Hometown Throwdown #3 Saturday August 20 @ Rockport!

[Jeremy M]

Alrighty guys and gals. NOC hosted over 80 participants in their recent throwdown. I think that we can beat it! There is no water anywhere around, except for rockport! Lets see if we can get at least 80 people to participate in the Throwdown!

Post it to your FB accounts or whatever it takes to get the word out about this event. We've got 2 events left to break the current record set by NOC for attendance to a Hometown Throwdown event.

If you've been to one, you know how much fun it is and if you've not attended, you don't know what you're missing. Come on out on Saturday in droves to participate!

Demos, prizes, music, prizes, kayaking, prizes, free stuff, rodeo, free stuff!!!

Did I mention free prizes?

[maggiepowell]

I take it you will update time when you know the release schedule??? :)

[Jeremy M]

We have our chance. I've just been informed by Ted to plan on a 6 hour release for Hometown Throwdown starting at noon. Meaning that the Throwdown will start at 3:00 p.m. and run until we finish up.

This is the only water happening for a huge radius. Come on Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Western Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas...Hometown Throwdown #3!!!

Lets shoot for 100 participants!!!

[Tmuse]

Can i throwdown in the demo varun?

[Jeremy M]

Yes Sir! You know that boat is for sale too!

[Tmuse]

I saw that! Just short of cheese! Thanks for letting me use the varun, I will represent!

[Renee H]

Added this to Memphis Whitewater - maybe we can rally some of those folks to come over

[JTarver]

This is gonna be a great event. I proposed something new to Jeremy for this one, and he agreed it would be fun! Trust me, you will want to get in on it.

Joe

[Jeremy M]

If you're just now tuning in....Don't forget that HOMETOWN THROWDOWN #3 is this afternoon. Saturday August 20th at 3:00 p.m.

Be there or be square!

Tons of great free stuff up for grabs along with a lot of fun with fellow paddlers!

[maggiepowell]

The Throwdown was AWESOME! Thanks, Jeremy, for putting it together to allow us to all come out to play and have fun. It was great!

Maggie

[Cowper]

Warning: I’m about to get all sappy on you!

Jeremy, I can’t thank you enough for the energy and effort you put into this event. For me, the moment when I realized how important it was came shortly after the event, as I was slowly being pulled by the eddy towards my turn to surf the wave. The eddy ahead was full of kids, one or two in kayaks, several on boogey boards. Along the sidewalk, and just above the ledge, several more were scrambling for a turn to swim through the rapid. All were smiling, all were having a great time. And I realized there will be another generation of people who love the rivers and love the outdoors.

This is what Rockport and events like this give us; an environment where old and young can play together; where kids don’t need $1000 of specialized gear to enjoy the day without freezing to death, where they can play and enjoy with others of their own age, but with parents and other adults close by to assist if there is any trouble. Where parents can introduce their kids to the sport they love, but in little doses so that if the kid gets scared, you can have them on the bank and feeling safe again in a minute, vs. having to tell a young mind to “suck it up” and run another 5 miles of river. (Sometimes adults need to hear that message, but it is generally not the best way to get a kid, especially a really young one, to love the river.) Where kids can play the way I used to play; without the aid of a gameboy or electronic controller. Where love of the environment gets inside of you and becomes part of who you are.

And I saw adults who were benefiting too. I saw people who not-all-that-long-ago didn’t want to try an aggressive ferry, suddenly taking a deep breath and paddling into a wave that was certain to flip them, and I saw how they have improved by using this event and the others like it as a personal motivator. I saw people who have gone after each other on our message board having friendly, respectful conversations with each other on the bank and in the eddies. I saw boaters leaving their turn in the throwdown to assist someone who had flipped; I saw some of our young kids helping strangers who had decided to portage get their gear transferred up onto the bank. I saw boaters carefully watching non-boaters who flipped at the ledge, and if there was a hint of trouble, I saw at least one or two going to assist almost every time. These things are important, because it speaks to who we are as a group, and it is the kind of behavior that will help determine our long-term relationship with the other river users.

Yes, Jeremy, Thanks!

[okieboater]

Well said Cowper. Well done Jeremy!

[Tmuse]

Well said Cowper!

[Edgar]

You know Cowper that is a pretty good sermon! Amen!

[kayakdoc]

I too, fully agree Cowper! Jeremy is a great steward to the encouragement of enjoyment of the water for the whole family. If only we had waves as big as the smiles on the faces yesterday, we would be blessed! Thank you so much to Jeremy and Team OOO for you all you do! Jeremy's gift of gab definitely adds a great twist to the event as well. He has a way of making even the biggest flailing sound like a well executed finessed ride. It's great to see our future boaters get exposed to a healthy ahletic sport with friends that last a lifetime!