It was a slow Saturday morning and you could feel the vibe of concern and focus—Jacob’s Ladder is half a mile of whitewater many people wouldn’t attempt to run, let alone race on. Paddlers were talking about lines, holes to avoid, and most of all gate two.
After all of the athletes went through, it was tough to tell who had run the best lines, and it wasn’t until the award ceremony in Crouch that we would hear the results.
Dozens and dozens of kayakers gathered around for the awards ceremony and, as the sun set, Jules Domine was crowned King of the 2014 North Fork Championship. A huge roar from the crowd made it ever so special for this paddler to receive his title and winnings.
For the third year in a row, the North Fork Championship has told a unique story. This time around it ended with Domine, who only paddled Jacob’s Ladder during the race—no practice laps required. Katrina Van Wijk also raced this year as the first female competitor in the Elite Division.
The community and joint effort of every volunteer and member of the crew made this event what it is and what it will be for years to come, a unique and utterly raw race, the biggest and most full on of its kind.
Andrew Holcombe misses gate 2 and accepts defeat. Photo: John Webster
Wild Card qualifier Momo Castillo at gate two, approaching “Taffy Puller” in Jacob’s Ladder. Photo: John Webster
Click to see results from the 2014 North Fork Championship.
See news and results from Thursday’s Expert Division Race here.
John Webster is a professional adventure photographer based in Boise, Idaho. He has a degree in Communication with an emphasis on video from Boise State University. Passionate about the outdoors, John shares his experiences through the medium of digital photography. You can check out his work atwww.webstermediahouse.com or at Webster Media House on Facebook.
