I paddle for eskimo.  I used to on own a perception java that i broke four days after I bought it.  I paddled it for about a year.  I eventually got to like it pretty good.  It took me down Gorilla @ 200% several times.  But, one day I paddled the Green at 200 w/ Dan Glauser who also paddles for eskimo.  He called me a few days later and said that maybe I should try a Salto.

He and I went out to the green.  I was a little worried.  I paddle the Green all the time but, the last time I took a boat out there that I had never paddled (the Java) it resulted in a swim and my boat getting destroyed.  I told him that I would see how brave I felt.  As soon as we slid in I liked the way the boat felt.  Race line @ Frankenstein was good, building some confidence.  Go Left was good and so I decided I would go ahead and give er at Gorilla.  After I caught the eddy I got the biggest boof I probably ever have.  I asked Dan if he would mind if I ran sunshine in his boat.  He told me "Sure but, if u break it u bought it.  I will sell it to you on a deal though". LOL. Anyway ran it and I was sold.  

The boat is great.  It is faster than my old boat.  Small enough to be easily manueverable but not so small as to be scary.  I drove to Atl. and picked up my new Salto on thurs.  That night I duck taped some hip pads in.  The next mourning Ted called me and said that they were going to the Toxaway (which I hadn't been down yet).  I took my brand new, shiney boat out and beat the crap out of it on the Toxaway.  But, the boat had paddled so well the one day I got in it on the green that I had total confidence.  Unfortunatley I broke my first salto.

They warranteed the boat, no questions really asked.  Dan brought me my new one.  We drove to the Linville the next day.  We took it down off his roof still in the plastic wrap.  I put in hip pads and we put on a ram cap and I paddled it down the Linville that day.  

So, in closing I would like to say that I have no reason to BS people.  I feel like u should paddle the boat that u like the most.  I told this rather lengthy story to show u the confidence that I have in this boat.  Since I started paddling my Salto it has shown me down a bunch of new rivers including: the toxaway, the horsepasture, the Upper West Prong, the Linville, the Lower Cullasaja, and a sweet park-and-huck at Brasstown falls. I love the boat and I will continue paddling one untill I come across something better.

Peace,
Heath Miller
Team Eskimo