"Fast And Clean" - by Nichols Productions - 2024 Restoration
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- "FAST AND CLEAN" follows a group of US whitewater paddlers attempting to make the US Canoe/Kayak Slalom team and then competing in the 1979 Canoe/Kayak Slalom World Championships held in Jonquiere, Quebec, Canada. It captures the essence of the sport in the late 70’s and early 80’s. For paddlers of later generations, it was an inspiration for them to join and compete in the sport. The film was made by Russ Nichols and Louise Holcombe Nichols (Morris) in 1979 and released in 1980. While the sport has evolved and some rules have changed since 1979, whitewater slalom remains similar and the goal of “FAST & CLEAN” holds true for today’s competitors.
The film was shot on 16mm film and was later converted to standard definition VHS and then DVD, but was never widely available on a digital streaming platform. The movie had been around for 43 years when Jef Huey, a C-2 paddler of that era and a production assistant on the original film, retired as a video editor and began a 2.5 year long restoration project. Dan Isbister, a K-1 paddler of that era, joined the production effort and raised money from people who had been depicted in the film and other paddling friends from this period of history. With a tremendous amount of Jef’s work, some hired labs, advanced digital tools and some volunteer experts from Jef’s editing world, this revised version of the film is now available.
The original producers Russ and Louise Nichols (Morris) have graciously allowed the film to be released publicly with the goal of inspiring new generations of racers. If any kayaking club would like a high def version of the film, please contact FastAndCleanMovie@gmail.com and if we’re still alive, we’ll get back to you.
FILM CHAPTERS & Timecodes:
0:00 - Dedication to Jamie McEwan (narrated by Jon Lugbill)
1:20 - Film Start
1:32 - Open at 1979 Canoe/Kayak World Championships in Jonquiere, Quebec, Canada
2:11 - Mascoma Slalom Race - New Hampshire, April 1979
3:06 - Intro to Slalom racing - Ocoee River, TN, Savage River, MD, Potomac River, MD, Spring 1979
5:40 - Feeder Canal Training - Near C&O Canal Lock 5, Bethesda, MD, Spring 1979
9:01 - Surfing at Rocky Island - Potomac River - Great Falls Park, MD, Spring 1979
10:10 - Savage River US Team Trials - Westernport, MD, May 1979
19:58 - 1979 World Whitewater Slalom Championships - Jonquiere, Quebec, Canada, July 1979
35:33 - Austrian K1-Team run - Sattler, Fauster, Wolfhardt.
36:49 - Credits
A DEDICATION:
All athletes build on the work of others. Most racers of the "FAST AND CLEAN" era would agree that there was one person whose achievements motivated our generation, and thus the dedication to Jamie McEwan. It wasn’t just Jamie’s 1972 Olympic Bronze Medal, it was the training regime he and brother Tom showed the “FAST AND CLEAN” generation of paddlers that we all built on.
MAY 11, 2024 PREMIER:
The Premier of the restored "FAST AND CLEAN" was held at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring Maryland with about 200 in attendance, including the original producers and many of the paddlers featured in the film. This event was held 45 years after the Jonquiere racing season, and 44 years after the release of the film in 1980.
A video of most of these comments made at the Premier showing the talks by the following folks and can be seen at the link below:
- Russ Nichols, about the making of the original film
- Jef Huey, about the Restoration Project
- Talk by Jed Hinkley of ACA and intro of 2024 Team Members/Coach
- Q&A Session
• Fast & Clean commentar...
(This link will be replaced with a better version sometime this summer.)
Again, many thanks to Russ and Louise for making the original film and to all the people who supported the restoration of "FAST AND CLEAN". We hope this film is around for posterity.
OTHER LINKS:
Some more Feeder Canal History from Bill Endicott and others can be found at:
www.potomacwhitewater.org/pag...
The Current US Slalom Team could use your help too. More info at:
www.americancanoe.org/donatio...
Comments or requests for high-def access: FastAndCleanFilm@gmail.com
#FastAndClean - Sport
I want to thank 'Team Fast and Clean' for their work on bringing back some incredible memories. I'll have to say the tribute to Jamie was touching. Getting to gate judge with Cathy H at the '79 Ocoee Race, a damn good day. Oh, the time Billy Hearn's boat was strung up on a gate wire above Nantahala Falls was damn funny, well except to Billy. Thanks to all of you for some wonderful memories.
Incredible Work
Grazie. Bei ricordi.. Uomini e Donne meravigliosi
Merci pour tout, que d’émotions et de souvenirs.
It is great to see this again after many years. I really appreciate the opening tribute to Jamie.
Thank you. Jamie was such huge influence on all of us. Seeing him on TV at the Olympics started a fire for a lot of racers.
I’m 64 years old. I had a strike was my first performance kayak and I still paddle slim boats to this day.
I saw this film the first time in 1985 from a VCR tape a friend gave. It changed the trajectory of my life, for the next 10 years, I chased white water padding in a cudamax and loving life wide open. That film helped me see what was possible. Thanks to those paddlers, coaches and supporters who made it and the supporters and folks who made the restoration. I found myself on whitewater and that self is still with me.
Thanks for sharing your story. We have been hearing similar tales from others. Our whole goal with this project was that some young people would see the film and be inspired and motivated to try the sport. Please share the link with any and all.
Cheers,
Jef and Dan
Thank you for doing this. I started learning slalom in 81 in Norway, but this still brings back memories, seeing the same paddels, boats and the "let us do this togheter" attitude, as well as so many well known names from that period.
Thank you for your kind words. As a young paddler competing in my first World Championship in '77 I was thrilled to be living my dream. It was something I had only seen on television. We hope that sharing this film will inspire other young paddlers to follow their dreams.
So cool!
Well done! It warms my heart to see friends from the '90's in their 1970's version! Was Bill Endicott ever that young! The Ocoee segment reminded me of setting up for a Double Header below the stick dam. ;-)
Wow, super nostalgic to see, a golden age about to kick off. Thanks for the upload
Thanks for the amazing restoration, you took me right back to my formative teen years ( I must have watched it 100+ times at Riversport camp). The film & Bill's Ultimate Run book helped form a core of my belief system, that through consistent hard work, dedication to craft and association with other experts in the field, one can become a champion (in sport or any other endeavor). If not best in the world, at least among the best.
Really enjoyed the blast from the past, so many familiar faces but young again! Thanks for bringing it back.
Trust me.....we haven't aged a bit......ok, a maybe little.....
Awesome!
Wonderful restoration of the original film! A great look back at key moments and major players in the development of U.S. whitewater competition.
Amazing work! One of the highest quality vintage white water documentaries I've seen.
Thank you. It was a labor of love.
Cheers,
Jef and Dan
Ok, folks, the English captions are pretty much complete. Took a bit longer than we thought. If you see anything that is confusing or just flat out wrong, please let us know!
If there is anyone out there that would like to help with alternate language captions, we would love that and are ready to help.
And thank you to everyone who has watched and passed the link along. We are thrilled. Please keep spreading the word and the link.
Cheers!
Dan and Jef
Hey folks, captions are sort of a mess right now. We are working to get them in good shape. We will let everyone know when they are good.
Thanks for watching! Please share with your friends.