Hunt Jennings' trains in Chile and enjoys a birthday party after a day of school and kayaking.

Hunt’s Shaky Start on the Wave and in AP Bio
Hughes recalls, “Hunt was always trying to hit his McNasty. We started having little McNasty competitions with him on the Ottawa. Neither of us were sticking them too consistently but we were improving. In AP Bio class he had the lowest score on our first exam, I thought he was in over his head for a tough university level course. Hunt remembered his deal with his father or that he needed to study more because for the rest of the year he was the highest scoring student in that bright class of five AP Bio students.”

Convincing Dad New River Academy could meet the families academic needs.
While Hunt was eager to travel to Chile and Uganda with textbooks and kayak his father needed some convincing. Hunt’s mother Kim was first more open to the idea and discussed the academic integrity of New River Academy. Kim began asking questions about advanced placement courses, instructors, and how easily transcripts transferred. Soon Kim was almost as excited as Hunt. Hunt knowing his father’s stance on academics made a proposal goal G.P.A. and earning college credit via the academy AP Biology course. Eventually the mother-son team convinced senior Hunter Jennings to give the school a try and fulfill Hunt’s dream.

Thousands of McNasty Attempts Pay-off at FiBARK, Gunnison, and USACK National Championships.

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” – Bruce Lee foreseeing Hunt’s McNasty dedication

The FiBark wave was a tough spot to stick loops or get a kayak vertical for typical wave moves like the “blunt.” Hunt went out every ride hitting low scoring wave moves that would not be enough to advance his rides. After scoring those moves the junior paddler would methodically setup his sharp “McNasty.” During the early rounds Hunt was flushing, but with a short coaching adjustment Hunt began trying the move a few feet left of a flush spot. As the weeks advanced Hunt began picking up other moves like the entry wingover.

Hughes states, “He kept getting more and more consistent. Hunt was sticking as many McNasty’s as Mattiou (the pro-champ). I watched Hunt’s mom and sister McKenzie, who’d drove from Chattanooga, perched on the nearest rock videoing every ride. They were so proud of big brother. Hunt’s the kind of guy that you love to give a hard time to cause he’s got such a great sense of humor and at the same time everyone loves to see him do well.”

Hunt advanced the field of 15 juniors in third place. He improved during the finals landing the high scoring move on 2 of 3 rides. As Hunt foundation move continued to be stuck he consistently continued his winning path earning gold at FiBark, silver at Gunnison, silver at USACK National Championships, and the bronze for the national point series.

Congratulations Hunt Jennings… we’re proud of you.

Other Recent New River Academy Accomplishments:

Courtney Kerin- Silver at USACK National Championships
Silver World Championships
Coach Stephen Wright- Bronze World Championships
Kalob Grady- 6th World Championships

Are you interested in applying to New River Academy? You can still apply. Call or email David Hughes to learn more or request a parent reference. Hugeh2o@yahoo.com or 304-640-1001

Check out our Easy to Apply page.

The mayor of Glenwood Springs commenced the 2009 US Team Trials by thanking each event committee member and praising the efforts of organizers who built the renowned wave. At high flows, the Glenwood Springs feature forms a giant wave that kayakers seek as a destination wave.

Alex Mohn coaches New River Academy student Tracy D'Arbeloff to first place on US Jr. Women Team.

This weekends water level also offered a remarkable feature for the event. Top athletes were able to stick pan ams, clean blunts, back pan ams, helixes, mcnasties, and flashbacks.

Stephen Wright stated of the juniors, “It was no surprise that the New River Academy juniors competed so well at trials. NRA has great students and they are well coached.”

Junior Men Semi-finals

It was the Dane Jackson and Jason Craig (New River Academy athlete) show during the semi-finals as the field try to make the cut from 10 to 5 athletes. Dane ended up winning the round, while both Dane and Jason had an awesome display of aerial acrobatics. Jason would stick his donkey flips, a clean blunt, and backstabs. New River Academy athlete Isaac Holden stepped up his competition efforts and claimed the third seat after semis. Isaac, a dark horse for one of three positions on the US team, hit air blunts, pan ams, and clean spins to rally his score. Michael Palmer, top contender and local favorite, missed his normal rides and was still good enough to make the cut to five.

NRA student Jason Craig rallies points with clean blunts and donkey flips.

Junior Men Finals

Athletes would be given three rides where the best ride counts to encourage high scoring exciting moves. Michael Palmer won the first round with an aerial display of donkey flips and pan ams that would be enough to secure a third place position on the prestigious US team. Next, Dane had a mediocre ride by typical Jackson standards, but this could be enough to even make the team. Jason Craig would have a complete flush on his first ride. A flush added pressure as one ride was now gone with only two rides left.

During the second round Dane would best Michael’s ride with his own display of helix and pan ams. Dane would hold the first position as Jason could not best his ride in this round. In the last and final round Dane, Michael, and Jason held their positions as Isaac Holden had one last shot to best Jason Craig’s rides. Isaac would have to step up his ride and hit a high scoring and riskier move to advance. Isaac gave it his best and went for the move that would ultimately place him in the top three.

After Isaac’s ride the announcer unofficially announced that the three junior men going to the World Championships would be Dane Jackson, Michael Palmer, and Jason Craig. Only Jason could change the positioning of the seats with his final ride. Jason’s ride began slow and methodically as he set each move air blunt, air blunt, round house, back stab, and then with less than fifteen seconds left Jason’s JK Star found its energy and a groove that would flow from move to move. Donkey flip left as the crowd began to roar, a spin and rise to the top of the pile for a donkey flip right, the crowd cheered, and with seconds winding down Jason sticks a helix at the buzzer. Jason Craig would claim the first seat on the US Team in dramatic and heroic form.

Junior Women Semi-finals

Six junior women entered the US Team Trials. The Junior Women format would have a cut from 6 to 3 in the first round of competition. Note, that only two junior women would make the US Team. Thus, the first cut was the most important and stressful cut for the women.

Emery Tillman is excited after posting a winning ride and making the US Team.

New River Academy with four of the six junior women in the field would coach the girls to finish and stick moves for full scoring benefits, and to lastly go for high scoring moves at the end of rides.

Emery Tillman (New River Academy) would advance on consistent spins in each direction. Tracy D’Arbeloff (New River Academy) and Hannah Kertesz would tie for first and these three would be the advancing three to finals.

During finals Emery and Tracy would step up their rides. Tillman executed spins each direction and went for clean spins at the end of her ride. Each ride was consistent and certainly placed pressure on the field as she posted a solid 25 points to set the mark as the score to make the US Team. Hannah could not produce her normal round houses and had two misfortunate flushes as she won the bronze.

Tracy D’Arbeloff would earn the US Team Trials Junior Women Champion title via a well choreographed ride and consistency. Tracy would hit a spin each direction and shuvit each direction to separate her score from the field.

Congratulations to all juniors and the New River Academy team Jason Craig, Tracy D’Arbeloff, and Emery Tillman as they won gold, gold, and silver.

Other New River Academy juniors who competed and their places:

Palmer Miller- 4th
Taylor Cote- 6th
Isaac Holden- 5th
Stephen Forster- 6th
Jackson Conn- 7th
Pro Men
Coach Alex Mohn- 8th (just two spots away from making the team)

“And that has made all the difference.”

You can Apply to New River Academy.

Tracy d'Arbeloff, National Champion!

Breaking news!!!! Tracy d’Arbeloff just called me with the incredible news.  Tracy took first place at team trials and Emery Kate Tillman took second, earning them both available spots on the US National Team.  Having claimed their national championship and national championship runner up, they are now set to travel to Switzerland to compete for the title of World Champion! Congratulations!

Emery Kate Tillman, National Champion runner up