Today, I see Billy Harris everywhere on playak. Cool, one of our top Canucks. So, Billy, what happened with you and Fluid? Better from the horses mouth than to speculate. What is your take on the Flirt (if you feel comfortable sharing that). Cheers, BB.

Wow, could you get more to the nitty gritty than asking a question like that?

Well honestly this is how it went as best as I can describe it.

Some of the big plans I had for the next season didn't materilize and the breakdown in discussion was always 3 to ten days wait for a reply because of the big lake between us. I felt that it was more to do with Communication breakdown than anything. Celliers and I are good friends, he worked his little butt off building the new boat creating a plan for 06. In the end we just lost communication with one another, the plan that we had for the season got changed, the book (I wrote a book) its hilarous, the tour just fell apart with Fluid and H20 paying for everything and getting nothing. They felt jipped, I felt bad about not doing what I said I would do and angery that they were the only people dropping cash. I just never got the sponsorship that I was told was comming not from fluid and h20 but from others for the book. I was left holding a bag of nothing but debt and a sour taste in my mouth about letting people down. It was really hard on me.
I Just didn't want to work for the industry any more because I felt like I coun't organize a way to count on sponsorship to get something done. I love kayaking and I felt that the experiance was taking the love of the sport away from me.
Its tough, being sponsored belive it or not, justifying the money you get through action is really hard. Q \"what did you as an athlete do to sell Salomon gear this year\". how do you answer that? What could I say, this book will help beginners buy gear from you. I don't know that and can't prove it either. What numbers are there out there to justify the cause. the answer is there is nothing but belief! Does making kayaking videos and writing on the internet worth anything. It dosen't matter its what I like to do.

I never thought that I would have much cash, I just have a goal to win worlds and help people along the way.

So what do I think of the Flirt, well its tough. I love Celliers I don't ever want to hurt anyone but I felt that I coun't win worlds in a Flirt and I wasn't helping build the new boat. I think that the technology in the Flirt is old tech. I think that for a person who likes to play on small waves and run rivers its great. I think that the outfitting has improved greatly as well. But for me I needed to have a performace edge or at least somthing in the same ball park. Astro/ Agent/ Project/ Ronin. all boats that are just so sick. Guys are launching in them.

Just so you all know, its tough talking about this. I like to think that what I do makes a differance in the world of boating. Helping people, developing paddlers, developing skills developing products. But in the end skimming out on a big wave in a boat that can set you free is really all I want. When i find the boat and company that I want to paddle for I will let you all know. Untill then,

See you all at worlds.

Billy Harris

Thank you for the honest reply. It gives me a glimps into the career of a sponsored paddler, something I probably won't experience in either its successes or hardships. I can appreciate that it would be difficult to talk about and disappointing.

The feedback on the boat was interesting and maybe in another light looks good for the Flirt as lots of paddlers play in small features and river run in their playboats.

I won't see you at the worlds as I am not talented enough to compete and would rather be out paddling with my friends than watching. But, good luck with your quest. I've found your past performances quite impressive.

Thanks 4 the open infos.

I guess worlds-number-2 paddler makes quite a good publicity 4 a kayak company

Good luck for the worlds.

Michael

P.s Will there be any live-Report in the internet ?

really an honest response hope you find a boat and a sponsor soon so you can go out on a mission again

I do have a couple sponsors still and will be traveling back to Africa again to train for worlds.
Thanks for the encouragement.

Billy Harris