and find this monster to be our first rapid/waterfall. I don't think this has ever been run before and none of us did it but there is definitely a line there.

















Day 2 Encampment

The encampment is placed back in one of the few areas left of untouched forest on the North Shore. It’s also extremely private with no good way to take out. The river starts off pretty strait forward and then drops off a sweet 30 footer with a wild lead in.





Here is Ben running the lead in rapid to the 30 footer


Perfect 30 foot waterfall that everyone ran. Check out Chad firing it up















Just downstream of the waterfall Ben runs Tonys touchdown. From here on down you have 2 quick portages and some super fun slides just before dumping into the lake.

















Due to the privet property issues we paddled about 2 miles north on Lake Superior to the Crow River for a short hike to the car.



Day 3 Split Rock and Lester

The Split Rock River is one of the best rivers I’ve ever done. If you like big slides than this is the place for you. I don't think this river could ever be paddled to high; more water makes for fast sliding adrenalin pumping fun.





Check out Ryan running the last big one called Under the log.






Here I am running down the last part of Under the Log.


Slide after slide, the Split Rock is awesome.... After all that fast sliding fun we packed it up and headed south to Duluth for a quick bomb run on the Lester. That night we stayed at a hotel, got hot food and showers, and a bed to sleep in... A great thing to have before heading farther north the next day....

Check out part 2 soon

Live from WI
John McConville