Yesterday my roommate  Mike and I kayaked a few practice runs for the 2009 Northwest Creek Competition.  I almost decapitated him.  My Go Pro head cam was on and it captured every glorious second.

This year’s NWCC race will be held on the East Fork Lewis near Amboy, WA. The EFL is a great intermediate creek run.  It starts and ends with great waterfalls, Sunset and Horseshoe.  In between are several class 3 and 4 rapids, the most difficult lying in a small gorge.  Screaming Left and Dragon’s Back follow in quick succession and will be crux of the race.

I was following closely behind Mike as we approached Screaming Left.  We slowed, catching our breath and focusing above the drop.   Mike spun out just above and below, losing crucial speed.  I moved to pass him and promptly botched my line into Dragon’s Back, getting surfed at the bottom of the hole.  In the next instant Mike was charging down on me at full speed.  I basically clothes-lined him with my kayak.  Somehow he was unhurt.  I made a quick apology as we bombed down to the finish line.