VAIL - It's a world gone Jackson, and we're just paddling in it.
The Jackson family made it a three-peat at the kayak pro rodeo at the Teva Mountain Games Saturday. For the third year in a row, Eric, the father of the family, won the men's title, while his daughter, Emily, 17, topped the women's competition. And for good measure, Dane, 13, took third behind his father and Stephen Wright.
"Unbelievable. Last year, Emily and I had a great round and I thought that was about as good as it gets," Eric said.
Glenwood Springs High School graduate Ben Guska did not make it out of the Saturday morning semifinals, scoring a 65 to take ninth place in a field of 10. The top three scorers from semifinal action made Saturday's early-evening finals.
Vanderhoof, West fall to East
Glenwood Springs resident Nic Vanderhoof and the West failed in their bid to knock off the East in Sunday's East vs. West amateur kayak freestyle finals.
Vanderhoof was one of three men to qualify for the finals, held at Avon Whitewater Park. Vanderhoof's West team combined to score a 138.5, eight points behind the East.
The Western slopers were looking to win the showdown for a fifth straight year.
— Chris Freud of the Vail Daily contributed to this report.