Is it possible that 60,000 people would go to an outdoor festival with Kayaking, SUP, rock climbing, running, biking?     If you want to see that in action, the Dominion River Rock Festival in Richmond is the place to go to be a believer!    Friday night through Sunday Afternoon was chalk full of fun stuff for everyone [...]

So- Finals are over- some awesome stuff here folks!! 1. 12 year old Sage Donnelly got 1st place!!!  400 point ride and her 300 point 1st ride would have won also! 2. Jessica Yurtinus- her final ride was awesome, moving her from 5th to 2nd!!  280 and some big air. 3. Courtney Kerin had consistent [...]

Today is Freestyle Day for the Reno River Festival.    The Entire event happens today!  Women cut to top 5 and men cut to top 10 in Prelims.  THe event started with a competitors meeting while there was Yoga going on on the grassy lawn of the amphitheater.    It transitioned into rock bands, beer, and 15,000 [...]

What a great time to be a whitewater kayaker!! Spring is here and the water is running in most of the Northern Hemisphere.    Generally speaking this is a great water year for whitewater kayakers!   The Sierra’s are in a low water year, but the Rockies are doing well and the East Coast is going off! Jackson [...]

“You need to have a ticket to this party, and they are sold out.”   1984- Doug Gordon at the USA Team Trials for slalom when I asked him what my chances of making the team were.    I realized at that event, my first USA Team Trials, placing 16 th, that making the USA Team in the men’s [...]

Freestyle Team Trials begin tomorrow at NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) Watch Team Jackson Kayak in action with some of the top paddlers in the world competing for a chance to represent the USA in the 2013 World Freestyle Kayak Championships right here at NOC in September.    This will be the first time in 20 years [...]

Family Day on the Nantahala River in North Carolina… It is still winter in Ontario, with snow on the ground and ice on the river.    That is where the Troutman’s come from.    Rick, Paula (Nick’s parents), and Matt (his brother) drove down to visit Nick, Emily, Kristine, Dane, KC, and I at NOC.    It is Spring [...]

I never thought I would be writing this.    What is it about the 50 year mark in a person’s life, or is it that I am about to be a grandfather?   I always thought of myself as a young person, but your impression of yourself can change overnight.    A creek in the back, stiff legs, [...]

I didn’t realize how much of a difference the Karma was going to make in my river running and creek-boating experience.     Paddling this boat has been such a joy.    I am affectionately calling it the “Good Karma” now, as it feels just like that.    Things seem to come easier, troubles seems to disappear, [...]

Out of Africa-2013 Being an athlete and professional kayaker, for almost 30 years- full time since 1984 has its chapters, successes, failures, and makes for a good story;  for as long as I truly am in the arena, trying my hardest to be the best.    The moment I give up on that concept, I become a [...]

Life as a human being is and can be difficult for anyone.   Emotions and our desire for things greater than a comfortable survival with enough food, water, and warmth to get by make living up to our expectations mentally and physically difficult.   Our quest for love by others, acceptance through our acts and [...]

Want to see one of the most amazing families?  Check out the Kellogg Family- with 12 kids, living in an RV (here at Rock Island this winter!) and now on the Today Show…  30 minutes from when I am writing this- sorry for the short notice!!     Here is their team page for Team JK [...]

It is winter time in the Northern Hemisphere, but here in Veracruz we are so far south that winter is like a mild summer day in TN.   Highs in the 80’s, lows in the 60’s- a mix of sun and clouds most days.    However this is like a cloud forest area and the fog  comes [...]

It is the end of one year and the beginning of another.   This is the time most people look back on the year in retrospect and create or renew vows for the coming year.   In doing so, you get a better perspective on life, remembering so many of the little blessings that get [...]

There are moments in people’s lives where they look up from what they are doing, and recognize the achievements and talents of others due to some incredible feat, result, or action, or all of the above.    This is one of those moments for many people, including myself, my family, team JK, and our staff [...]