Budweiser Hires Eric Jackson as Spokesman

Budweiser American Ale signed Olympian and four-time world freestyle kayaking champion Eric Jackson as an ambassador for the brand. Jackson also founded and owns Jackson Kayak.

Beginning in 2010, Jackson will be featured in Budweiser American Ale print and point-of-sale marketing, and the brand will have a presence at professional kayaking events throughout the year. Budweiser American Ale also will work with Jackson to host private training sessions, offering both experienced and novice kayakers once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to learn from the most successful competitive kayaker in history.

“Kayakers and Budweiser American Ale fans share a lot in common; they dare to venture off the beaten path, savor novel experiences and knew they were on to something special the first time they tried it,” said Marianne Radley, Budweiser American Ale Brand Manager. “Eric Jackson is a pioneer and innovator in kayaking, moving the sport in new directions during his 20-plus year career. His unmatched success and dedication has redefined kayaking, making him an ideal fit for Budweiser American Ale, a beer that redefined the American-style ale.”

World Record Tandem Kayak Drop

Wend is a magazine/forum for real people, writing real stories about real adventures and real environmental issues. As an independent media group, active in both environmental activism and the outdoors, they realize that part of going off the beaten path means making sure the path doesn’t get beaten.  Learn more about Wend>>>

Wend recently published this awesome video of kayakers Anton Immler and Steve Fisher making a 70 foot drop in a tandem kayak.

Enjoy!

Great News for Roanoke River & Greenways

The low-water bridge across the Roanoke River in Wasena Park will soon be replaced – and this is great news for canoeists and kayakers who like to float the river.  Low-water bridges and dams pose great hazards to paddlers. At higher water levels the nature of their design creates a dangerous back-flow of water, known as a hydraulic, that can trap a person or boat (two people recently died on low-water dams in Franklin County).

As it is now, boaters must get out of their boats and portage around the low-water bridge at Wasena Park – but come next spring this will all change. Don’t get me wrong, dams and low-water bridges have their purpose, but some have outlived their usefulness and options that also accommodate recreation should be explored.

A dam on Virginia’s Rappahannock River was removed in 2004, creating a half mile of rapids on the Rappahannock River that weren’t previously there, and thus a new outdoor recreation industry. The New York Times recently wrote an article that highlights this and more. Sometimes we forget how fortunate we are to have the Roanoke River running right through Roanoke and this is a great step toward opening it up even more!

Continue reading below for the Star City Harbinger’s detailed report on the bridge replacement at Wasena Park.

Bridge at normal water level (courtesy Roanoke Times)

Bridge during flood - hyrdolics created are very dangerous (courtesy Wiretap Studios)

“A development that City of Roanoke Engineer Phil Schirmer says will be a “boon to Roanoke’s outdoor-based economy,” the low-water bridge separating Wasena and Smith Parks will be replaced with a new pre-cast concrete bridge with 3 wide and tall openings to permit kayak/canoe passage and allow fish to migrate upstream.

Win a Canoe Trip and a LaFuma Backpack

Between now and the September 30 Get Outside Expo & Radical Reels Film Festival I will showcase some of the outdoor organizations you can meet at the expo as well as the prizes they have donated. To be eligible for the prizes you need to have completed the survey located on RoanokeOutside.com.

Tickets are on sale now: tickets are limited and 100% of ticket price goes to benefit Mill Mountain Theatre!

Riders Up Outfitters has kindly donated 2 canoe rentals/shuttle as well as a Lafuma Backpack!

Riders Up Outfitters, owned by Tom & Dawn Kirlin, is located in Clifton Forge and provides the following services:

• Canoe & Kayak rental on the James, Jackson, and Cowpasture Rivers
• Guided Fly Fishing Trips on public and private water
• Outdoor Store that carries Heritage Kayaks, canoe/kayak accessories, Life is Good products, Columbia clothing, Planet Dog, Buddy Biscuits, equestrian goods, fishing equipment, and more!

Labor Day Weekend is a great time to experience the James River! Call Riders Up (540.862.7999) and ask them for some trip suggestions!

Outdoor Businesses Paddling Toward Prosperity

The Roanoke Times wrote a great article highlighting the economic importance of the outdoors and profiles the James River (see below).  The James River is an incredibly beautiful river that everyone should experience!

Photos by JOHN W. ADKISSON I The Roanoke Times

Outfitters Serving the James River

• Riders Up Outfitters
• Twin River Outfitters
• H & H Outdoors
• Wilderness Adventure
• Wilderness Canoe Campground
  

Story by Duncan Adams – “The Upper James River floats lots of people’s boats these days.

Frequently, from Iron Gate to Arcadia, the river runs red with kayaks and green with canoes and a varied palette of other floating hues along a 45-mile stretch of the river in Botetourt County.

Kibler Valley River Run – Boaters Unite! July 25th

Is this Scott?

This posting is courtesy of Franklin County’s very own Scott Martin!

No dog in this hunt, but this is a really, really neat event (Saturday July 25) that I strongly recommend to area paddlers.

The race is a uniquely southern event as you will see everything from canoes to tubes.  Super clean, and somewhat cool, dam released water.

Why Do You _______? (fill in the blank)

Lately I’ve been visiting popular outdoor venues (Carvins Cove, the greenways, Poverty Creek, etc.) in an effort to talk to people about what they like about our region’s outdoors, what they don’t like, what they’d like to see improve, etc. That reminds me-if you haven’t taken the survey on RoanokeOutside.com please do. But, I digress – I’ve also been asking people what outdoor sports they like to do and why. This got me thinking that I’d like to start a “Why do you? section on this blog and when the final version of RoanokeOutside.com goes live I’ll transfer the content to it as well.

Example: “Why do you Mountain Bike”

Any person that submits a “Why do you _____?” will receive a free water bottle. If you include a video testimonial – you’re awesome and I’ll find you another freebie. Contest ends July 18.

• email your “Why do you ________? to pete (at) roanoke.org
• keep it clean, fresh, and entertaining
• include a photo of yourself (preferably doing the activity you are talking about)
• if you do a video – upload it to Youtube or Vimeo and send me the link
• include your mailing address

GET OUTSIDE!

-Pete

Last Chance to Register For a Package Full of Awesomeness

The deadline to register for the Boating in Botetourt giveaway is July 15.

This is an awesome package! I can say this with confidence as I know just about everyone/everything involved. The Upper James River is one of the most scenic floats in all of Virginia. Even if you don’t win you need to go float this river!

• Visit the Blue Ridge Outdoors site to enter!
• I’ve paddle a Liquid Logic Tryon and they are awesome – strong, comfortable, handle well, etc.
• Mark Futrell at Outdoor Trails is even more awesome than the Liquid Logic Kayak. If you’ve never been to his store you need to
• The Mays brothers with Twin River Outfitters put together some of the most awesome river trips I’ve seen
• I haven’t been to the Fincastle Vineyard Bed and Breakfast but I know the area and it’s awesome…and my parents own an awesome B&B
• A driving tour of the Botetourt Wine Trail! – I can only guess that this means a designated driver – which is awesome – as the  3 wineries are situated in some of the most picturesque settings and produce some great vino

Just some cool winter videos

Not sure why I am getting winter sports videos all of sudden…but I do like them.