Monday, February 07, 2011

An Anonymous letter...

Funny thing last night I read a very nice "anonymous later to the editor" about egcreekin in The Banks Mag. It said something along the lines of "the words I write on egcreekin are about as deep as the San Joaquin river when it reaches the ocean."

If you know what river that is, you know that it never reaches the ocean. Along with that he called kayakers out as the most egotistical and lame extreme sports athletes. Don't really care, but this guy sat down and spent some serious time on this article. I don't know what we did wrong? Maybe there's people out there that just think I'm a cocky ass hole, but it's not true.

I'm a kayaker...what does that mean? I spend most my time hiking around the woods in terrible smelling gear taking pictures of other stinky guys, to then put on the internet for people to see. Yes it's true! We live an extravagant lifestyle of sleeping in parking lots and eating ham and cheese sandwiches everyday. However, I would have it no other way.

I know what kayaking is about...I started this blog in 2006 when I was a junior in high school. I was just a kid who...looked up to my kayaking father and loved kayaking! I used to sit around and watch kayaking movies all day every day, dreaming about someday going to California or Chile to run a waterfall. I was just stoked to get out on the river and paddle. Ask me a question about an old Scott Lindgren movie I will answer, correctly. I was know as the kayaking nerd :)

What I'm trying to say is that like everybody else I just want to go boating. This website is meant to be a fun archive of the places I go and what I do, it became popular and really has boosted my career as a boater. In no way shape or form and I trying to come off as cocky with what I put up. I want to showcase the rivers we are paddling and promote myself as a kayaker...I know there is very little future in being a "Pro" kayaker, but for the time being, I'm young and I'm going to kayak.

I normally don't care about what people say, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I read the article and I felt like it was about me. No hate, just love, stop the crap talk and let's go boat.

Some parting shots
Ian Bonito!

Later E.G.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

EG,
Hang in there "young buck." The majority of us know what your saying, and enjoy the great pics, vids, and stories. The remaining are most likely just jealous, because they are sitting at a computer wondering why they couldn't have done what you are doing.
keep the blog alive! And kayak your ass off as long as you can!
Topher

Anonymous said...

Yes. Rest assured there are those of us out here who would back you up for what you do. You've got the social capital to cash in if you need folks who can slap back:-).

I'm a 40-year old, 21-year paddling, "ol fart" and I'm here checkin' on the young "whipper snappers".

The Canuck

Glenn said...

I'm guessing the article poster has never spent any 1 on 1 time with any kayaker ever.

Always happy to see updates here and it makes the time more bearable between river trips. Keep doing what you do, we love it!

WhitwaterPaddler said...

Dude! I dont know who this article writer is but he is full of crap. I have never met you personally but you look like a down to earth guy who likes to have fun boating. Ive started boating this July and alot of people think im f*cked up for going boating at the local playspot here and the local park n huck at least 2 times a week at -20 celsius here in Canada. Truth is..Ive been progressing like crazy on a wave and haters gonna hate. I spend every penny i have on my gear and gas. I end up drinking PBR and eating roasted baloney and potatoes in order to do what I love.Ive always been a bit jealous and wondered how you get to paddle these amazing places and and truth is I look up to you and all the Demshitz guys. Why the hate!? Some people need to relax, get out on the water and enjoy life.

Nuff said.

Anonymous said...

EG,
you are a cocky asshole, but we love you anyway.

Also, the word verification for this comment is "boofings".

Coincidence? I think not.
You're changing the world.

jasonbradley said...

Hey man, I don't know you, but love reading your blog and really love seeing the sick stuff you are running. I am a boater who has been off the river a few years because of a bad shoulder I need to get repaired - I feel like I'm living vicariously through you! Keep it up!
Jason

BDP said...

Fuck em bro it sounds like hes the cocky asshole with his life being the couch

nate

Anonymous said...

Hey Evan,
You are killing it out there. I am absolutely blown away by what the younger generation is doing and I definitely see you at the forefront. As far as ego goes, I know I have a big one and I really don't know anyone who runs hard class V and up who does not. False humility abounds, but truly small egos? Show me...
It appears to be a prerequisite for this type/level of activity. You simply need to have a rock-solid belief in the fact that you are the shit and are in control of whatever situation you are in. It is this belief, in conjunction with your experience, equipment and physical attributes that allow you (and your crew) to push the boundaries further and further from what was once believed possible. When you f*** up, it is this same "cocky" self-assuredness that helps you to escape the situation and live to paddle another day (knock on wood). You don't owe viewers any commentary at all, much less finally honed wordcraft or philosophical calisthenics. Just keep killing it and be sure to appreciate everything you got going on. And please... Keep sharing the amazing photos and footage. It is inspiring as hell.
Best,
Dave

PS- If EGCreekin desires editorial/ghost-writing services to pacify creek boatings' finicky and delicate upper crust, drop me an email. I am sure we can position you as the Creekin' Laureate of the whitewater world... Stay safe.

Anonymous said...

Hey Evan,
You are killing it out there. I am absolutely blown away by what the younger generation is doing and I definitely see you at the forefront. As far as ego goes, I know I have a big one and I really don't know anyone who runs hard class V and up who does not. False humility abounds, but truly small egos? Show me...
It appears to be a prerequisite for this type/level of activity. You simply need to have a rock-solid belief in the fact that you are the shit and are in control of whatever situation you are in. It is this belief, in conjunction with your experience, equipment and physical attributes that allow you (and your crew) to push the boundaries further and further from what was once believed possible. When you f*** up, it is this same "cocky" self-assuredness that helps you to escape the situation and live to paddle another day (knock on wood). You don't owe viewers any commentary at all, much less finally honed wordcraft or philosophical calisthenics. Just keep killing it and be sure to appreciate everything you got going on. And please... Keep sharing the amazing photos and footage. It is inspiring as hell.
Best,
Dave

PS- If EGCreekin desires editorial/ghost-writing services to pacify creek boatings' finicky and delicate upper crust, drop me an email. I am sure we can position you as the Creekin' Laureate of the whitewater world... Stay safe.

Taylor Cavin said...

Well, the article was called "We Came, We Saw, We Facebooked the Shit."

The comparison between this blog and the depth of the San Joaquin Delta had to do with your banner description about how, "the love of kayaking has overcome [your] desire to make money, go to school or do anything else but go boating."

This article at one point states that "no one cares that [someone] ran a 50 foot waterfall." Obviously at least some people care.

I think that the "thrust" of the argument was that facebooking the shit, more so than the bro-brown culture at large, is pornographic. The writer states that the blogosphere portrays the outermost aspects without conveying the deeper meaning. But then again, pornography is mad popular.

Anonymous said...

well evan i guess not all of us can be super studs and run the North Fork all day every day. because if theres one thing people want, its to see the same river over and over and over and over and over. so just accept your second place and keep doing what youre doing, because the world always needs a dope silver medalist who is super humble and friendly and has no desire to run afoul of anything or anyone, and just wants to run some sweet rivers and let his friends and fans know.

btw, i care if someone runs a 50 foot waterfall. sure, its not EVEN IN THE SAME BALLPARK of difficult as running the easiest NF rapid at low water, but i still think its rAdIcAl....

Anonymous said...

keep charging EG. Appreciate all the coverage and much respect.

Brock Gavery

WhitwaterPaddler said...

Honestly, The way I interpret his banner is pretty deep. Reminds me of that quote in Steve Fisher Blackbook " To be truly challenging this life that we live should be based on a firm foundation of financial unrest. People fling their lives beneath the wheels of routine in the pursuit of security. What will it be; Bancruptcy of pocket? Or bancruptcy of soul?"

Im 26 years old, I have student loans, truck payments, a stupid clerk job for the government full time where i dont see the sun shine the whole day. Basically, the life any regular joe wants to have. Truth is, it isnt me. Im terribly unhappy, and seeing Evans blog, updates from Chile, Rush sturges "Frontier" trailer, "Halo Effect" from Steve Fisher lets me forget about all this makes me work twice as hard so I can , soon hopefully, Forget about this stupid career, Go travel and paddle Changolion style for a few months, maybe a few years and find a career I really like.

Some other people Prefer staying home hating on people who have the balls to do it and write stupid articles about it.

Sincerely,

John

Bailey said...

EG I would love for you to write a response to the anonymous letter we published in issue 5 of the Banks Mag.

We get more shit talking hate mail than our spam mail can handle.It ranges from that was the worst magazine I have ever read to the North Fork isn't even class 5 to why do you have so many Erik Boomer photos in your mag. That letter struck a chord because it came unsolicited and the author definitely had a beef. We published it because anybody who actually paddles, knows whats up.

'No hate, just love, stop the crap talk and let's go boat.' Love it.

Peace bro
Bailey

Wayward said...

Keep doing what you're doing. Im a sophomore in high school, paddle as much as I can. First time kayaking I almost drowned (8th grade), refused to paddle ever again. Saw your blog and just thought why am I sitting around? Worked all summer and bought me a playboat and started hiking it a few miles to a river near my house. Would run it almost everyday. You got me into this sport, and I thank you. Now every weekend I get to travel all over the norhtwest and paddle all the sweet rivers around here. Now I bought a creekboat and have been working up the guts to drop something big. I dont have a penny to my name anymore, but I get to paddle.

nosralsk said...

man, fuck what that guy said. if he doesn't like it then he doesn't have to look at it. those of us who do are thankful for all that you are doing and enjoy vicariously living through your photos and stories. keep it up man, mad props!

David said...

Evan,
Keep doing what you're doing. We really appreciate the trip reports, pics, videos, etc you post on this blog.

Anonymous said...

I love your blog! I sit here on the flat South coast of the UK and wish I was doing what you're doing. Keep living the dream!

Anonymous said...

I think that your philosophy in life is as good as anyone else. Do whatever that will make you happy so that you can reflect back when your old you can tell everyone that you did everything and got everything you wanted in life.

Unknown said...

Hi Evan. My name is Ty Bequette and not only am I a writer for the Banks Mag, but I am also their online human relations blogoshphere coordinator. You may wonder how a small magazine like ours can afford to pay someone of my stature. Well, the answer is that they can't. No one at the Banks Mag gets paid, so you can pretty much make up whatever title you want. Anyway, thanks for reading our magazine. It's always nice to know semi-famous people like yourself actually read our magazine--even if that magazine might have a disparaging remark or two about you in it. I suppose that is the price one pays for celebrity.

I think Bailey offered it already, but if you would like to write a response I'm sure we would be happy to publish it. That is, if we can fit in between the articles about homeless people and hotdog cookers that plug into your car. We try not take ourselves, kayaking, or our magazine too seriously and we hope others don't either. After all, there are certainly more important things in the world than kayaking. On that I'm sure we all can agree.

Anonymous said...

chur EG! All the cunts out there that hate on this need their heads read, because there arent many people in the world that love a sport more then you and risk life and limb everyday just for the love of it and get paid bugger all! If it isnt very deep what your writing why do 1000s of people get home every day after work and read your blog and wish to be in the amazing places with a bunch of great friends! Any way your welcome in NZ any time you want and most people dont even know what a computer is we just love kayaking so peace out and c u in cali soon! Bradley

Anonymous said...

this post was superduper deep! banks mag is for nerds. more people read this than banks mag, which is funny. plus, your such a nice guy, i wish they new that!

GYGK said...
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GYGK said...
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New River Academy. Huge Experiences said...

Yo EG,
Sitting across from you at Latitude 39 discussing the Banks Mag post I showed you Super Bowl Night. More than anything it seems the anonymous author is actually a creative troll. Yea, that's right I think he actually sought a hot blog to attack and get his own blogging literary glory via a few extra reads based on EGcreeking creditability.
This thread of comments alone certainly illustrates that the public enjoy the off the cuff style of blogging you offer. So, first thank you for sharing your passion.
It is what it is... your passion and it takes time, energy and effort to capture it. As a 20-year lifestyle kayaker I would hope everyone would continue to encourage this style of promoting what we all cherish.
Keep Kayaking.
Johnny Kayaker

Team KayakPucon said...

For all the fuckers that want to know what sap in the kayak sport,
Evan is one of the best kayakers that I know and I love to paddle whit hem.
For us, kayak is all about dreams and passion and we never go to stop to follow that, just like my best dude Evan do.

Evan, Bro: you are a big inspiration for many kayakers, so continue looking forward and continue do what you most love to do ""RUN THE SHIT BRO"" and good friend...
I love you Bro.
Your Home in Chile.
kayakpucon.

Unknown said...

Yo EG love the rebuttal, trying to get you in the next issue so you can address "Anonymous" Lets get this rolling dude to set the record straight.

Jon Metz
Banks Mag

Alan said...

Evan, I'm 26, I've done several action sports over the years, and just this past winter, I took up kayaking. Kayaking is more than just a sport--you and all other true kayakers know this. We all read your blog because we all share your love of boating. Also, all of us who kayak internalize the deeper meanings and purpose for kayaking. Thus, we never expect you to write anything profound; all we come here for is to enjoy the content you share with us. Besides, who's to say that everything you do in life has to have a deeper meaning anyways?

I don't have to tell you not to listen to the guy because I know you know. People like that claim you are cocky because of media that show you being energetic and passionate, and confident about what you do (e.g. Slipper When Wet Trailer). I'm not a cocky person but honestly, you think I don't love throwing up the brown when I just conquered a drop? Sure I do! It's fun to be that way, you're not hurting anybody, and you're making the sport look fun and giving everybody something to share.

I appreciate what you do, and I know you aren't rich, I wouldn't care if you were rich either, the important thing is you share with us your exploits of kayaking which is giving us all the escape we need when we can't get out and paddle.

Hope to see you on the river one day man,

Peace,
Alan

Anonymous said...

Don't sweat people's talk dude, just cool off any heat in the water. You guys should get up to AK sometime soon if you wanna fire up some crazy un-runness with us!

Float on boat ridah,
Timmy J.

Tim Johnson
www.alaskawhitewater.org