A short and epic memory on the Ottawa

Last afternoon a storm hit our group while surfing Babyface, and it was surreal. I remember watching the clouds beginning to roll in, giant streaks of rain stringing out in the distance. Then, downpour carpeting Keenerville's eddy and the group watching in amazement. And finally: being, feeling, experiencing the storm itself. Surfing through walls of water and paddling through seas of bouncing glass beads. This scene was both exhilarating and serene. It excited everyone's sense of adventure - the need that continuously overrides our fear - and brings us back to Keeners year after year.

David Koyrakh, Week 1

Breathless on the Ottawa - Brooks Botta

Is it the amazing whirlpools sending a person so far underwater their ears pop? The amazing waves and kayakers? The beautiful views and gorgeous sunrises? Something about the Ottawa River just leaves me breathless! Every day, I have the opportunity to kayak some of the biggest, most pristine whitewater in the world as part of the keener program.

With about a year of kayaking experience under my belt, my friend Kyle Neese and I gained the opportunity to be part of this excellent experience. It's absolutely insane to think that less than a year ago, I frequented class two and three whitewater. Now with the help of excellent coaches, I am learning new moves, and refining my paddling each day! Some of the moves I hope to work on are my kick flips, blunts, and airscrews. The river provides a unique local to practice moves that are difficult to attain on my home rivers of Alabama.

I am so excited to see what new moves I will be learning over the next two weeks, but also see how I will be shaped as person.

Brooks Botta

Freestyle Friday Sick Day ! (Léa)

   Hi there, it's Léa,
all goes very well so far. Yesterday was competition Friday. It took place first of all in corner-wave, located in McCoys, then in Blacks, on the bottom section of the river. I didn't managed to throw amazing tricks during my runs, but enough to finish at the 4th position on the overall result, and 1st in woman category. I took a lot of pleasure during theses runs, and I really feel an improvement compared to last week.

   After the usual Friday Pizza Party I went to McCoys for an evening session. Surfing corner-wave under the sunset is magical,  and even more when it's in company with super cool paddlers. Everybody seemed to took great delight in paddling there.
   So stoked for the week end, I'm gonna try to run McCoys in topo duo -with my sister- and probably surf some waves. Which might involve getting beat down, but not alone !