tommy hilleke

Biographical: Weight 168 Height? 5' 10.5'' How old are you? 27 Where did you grow up? Alabama

Personal Taste: Do you prefer more or less rocker for a creeker? Why?Less, personally, I'd rather have more speed Any major changes for creekboats of the future, design related? Shhhhhh, good things.

What rescue equip. do you carry? Depends on the trip but, for the everyday run I have in my boat a big rope(75'+), 2 large nonlocking biners, 12' tubular webbing. In my pfd a small (30') rope, 2 locking biners, 2 ti blocs (ascenders), 2 long (5') spectra prussiks,and a tow system. Plus the astral rescue pfd has a full chest harness with belay/ extraction loop. For expeditions I add a ultra-light climbing rack and firstaid kit.

Would you consider wearing a fullface helmet? (Cage or FNA style) Why or why not? Definitly have considered it everytime I get whacked in the face or mouth. But I just got some new insurance and I have crooked teeth anyway so I'll probably stick it out a little while longer.

Bent Shaft or Straight, any reason why? Always have been straight, but lately I've been using the werner neutral bent shaft and I like it alot.

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? Usually don't spend too much time. Now days boat companies are getting it pretty dialed. I like my boats tight but not so tight mt feet fall asleep.

What is you favorite creekboat design to date(or one of them)? G.U.S. get u some What’s you favorite local hometown run?Green Narrows @ 200% or the little White Salmon. What are five cities in the U.S. that you would live in strictly for creeking purposes?Asheville NC, White Salmon WA, Truckee CA, Vancouver WA, Juno AK Do you feel play boats have a place on creeks? maybe “Backyard” type creeks. Yes it can be really fun, and makes for strong paddlers....just becareful, no pinning Creeking vs. Do you prefer boating with boaters you know best or have boated with predominantly? I love boating with the boys. But I also really enjoy fresh enthusiasm for the sport that comes with meeting everybody else. Do you take bigger risks with these boaters? You try not take risks because this can put the whole group in a bad situation. I definitly feel more comfortable with the group that I know, but as long as I feel I can make a line I'll generally run a drop. Besides keeping their boat pointing downstream, what are the main differences between creekboaters and other genres? Running Hard rapids is always where the focus will be; that's where it all comes from and thats where it's all going. -Chuck Kern This sort of a personal montra. to me it speaks the focus of kayaking. The "other genres" not focused on the kayaking will slowly evolve into seprate sports. 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. Tough to say. It seems that the hardest stuff out there doesn't get run that often. But there is a young gereration that loves to run the shit. And they have the abilities to push kayaking to a level that is just a little more radical. And if the generation after them can push it a little more then I will say anything is possible. Compared to the other forms of kayaking would you say that creeking is more team oriented? Yes, all of my great experiences on epic rivers wouldn't have been possible without a strong team. How would you describe differences between East Coast and West Coast creeking (word or paragraph) Which would you rather live in? I feel, for me, that alot of east coast creeking is training for west coast rivers. I think if I lived on the west coast for any lenght of time I would probably seriously hurt or drown myself. Epic: East Coast rapid that makes you really nervous, what’s the first one that pops in your head? Gorilla at highwater, Big Boy, the toxaway West Coast rapid that makes you really nervous, what’s the first one that pops in your head? the Royal Gorge of the North Fork of the American, anything in BC What are some of the closest calls that you’ve had in your paddling career? I went spelunking after my sister on the rio topo in Ecuador. Flushed into a 50 ftr blind on skookum creek in BC. Have you lost a close paddling partner to a whitewater accident? Yes How would you say that it changed your scope on whitewater activities in general, creeking, development? It shakes the foundation of your love for what you do. But our beautiful fallen friends would be pissed if you didn't keep kayaking Considerations: Do you ever creek solo? Yes, but I don't recommend it. If so what creeks? Runs that I know well or runs that I have a shuttle driver for or if there is no one else around. At what height(waterfall) do you feel the freefall gets a little nutty and maybe less controlled? For me, I say over 50' starts getting a little loose Development: Approx what year did you start creeking? I sarted kayaking in march '96 and ran the green in may of '97 What was the first kayak you ever owned?Dagger crossfire How did you get into kayaking? I went to the Ocoee to be a raft guide. Did you have any heroes growing up that you looked up to for their creeking/riverrunning abilities? Didn't know what a kayak was until I was 19 so not really. But I always looked up to Alex Lowe Who are some of your heroes in the creeking arena today? the kerns, Jason Hale, Nikki Kelly, everyone who continues to push what we do What are some things that may have drawn you towards creeking early on? I played team sports in highschool (scoccer, Lacrosse, football) and was a wrestler. I also was really into climbing. I don't really know when kayaking became so important... It just consumed me. I think I've traded alot of other important aspects of life for the river experiences I've had. 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? Hard Knocks for sure, but I was lucky enough to have some great paddlers help me get my creek wings. What ways/things should advancing boaters work on to improve skills that will benefit them on Class creeks and rapids? Hard ferries, micro eddies, trashy hole surfing, class V moves... most of these things can be found on local play runs they just don't have the consequence of class V . Once you consistantly have the skill, you just have to keep your mind right. What advice do you have for next generation’s boaters who want to explore the arenas you currently dwell in? Becareful. Run that shit. Becareful. Name your reasons for running a drop. Know the consequence. Be scared. Enjoy it! What has helped you to progress safely to more difficult water? Lots of luck, wishful thinking, and paddling with more experienced boaters Do you currently have any sponsors?Teva, Liquidlogic, Shred Ready, Astral In what ways has being sponsored helped/hindered your continuous development as a creeker? It helps me stay in gear and boats, as well as travel. But it is easy to get caught up in corprate drama. Stay true to what is all about- the kayaking How do you address doubts and fears while on difficult whitewater? Respect the place and the situation, Confidance, believe in yourself and your team. Commitment, to one moment or a series of moments happening in the present. What do you do while not boating to condition yourself to be able to perform at a high level: (strength training, stretching, yoga, etc.)Attainment loops, push-ups, sit-ups, running, mt biking What keeps you excited about creeking or kayaking in general? this one you can't answer with words. Would you please provide a useful tip for creekboaters? Scout the entrance well. look for a river level view and features to cue off of. Any taboos you would like to mention to other creekboat hopefuls? The great thing about kayaking... is the kayaking. Don't look to get anything out of it except bad ankles, cronic back pain, a shoulder sugery, and the best friends and most epic adventures of your life.

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