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Biographical:
Weight? 155 lbs of pure muscle...just kidding
Height? 5'6"
How old are you? 29
Where did you grow up? North Carolina and Virginia
Personal Taste:
Do you prefer more or less rocker for a creeker? Why? From
my experience with the few creek boats that I've ever paddled I'd say less rocker in the stern and more in the
bow, but not too much in the bow. Especially if the boat is 8ft or smaller. I like it to turn quick but not be
too slow going forward.
Any major changes for creekboats of the future, design related?
Well I know about one that is in the new Necky Crux that is a shock absorbing bulkhead. They've installed a spring
in the bulkhead adjustment bar that doesn't give until it is given around 200 lbs of pressure. That's pretty unique.
Also, I always thought it might be cool to have some kind of rails or skid plates on the hulls of creekers. Kind
of like skateboard rails. That way you could wear a set of rails out and replace those instead of a totally new
boat. You could also use different size rails to give your boat more or less tracking/turning. Maybe that's silly.
What rescue equip. do you carry? Breakdown, pulley, rope, float bags, first aid, prussic? I have just about always carried a 4 piece aquabound breakdown on the creek. It doesn't get used
a lot but when you need it you are very thankful for all the times you've carried it. That and a 50ft throw bag,
extra length of rope, two beaners, pulley, and sometimes a first aid kit, depending where I am.
Would you consider wearing a fullface helmet? (Cage or FNA style) Why or why not? I would consider it for sure. I have definitely flipped a couple places where I may have used one.
Usually if my face is exposed to rock my elbows are in front of my face, so elbow pads help.
Personal Preference:
Bent Shaft or Straight, any reason why? I've always used straight
shaft, so I don¹t really have any frame of reference. I'm happy with straight shaft. No problems. I've
heard that bent is easier on the wrist, if you have wrist problems.
Do you spend a lot of time outfitting a new boat or just make it fit. Can you describe
some things that you take into consideration when outfitting a creeker? I'm a big fan
of proper outfitting. I usually spend at least a couple hours outfitting a new creeker. I feel that snug outfitting
in a creek boat is just as important, if not more, as in a play boat. The way I look at it is that when I move
I want my boat to move. I don't want to be flopping around in there. Especially if you're running dangerous or
difficult water you want to be in complete control of your boat. I like foam on the outer edge of my lower leg.
It makes a lot of difference to me in side to side movement of the boat. A snug back band is important as well
for helping you keep your posture. Lately I've also been putting 1/2 inch foam on top of my thigh braces. That
way when I carry my boat on my head the thigh braces are nice and padded on my back. Does that make sense?
What is you favorite creekboat design to date(or one of them)?
I've only had a couple real creek boats, but I've spent most of my time in a Necky Blunt. It always feels safe
and predictable. It's my old trusty for creeks. Though, as soon as it's available I will have the new Necky Crux,
which will become my #1. I've paddled the prototypes pretty extensively and it suits my size quite well. Totally
different boat than the blunt, but it has the same predictable, safe feeling. Particularly for most of the creek
paddling I do in North Carolina. Lots of Green Narrows runs.
What?s you favorite local hometown run? I used to live
in Boone, NC where we paddled the Watauga River nonstop. So, that's kind of my favorite creek/play run. My pals
and I have always paddled play boats there. Lots of fun creek moves out there and tons of fun play spots. Mainly
downriver style play. Other than that I'd have to say the Green since my wife and I live in the Asheville area
now. It's close and it always runs. Plus, every year I'll do a few new runs and it never fails to remind me how
incredible the Green is. There is so much bang for the buck there. Good, solid, class 4-5 run. At the Green
you can go as big as you want, it's all runnable, you don't have to get out of your boat for the entire run if
you don't want, and you can usually get a run in before, during, or after work. It really is a jewel.
What are five cities in the U.S. that you would live in strictly for creeking purposes?
Well I probably wouldn¹t go somewhere strictly for creeking but if I had to choose...
I like where I am a lot so Ashville, NC is my first choice. There is so much good stuff within an hour to two
hour radius. The hardest, most fun creeks I've done are definitely right here. Man, I'm really not the right
person for this question. Second I guess I'd say the Seattle, WA area. I've been there a while back and it seemed
like a bunch of good stuff around there, plus you have BC creeks within two hours, which I have had only a taste
of, but enjoyed. Haven't been yet but the Sierras in California seem to be the absolute deal. I've seen lots
of video and photos. I don't know what base city you'd choose but looks like you'd have some incredible water.
That's all. Three will have to do. It's too much pressure to have to choose, and I haven't done enough.
Do you feel play boats have a place on creeks?Example: ?Backyard? type creeks. I really think it depends on your definition of a creek and also your level of comfort on a particular
piece of water. The steeper it is the more fun a creek boat is, in my opinion. In NC I'd consider the Watauga
River or Wilson Creek as creek runs, but I'd always take play boats down. The Green I've taken play boats down
a lot of times. I wouldn't recommend that to anyone. Namely anyone who doesn't know the river really well. Even
then it can be a bit sketchy. That doesn't mean you won't ever see me out there in a play boat again, but creekers
are more fun there and way safer. Any new, bonified, steep creek I go on I will be in a creek boat and probably
never take a play boat down. As a general rule I'd say creek a creek boat and play a play boat.
Creeking vs.
Do you prefer boating with boaters you know best or have boated with predominantly? I don't mind boating with new people, but I like to go with good friends.
Do you take bigger risks with these boaters? If I'm with
my good friends who I trust and respect I may take bigger risks, but I wouldn't make that a general rule. There
can definitely be a certain chemistry when certain boaters are together that makes them go bigger.
Besides keeping their boat pointing downstream, what are the main differences between
creekboaters and other genres? Without going to great lengths I'd say this. People
I know who have play boated a lot along with creek boating are much much better creekers.
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? There are always
first descents out there so I think that will continue to be a thing for some time to come. I think style and
technique are ever changing.
Compared to the other forms of kayaking would you say that creeking is more team oriented?
Yeah. I think it should be that way too in order to stay safe. I think safety is
of its most importance on the creeks.
How would you describe differences between East Coast and West Coast creeking (word
or paragraph) Which would you rather live in? East cause that's where I'm from. West
seems really cool though since creek paddling is so close to surf kayaking. I'm completely in to surf kayaking
so I think it would be excellent to be able to run something like the Green in the morning and then surf in the
evening. Seems like Cali, Oregon, Washington have some of that to offer and it won't ever happen in NC, or anywhere
I know on the East.
Epic:
East Coast rapid that makes you really nervous, what's the first one that pops in your
head? Energizer Bunny on Toxaway or maybe Twiggy's Revenge on Linville. Both fun but
nerve racking.
West Coast rapid that makes you really nervous, what's the first one that pops in your
head? Uuuhhh? Benner Falls on the DesChutes in Bend, Oregon. I got my ass beat there,
in a play boat (stupid stupid). There is supposedly like 500 less cfs at the bottom of that rapid than at the top.Cave,
unercut, sieve? Scary.
What are some of the closest calls that you?ve had in your paddling career? Probably that Benner Falls crap. Then this one time I got my skirt blown on Ravens Fork and shoved
under an undercut for a second. That was scary.
Have you lost a close paddling partner to a whitewater accident? How would you say
that it changed your scope on whitewater activities in general, creeking, development?
I wouldn't say close friend but I have lost some friends to paddling accidents. It makes me really sad and humbles
me for sure. It humbles me but at the same time I feel like I can't let that spoil my fun. Accidents happen all
the time in life, but I think you have to keep living while you're here. Just try to make good decisions on the
river and consider people in your life.
Considerations:
Do you ever creek solo? If so what creeks? I don't paddle
anything at all solo. I'm totally against it. I think that particularly on creeks you should have three people
at least. Two is fair but three or four is ideal I think. I've seen a couple situations where if there hadn't
been more than two people it could have gotten real ugly.
At what height(waterfall) do you feel the freefall gets a little nutty and maybe less
controlled? I've never gone over 35ft. That seemed big to me. I think over 35 is really
big.
Development:
Approx what year did you start creeking? 1995ish
What was the first kayak you ever owned? New Wave Cruise
Control (the lose control)
How did you get into kayaking? Partly introduced to paddling
by my Father and partly by a close friend, Chris Copenhaver. Chris was a coach of mine in high school.
Did you have any heroes growing up that you looked up to for their creeking/riverrunning
abilities? He doesn't paddle that much any more but my buddy Clem Newbold and then
Dave Simpson and Mike Mayfield, the late Sherwood Horine were all guys in the Boone, NC area who were kind of the
pioneers there. They were definitely out running stuff before my buddies and I came along.
Who are some of your heroes in the creeking arena today?
Heroes. Let's see. Space Ghost is my hero but he just flies over everything and makes totally sarcastic comments.
Space Ghost, Brad Kee and Daniel DeLaVergne. They run the shit way more than I do. I've been boating with those
guys for a long time and they've always been solid.
What are some things that may have drawn you towards creeking when you were in your
developmental stages? Seemed like a natural progression to run harder and harder stuff.
I don¹t know. Seemed like thething to do.
Why kayaking over climbing, soccer, golf, etc.? I also climbed
a lot, bouldering, in my early stages of paddling. I wanted to get better at paddling and climbing hurt a lot.
I would like to get back in to it though.
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?
It was a mix for sure. I think I did some stupid shit and made some good decisions also. I feel now that I make
good decisions about what I will and won't run. I'm not too loose or crazy when it comes to creeking.
What ways/things should advancing boaters work on to improve skills that will benefit
them on Class creeks and rapids? I'd say play boat a lot along with your creeking.
Surfing in non-consequential holes in a play boat may teach you how to deal with situations where you may be surfing
in an extremely consequential hole in your creek boat. That and lots of other situations. Playing is sort of like
resistance training for creeking. In playing you're usually dealing with sharper edged, more squirrelly boats.
If you run rivers in these boats you learn to deal with the edges and low volume ends. Then when you run harder
water in a creek boat you hopefully have larger volume in your boat and more predictable lines on your boat.
What advice do you have for next generation?s boaters who want to explore the arenas
you currently dwell in? Do what you feel comfortable with. If you're like me you'll
always feel a little nervous on new or hard whitewater, but that's normal I think. Try harder and harder rapids,
but weigh out your situation on each and every rapid before running it. Think about the difficulty, your skill,
the consequences if you crash, and think about your paddling partners. They will have to bail you out if you get
hurt. Be considerate of others when you're out there.
What has helped you to progress safely to more difficult water?
Move up a level when you're comfortable and paddle at that level a bunch, until you've mastered it. Then so forth.
Do you currently have any sponsors? I am currently with
Necky Kayaks, Aquabound paddles, and Immersion Research. I've been with all these manufacturers for about five
years. They have all been super supportive of me for a long time in all my walks in paddling. I trust their equipment
and have great friends at each of these companies.
In what ways has being sponsored helped/hindered your continuous development as a creeker? It has only helped. I feel really fortunate to have these relationships.
How do you address doubts and fears while on difficult whitewater?
I always visualize myself sticking the line, making it through, etc.. Visualization always seems to help. Positive
thoughts. If you don't have them then walk it.
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 stretch a lot. Other exercise
includes occasional push ups, sit ups, rotator cuff exercises. Cut and split a good bit of wood.
What keeps you excited about creeking or kayaking in general?
Variety. If I only creek paddled I would probably do it a lot less or quit. Ocean surfing is my favorite thing
to do in a kayak. There are actually lots of similar moves and skills in creeking and surfing too. But, I think
they are so totally different overall that it just adds variety to my paddling. Keeps me interested.
Would you please provide a useful tip for creekboaters?
Don't do drugs. I'm serious.
Any taboos you would like to mention to other creekboat hopefuls?
Brush your teeth and floss. Fight Mr Tooth Decay.
Thanks for your time Spencer
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