Kayaking and the media!

I am back in Sweden from a great competition in Germany and my local newspaper has done a few stories on me over the past month and also made a video (Warning!! It is in Swedish).  I feel that getting kayaking seen in media is extremely important, as I think it will help grow the sport. I imagine one day kayaking will be a larger sport and will be included in such events as the X-Games, there is tons of potential for this sport to go far!

 European cup article

 Front page of newspaper

 Full story

First Eurocup ends!

Today was the last day of the Plattling Eurocup event! Really exciting finals day. As for the semifinals yesterday I kept my place in third, but the two other juniors up in front were fighting hard for first! Both my teammate and I made it to finals and we were ready to dominate! As I hopped in my boat to warm up before my heat I didn't feel as nervous as I did the first two day of competition. It was an awkward sensation  for me, as I am ALWAYS nervous. I felt calm and focused, I was in "the zone". Sadly that all fell apart when I unfortunately flushed on my entry move, other than that I had a pretty good first run! My second run was the best out of all three, I started from the eddy instead of upstream as I was worried to flush. Before my second run I regained focus and was ready to show the crowd what Swedish paddlers are capable of! My run wasn't the best out of the all the juniors but it bumped me up to second place, no other paddler beat that (well the guy in first place did...). I am really happy with my result and I believe this the first competition I have ever smiled in! I am now currently at a hotel about to go to sleep, I have to wake up early for my flight back to Sweden.  My next stop is the USA in two weeks, I am very excited to compete back in the US!

Eurocup begins!

So after training on the feature for a couple days I felt pretty good, the water level has dropped even though it's been raining non-stop. I believe the water level has to do with the power plant upstream of the feature. But today was Junior mens prelims, I was super excited today to compete! Even though I did not throw the ride I wanted to, I feel really happy with the end result, 3rd place going into semis! Wish me luck tomorrow!

Back to Germany

It's been a while since i last updated this blog...I feel very lazy.  But Currently I am back from Plattling, Germany, the site of the 2011 world championships. It is the first of three events of the European cup. I arrived in Germany today with my team mate Maria, we were living in a rental apartment with current world champion Claire O'Hare.  The weather is amazing! really warm sunshine and a perfect feature! I can't wait to compete!

Videos!

I have some videos for you to watch!

This is my 2012 teaser!

This is from the slalom training camp I was at in Prag.

This is of the boater X competition i was at in Nyköping

How to lunar Orbit

       The Lunar Orbit is one of my favorite moves and is also one of the coolest looking tricks as well. It is a very confusing move to learn but once you learn it you can always do it.

Keep paddling,
Max

Catching up!

This year my vagabond ways have allowed me to paddle on two continents (Europe and North America), three countries (USA, Canada, and Germany), and seven states (Colorado, Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina).  So by being able to travel where the rivers are running has allowed me to paddle pretty much every day.  Here is a list of the places where I have been paddling since the Alabama Mountain Games:

• NOC – competed in US Open in slalom and NOC shootout in freestyle.

• Slalom training on the Potomac and the artificial slalom course in Dickerson, MD

• Running the Cheat river in West Virginia.

• US whitewater training center in Charlotte, NC.

• Clear Creek, CO – Colorado High School whitewater championship.

• Arkansas river, CO – Buena Vista Pro-Am rodeo.

• Colorado river – surfing the Glenwood wave at 20,000cfs was awesome.

• St Vrain – Lyons Outdoor Games and Junior Olympics.
• Video of my runs at the Lyons Outdoor Games where I took first place in Men's Open scoring 380 pts in the second run.
• Video of the Junior Olympics freestyle competition.  My heat is from the 3:14 until the end.  This was my first competition using the Jackson Star.  I am in the blue boat wearing a red WRSI helmet.

• 2011 World Championship in Freestyle in Plattling, Germany.
• Video: Team Sweden presents Max Karlsson
• Video of the Swedish freestyle teams training session.

• 2011 junior slalom pre-world championship in Wausau, WI

• Ottawa River – spending a month paddling with the Jacksons and competing in Canada Cup on the Garb.
• Video from Push Button where I throw a huge loop.
• Throwing it down on Garb and Push Button. 

• Getting initiated on the infamous M-Wave outside Montrose, CO.
• Video of me surfing the wave.

See you on the river.