Grady Kellogg only took up kayaking three years ago. He’s come a long way in a short time.
The Glenwood Springs 15-year-old is a finalist for Shred Ready’s “The Search” contest. If he wins, he’d become a sponsored member of the Alabama helmet manufacturer’s 2012 kayak team.
Kellogg, who has a background in video editing atop an affinity for outdoor sports of all kinds, submitted a short clip of himself performing tricks for the contest. His video won for the month of August, landing him a spot in the finals.
Finals voting is under way, and continues through Dec. 31 on Shred Ready’s Facebook page.
A Shred Ready sponsorship would mean the world to Kellogg, whose dad, Dan, introduced him to the sport.
“It’d mean everything,” he said. “This is a huge contest. It’d be awesome if I could win this.”
Either way, making the finals is no pedestrian feat. “The Search” was open to any amateur kayaker or wakeboarder and began in May. Monthly winners made the finals cut, for which Kellogg submitted a second video.
“It’s now posted on the Shred Ready Facebook page,” he said. “Whoever gets the most likes, gets sponsored.”
Kellogg’s campaign for votes is going strong. He said he was in third place on Tuesday and is in the midst of a social media marketing blitz to garner votes.
“I keep posting it on Facebook,” he said. “I’ve also posted on the website getonlinevotes.com, where you vote for someone and they vote for you.”
To vote for Kellogg’s video, search for Shred Ready’s “The Search” Facebook page and “like” his video.
“Whoever gets the most likes gets sponsored,” Kellogg relayed.
Win or lose, Kellogg’s competitive kayak career will continue.
In the summer of 2011, Kellogg topped the junior division in slalom sprint, slalom and downriver and nabbed third in advanced freestyle at the North American Whitewater Junior Olympics Festival in Lyons.
He plans to spend much of his 2012 summer once again putting his river skills to competitive use.
“We’re going to try to get to all the competitions closest to us,” he said.
And, if all goes well in the next two weeks, he’ll be competing as a sponsored paddler.
jcaspersen@postindependent.com
Post Independent