Sto. Domingo river!

It has been a long time since I saw some of the first photos of the Santo Domingo. Ben Stookesberry and Jesse Combs on their epic first descent of what is probably the steepest kayaking section of the world. There’s nothing similar to see the photos of a place than to experience it by yourself, so when I heard that River Roots (Rush & Rafa) where planning a mission down there I was really excited to go with them and be part of it. 

The crew posing with the Santo domingo valley behind! Such a wild and beautiful place! 

Van from hell cleaning day!

 We have done 3 rounds down the Sto. Domingo and they have been totally awesome. The put-in is under a bridge so you don’t even have to walk to get in, there’s a few class IV rapids before getting to the steep section starts. Then you got 2 options, you either run “Angel wings” or make a rappel down and start before the “Dome”. 



The problem with those drops is that they’re so close one from each other that In case of getting injured or getting ejected on the first one you will probably end up swimming the next rapid wich will be insane and would hurt a lot…

GoPro shot of the Dome

all stoked at the bottom!!

love that view!

After that the river follows with a 20 foot slide. Then you have the “Tobogan” wich is a super steep and fun 60 footer where you always get mad speed! 

 

having some fun in Disneyland!

the toboggan! photo by Gerd Serrasolses

 The final drop you can run it in 3 different places, straight and tight 40 footer on the right , or the main line in the middle wich has a really fun entrance into the drop, all of them are good to go but be aware of sticky holes at the bottom, might be a good place to hold on your paddle at high flows. After the last waterfall the river gets way bigger because of an affluent coming from the right. 

Mattie B the boss slaying shots with his Red cam !! a 40 thousand dollars camera can
you believe anything can be so expensive???

photo by Gerd Serrasolses

All that section goes through a really tall gorge with lots of high volume quality rapids. Make sure to stop and scout “ Big Dawg” that one has a complicated entrance into a massive pillow, definitely a big ass rapid!

Gerd running "big dawg" photo by Adam Mills

After that there’s a few more quality rapids that we mostly sneaked on the right, except of Gerd and Evan who found their way through the big stuff! A few Km. later you will find your take-out on river left, road access so again no walking needed… Overall the Sto. Domingo Is one of my top 5 rivers in the world ! Such a beautiful and special place, awesome and scary rapids and a amazing crew made it one of the best experiences in my whole life. I am definitely coming back for the full descent someday!! 

happy brothers!

Rider of the year III awards video

The best of this past 2012 !! Amazing to see the progression of the last few years and stoked to be there charging with these great athletes!!! 2013 is going to be insane!!!!

Lo mejor de este pasado 2012!! Asombrosa la progresión durante los últimos anyos, feliz de tener la oportunidad de remar con algunos de los premiados!! 2013 va a ser una locura!!!

Rider of the Year III Awards Video [ presented by triberider.com ] from Tribe Rider on Vimeo.

Also really thankful to have won this 3 awards! Thanks all who voted and see you on the river!

Muy agradecido también de haber ganado 3 premios !! Gracias a todos los que votasteis!

Getting back on shape!!

I am slowly coming back to where I was before the injure. Occasionally we been having some water in Sort but not much and just for a few days. I've done more slalom in this last 2 weeks than in my whole life and I have to say it's really fun and difficult... so much to learn.

photo: Aixas

the crew in Galicia

going for a lower noguera descent with Aixas and Aran! good times

trying to run some stuff backwards!! pretty fun!

my dog has been one of the best friends on my recovery... always going for walks and stuff!

local kayaker Ian all frozen !! we been paddling with really cold temperatures some days.

fixing up broken paddles

Off to Mexico

my mum !! who has always been there helping me out !! LOVE YOU!! 

new and best mount I ever had!!! Gracias Mikel!!!

watching a kayak video on the plane !! nice!!

In Mexico (Tutxla) now waiting for the rest of the team to fly In and off to Chiapas we go!!! Really exciting days coming up!! more soon!

Back to Mexico!!

I've travelled to Mexico for 2 times in my life but never got to see the wonderful land of Chiapas. It's always been a dream of mine to paddle the Agua azul and the Sto. Domingo and I am overly excited to visit this place in only 4 days. We're going there with a small crew of professional paddlers / cameras so get ready for some amazing pictures + great video!!

Sto. Domingo is well known to rapids with most pendent ever to be ran.
photo: Mauricio Ramos

the Agua Azul... what a paradise!!! 

here's Rafa going down one of the many drops of the Sto. Domingo
photo: Mauricio Ramos

Portugal & Gali winter edit

Been wanting to go to Portugal the whole winter season with prime levels for entire months but no-one to go with I was going crazy!!! Finally some friends arrived from their winter trip to Chile and we were able to meet up and make a short trip there and get some paddling done!

Portugal & Galicia Winter Edit from SB Productions on Vimeo.

panadeiro slide providing!

My favorite river in Portugal, the Catro Laboreiro was at the low side and had a lot of mank between some of the rapids, but the main rapids where as cool and fun as always.

16 years old Ian running the third main rapid on the upper Castro

all stoked with the new RB helmets!

1st rapid after 6 months injured!! feels so good!

myself enjoying the best feeling in the world!!

Maxime on the last waterfall

myself on the second biggest drop of the run

it's all granite rock and pure fun rapids on the castro!

full happiness after running a few drops with 0 pain on the back!!

We decided to head north in the search of something more juicy to go run. Luckily for us we found this beautiful slide all good to go at the highest I've ever seen it. 

1st run of one of my favorite slides here in spain

Didn't run the entrance because I need to take it easy this first months and can't risk a swim or getting a bad hit.. but little young Ian was feeling fired up so he went for it. He missed his boof at the top and went all the way down upside-down... one of the craziest carnages I've ever seen... luckily he was wearing a full face and was all right just a little inflammation on the right hand + waterfall neck.. The boat got super stucked a few meters after the slide and couldn't get it back till next morning.

Ian giving it!

la cobra style!!

top view of the mess!!