Pat Keller
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Biographical:
165 lbs.
5' 10"
19 years
Asheville, NC |
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Do you prefer more or less rocker for a creeker? Why?
It depends - there's an even balance there that is reached with the Nomad (Dagger hit it on the head) where you don't want too little (you'll end up under water all the time) and you don't want too much on big waterfalls (cause your boat could come up too fast and break your nose/back).
What rescue equip. do you carry? Breakdown, pulley, rope, float bags, first aid, prussic?
Day trips I always carry two throw bags and a first aid kit (note: my Astral PFD has lots of features for on-water rescues)…on overnighters or multi-day trips I'll take along a bigger first aid kit, breakdown paddle and rescue gear like pulleys and more carabiners You always factor in the environment and what you might need that you can reasonably carry.
Would you consider wearing a fullface helmet?
Not for kayaking. I wear one for motocross, but found that on the water there is a higher risk for collarbone injuries with a full-face helmet and it limits your peripheral vision….not to mention how it reduces hearing! I use extreme elbow pads that come in handy…I'll take a stroke and then cover my face with them in dicey situations. Plus, I think full face helmets on the water looks goofy.
Bent Shaft or Straight, any reason why? Straight. I've broken too many bent shafts.
Do you spend a lot of time outfitting a new boat or just make it fit. I've got my system dialed. It takes me 10 minutes to outfit a new boat.
What s you favorite local hometown run? It's a toss up between the Toxaway and the Green Rivers
What are five cities in the U.S. that you would live in strictly for creeking purposes? 1) Asheville NC, 2) Hood River OR, 3) Auburn, CA, 4) Fayetville, WVa, 5) Crested Butte CO…. I would include Whistler, BC as #3, for the North American continent, but it is not the US.
Do you feel play boats have a place on creeks?
Example: Backyard type creeks. Only if the creek is easy and you are familiar with the run and comfortable with it and your boat. NOT on steepcreeks or anything steeper than the Green River (NC). I used to take playboats down there before there was a decent creek boat for smaller paddlers when I was younger…it was dicey.
Do you prefer boating with boaters you know best or have boated with predominantly? Of course! There is a trust and a comfort level with boaters you know best - you know what they are going to do and trust them to do it. New people make me a bit nervous - I feel responsible and watch out for them, so it isn't as much fun for me.
Do you take bigger risks with these boaters? Yep! I know they're watching my back.
Besides keeping their boat pointing downstream, what are the main differences between creekboaters and
other genres? Creekers are more into the adrenaline rush.
Is creekboating in its Golden Age or do you feel there will be lots more pioneered, greater levels, and lots more athletes to take this to the next level. It's hard to imagine the skill levels and the boat designs getting any better than they are now - but I could see more boaters reaching these levels. I'd like to think that this "golden age" will last a while.
Compared to the other forms of kayaking would you say that creeking is more team oriented? Oh yeah. "Cause if something happens it's all team that solves a problem - you can't do it alone. You are only as strong as the weakest member of the group.
How would you describe differences between East Coast and West Coast creeking (word or paragraph) Which
would you rather live in? East Coast is all about the technical moves and sticking lines right on. West Coast is cleaner and meaner, generally bigger…so it's more about hucking your meat. I am where I want to be, but love heading out West every summer for fun.
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East Coast rapid that makes you really nervous, what's the first one that pops in your head? Big Boy on Raven's Fork
West Coast rapid that makes you really nervous, what sthe first one that pops in your head? Scott Lindgren's Rapid on the North Fork of the American River
What are some of the closest calls that you ve had in your paddling career? I went into a nasty sieve on Mosley Creek (BC) in April 2005 and it was dicey. The rest of the team couldn't help me…I had to figure out how to save myself and my gear so I could continue down river. Another close call was when I tried to rescue my unconscious best friend on the Rutherford in 2003. I put myself in serious danger trying to get him out. I easily could have checked out as well.
Have you lost a close paddling partner to a whitewater accident? Yes. As I mentioned, on the Rutherford Creek in BC, I lost my favorite creeking partner and best friend Matt. He was one of the best creekers in the Southeast.
How would you say that it changed your scope on whitewater activities in general, creeking, development? It mellowed me out a lot. I get jumpy when I lose sight of any paddling buds… I became so much more cautious and aware of safety. You can never let your guard down, even when you are on top of the world. A lot of good people helped me through it afterwards, and that helped me get back into the game. I recently got my certification as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and that helps me to feel more prepared and ready for the unexpected.
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Considerations: Do you ever creek solo? Never. Even 2 people alone is a bad idea….I learned that on the Rutherford. At what height(waterfall) do you feel the freefall gets a little nutty and maybe less controlled? Over about 25 feet, mistakes with timing of final strokes at the lip are more costly…your angle is critical at the lip and late paddle strokes are essential to set your angle for your descent. |
| Development: Approx what year did you start creeking? When I was 12 years old… in 1998. What was the first kayak you ever owned? A Dagger Blast How did you get into kayaking? My parents were both whitewater boaters and raft guides in the Southeast. I took my first river trip in a canoe with my Dad on the Nantahala when I was three and my first solo kayak trip when I was seven. Did you have any heroes growwing up that you looked up to for their creeking/riverrunning abilities? My Dad (Jerry Keller, aka Lizard), Chris Spelius, Shane Benedict, Bob McDonough, Clay Wright and Tao Berman Who are some of your heroes in the creeking arena today? Arnd Schaeflin, Tommy Hilleke, John Grace, Steve Fischer and Tao Berman What are some things that may have drawn you towards creeking when you were in your developmental stages? The adrenalin rush was huge and the feel of free falling was more fun than just spinning around! Would you classify your development as attending the school of hard knocks or did you develop with patience waiting till you felt totally prepared mentally to run class V? Patience, definitely. My folks had me train in slalom for technique and strength before I was allowed to freestyle or creek. My Dad, Shane Benedict and Bill Edmunds (paddling coach) helped me hone my skills before I was allowed to move to harder spots. |
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What has helped you to progress safely to more difficult water? Motivation and the right instructors and mentors around me - plus playing with foamies (miniature cedar hand-hewn kayaks) for years to learn what water does to boats in all sorts of situations. You'd be amazed how much you can learn about reading water by playing with miniature boaters and moving rocks around on tiny creeks.
Do you currently have any sponsors? Yep. Teva, Dagger, Immersion Research, Astral, Werner, Snapdragon, Shredready, Oakley, Watershed, Red Bull and Honeystinger.
In what ways has being sponsored helped/hindered your continuous development as a creeker? My sponsors have helped me SO much. Replacing gear is a must when you abuse it as much as I do. Design teams have been awesome in listening and responding to my ideas - I get to paddle the kayaks and have the gear that I dream of. Some of my sponsors even help finance trips to far away places that allow me to do what I love all over the world. I can't thank them enough. My folks are especially appreciative… it has saved them a good bit over the years.
whitewater? Scouting is important, even if it just a "read and run" situation. I visualize myself running it before I do anything. If I have a doubt about making a line, I won't run it. If I am fully confident I will make the line - I'll run it. I trust my gut instincts.
What do you do while not boating to condition yourself to be able to perform at a high level: (strength training, stretching, yoga, etc.) I've been working with a trainer this past year, and it really has made a difference for me as a professional. I do strength training, aerobic training and try to keep a diet with good nutrition. I also cross-train with my dirt-bike and ride motocross. You'd be amazed how that helps to keep me in overall good condition (strength and endurance).
What keeps you excited about creeking or kayaking in general? The next drop - what's around the corner - the unknown. I just love being out there in my boat.
Would you please provide a useful tip for creekboaters? Boof late, and finish off every angled boof with a pry stroke. I see far too many people charge for a boof and they go off and stop paddling too early….losing control and blowing the move.
Any taboos you would like to mention to other creekboat hopefuls? Don't piss off the river gods. If you're on a river and you don't have the skills to make the move that is mandatory (eg. blowing a ferry that you have to make)…. You should not be there.
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Thanks for taking the time to answer everything Pat. sincerely |