Best Ride Freestyle
Stage 3
NeverinthehistoryofUnleashedhavestagesbeenheldonbacktobackdays,butin
2019 therivergodsoftheRougedemandedotherwise.Buildingoffprimeraceflows
fortheBoaterX,competitorshadtoquicklyshiftgearsandtransitionintoStage3 the
followingafternoon.Windyyetbright,a second,beautifulsunnydaygracedthebanks
oftheRougeRiver.Withfourseparateheats,riderswereabletogaugethecompetition
andcheereachotheronasathleteafterathletedroppedin fortheirrides.In Stage1, the
focuswasonthrowingthreemassivetricksoveranentiresession.InStage3,athletes
wouldneedto performtheirbestsingleridespossible,combiningtechnicalskillandstyle
towin.Theuniquescoringformatrewardstricksbygivinga basescoreandencourages
stylebyaddinga steezescoreof1-10toeachtrick.Finally,theflowmultiplierof1.0-1.9
rewardsfulluseofthewave.5 rides.1 minuteperride.Best2 ridescombinedcount. 3
judges:1 judgefortricks,1 judgeforsteezeandstyle,1 judgeforflow.WhiteDogproved
theperfectvenuetoshowcaseindividualstyleandsteeze.It wasbigenoughtothrow
everywavetrickandmostcombinations,butsmoothenoughtoallowathletestostayin
controlandfocusonstringinga ridetogether.“I believetheoverallgoalofUnleashedis
tocrownthebestall-aroundkayakerintheworld,andthiswavewiththisformatwasa
perfectaddition.It highlightsdifferentstrengthsthanthemorerowdyStakeoutwaves,”
opinedcompetitorNatalieAnderson."It'scool,thereareonlyreallygoodkayakershere.
Everyoneis learningsomethingandpushingeachother,"enthusedfreestyle-newbieAndi
Brunnerashewatchedintently,tryingtofigureoutwhichtricktolearnnext.Withthree
successfuleventsunfoldinginjustfourdays,it wastime for two much-appreciated rest
daysbeforecontinuing North towards Quebec City.Results-
1 st: Dane Jackson, 2 nd: Bren Orton, 3 rd: Kalob Grady, 4 th: Tom Dolle, 5 th: Luke PomeroyAll smiles on the shores of the Rouge for the best ride freestyle.
OttawaRiverlocaland
OrganizerKalobGrady
showsoffskillsandpicks
uppointswitha Clean
Blunt on White Dog Wave.