TUCKFEST 2016
Gearing up for Tuckfest brought a huge smile to my face. I remember last year’s event and how challenging yet rewarding 3 days of fierce training on an Olympic world class facility had been.
I learned more in those three days than in a whole year of whitewater SUPing. The swirly eddies and fast moving water really helped push my skills to the next level! I was so excited to race down the wilderness channel with my Pau Hana Big EZ, that punched through everything.
Arriving Friday, it was awesome to see all my whitewater SUP friends packing it in from all over the country. It’s such a cool lifestyle traveling to these events, everyone’s camping in their vans or their sweet RV’s, with the coolest toys and drinking good beer. The first day was awesome the event took place at 6 pm one lap on the wilderness channel. Saturday was the toughest day with a flat water race in the morning and a half dozen endurance race on the wilderness channel.
The endurance race was tough but after the first few laps through the rapids you could really start to nail your line!
My board was awesome, and I came in 2nd in the endurance which was probably one of the hardest races of my life. After the race everyone cruised around on their Onewheels and grabbed some cool swag from vendors, ate some awesome tacos, and enjoyed some coconut stout beers and listened to some great live music!
Sunday was a day to train and play. After two days I was feeling a little beat up but got in the water anyways and couldn’t get out until they shut the water off. I had so much fun and a smile plastered on my face the entire weekend. I can’t wait to go back, what an amazing event the USNWC puts on every year!
Photos courtesy of Deb Stipa
Christian Edie
Pau Hana Amabassdor, WNY Expeditioners
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AUTHOR BIO
CHRISTIAN EDIE
Christian is a professional stand-up paddleboard athlete that is a team rider for Pau Hana Surf Supply, Kialoa, and Kokatat. She specializes in stand-up whitewater paddling, expedition SUP, SUP Yoga, SUP Surfing and is also an accomplished rock climber and ice climber. She loves sharing her passion for the water with others and helping people connect with the outdoors.
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