US National Whitewater Center Paddlesports Blog

Pools and Parrots.

2009-01-20T13:25:00.012-05:00

Fortunately the rain has been co-operating and at least some of the runs have been up enough to enjoy. So far 2009 has been shaping up quite well. Despite not being to acclimatized to the cold and trying to convince myself that pogies are not necessary in the Linville when it's 27 degrees it really was quite a good time. I have not had ice form that quickly since the first New Years day paddle I did when I was fourteen back in England. Although that one ended with at a Pub and an open fire instead of a 1 mile hike out to the ridge.

So far things are shaping up to be fun and challenging year. The excitement of the Olympics has left us and the Slalom community has come out somewhat of hibernation and are starting to put their three and a half year plans together. Some have decided to focus on school and put the competitive world behind them or on hold. Others are balancing the two or trying to find time to train while working.
However despite the conundrums facing some of our athletes our biggest and most satisfying challenge will come from our development programs and trying to grow the next generation of paddlers. And also corrupting the current ones.
Here are Pablo and Scott Mann firing off Gorilla last week.

Our corruption extended a little further the next Sunday taking another slalom boater to the Green and away from his work out. Despite it being a rather demoralizing 60% he thoroughly enjoyed it. Another one comes to the dark side.
Either way this year's Green Race is going to be full of slalom boaters and with the final leg of the World series only three weeks before we hope to see a lot of the Euro guys stay for it too.

In the meantime we were treated to a short reprieve from the cold as we made our way to Rollapoolooza in Raleigh for this annual event. Raleigh Parks and Rec organize the event which is hosted at the Pullen Aquatics Center is a nice way to kick off the season seeing a bunch of fresh faces as well as going through the usual small world moments that the paddling community is good for.

The USNWC was well represented and had a variety of clinics from back deck rolling to cartwheels. It was especially good to have an Olympic sized pool to play with as it allowed the large number of participants to spread out.
In this shot there are around 68 people in Kayaks. Pretty cool.

Pablo helping out with a back deck roll.

Despite the new season there were not too many new boats. Most notable were the Biscuits from Liquid Logic and Jackson's new topoduo. Probably the best part of the day though was watching everyone's favorite Ginger up to his usual antics.

Corey

Beyond the pool the first event we will be looking forward to is the Shamrock Swap on March 14th. Come check out the used gear, new LVM, demo boats and race in the Boater X.
In the meantime though we will be enjoying what rain we get and I'll leave you with a gratuitously pointless picture of a Parrot.

Cheers.

2009-01-10T12:24:00.001-05:00

The Roll Clinics were a huge success in 2008! They were so popular that we started them up again in 2009! Scheduled every Wednesday and Friday evening for the bargain price of $25.00 ($20.00 if you are a member of the YWCA)these two hour clinics have already taught dozens of people how to roll a kayak. Already have a roll? We can help fine tune your current role or teach you a new one. Learning to roll in a heated pool can't be beat! Join us at the YWCA Central Carolinas at 3420 Park Road. Call 704-391-3900 for reservations and more information.

Mixing Biscuits and getting some on the Green

2008-10-24T12:43:00.007-05:00

It is the season for new things to be thought up and tweaked for their imminent release to the ravages of the consuming public. This season we have seen two notable prototypes showing up at the USNWC, the Dagger Axiom and several incarnations of the Liquid Logic Biscuit.

For the same reasons that the USNWC is a phenomenal training site it also make a superb testing site for new boats and equipment. Being able to dial in water flows and features allows the boats to be tested in a controlled situation and be compared very easily without anything except user error getting in the way of a truly subjective comparison. Even if some time has elapsed between tests the features can be brought back and like nothing ever changed.

Given the wide variety of features at the center, from small holes to large powerful features it gives the boat a full going over to see how it really performs.

One of our best features and favorite spots, Sketch Wave, has played host to the prototypes of Liquid Logic's new play boat, The Biscuit. While "Sketch" can be a touchy wave at times it is the most dynamic feature on the course with a good pile, nice shoulders and a deep trough if you end up throwing the bow a little to deep. Since the spot is fast enough to get some bounce you can see how well the boat will release and possibly more importantly, how it will land, since sticking it is the objective.

Not only is it the season for new things but it's also time to start talking smack about the Green Race. We started a little while back trying to goad the slalom paddlers to sack up and race. It finally worked, Butter has been getting a few runs in and our very own Chilean wonder, Pablo, broke out the long boat for some pre-race practice. While Zuzana may not be racing she did get over to the Green yesterday and ran everything for the first time, styling it in the way that only racers can. You can check out the video of her first run and several other great moments here.

Since there are way to many posts about the Green I am going to cut this one short. More after November 1st.
Cheers

Teen and Youth Kayak Programs Start Sept 23rd

2008-09-11T14:40:00.005-05:00

SPACES STILL AVAILABLE!!! SIGN UP NOW!!!

TEEN KAYAK PROGRAM

This fall USNWC Instruction introduces the teen whitewater program for youth ages 12 to 16. Sign up for either the four or eight week course. Within the first four week program we will work on foundational skills in river running, safety and swift water rescue. Students can continue into the second four week program where we will focus on the different disciplines of kayaking including slalom, freestyle and creeking.

When? Session 1: September 23 – October 16^th Every Tuesday and Thursday

Session 2: October 21- Nov 13 Every Tuesday and Thursday

Who? Ages 12-16

Time? 5-7pm

Cost? $350 each session or $650 if they sign up for both.

Gear? Boat, paddle, skirt, helmet and PFD are provided. Please bring nose plugs.

YOUTH KAYAK PROGRAM

The after school program is the next step in taking your child’s paddling to a new level. Geared towards our campers from the summer of 2008, our 8-week program will be more skill intensive. We ensure the progress of our young students with a 1:3 instructor to student ratio, initially focusing on the kayak roll. From there we will discuss, practice and form your child into a capable, aware and self-sufficient paddler up to class III. Such skills covered will be water reading and scouting techniques, group management, basic rescue and stroke refinement.

When? September 25 - November 13 Every Thursday

Who? Ages 8-11

Time? 5-7pm

Cost? $350

Gear? Boat, paddle, skirt, helmet and PFD are provided. Please bring nose plugs.

The Man Behind The Curtain: The Official Jeff Wise Interview

2008-09-10T14:46:00.011-05:00

You've been asking and we're here to deliver. The first official Kayak Blog Profile of USNWC Executive Director, Jeff Wise.

Jeff's fancy bio reads something like this: Born and raised in Charlotte. Graduated from University of Richmond and Emory University School of Law. Private practice in Atlanta for six years with focus in healthcare law. Returned to Charlotte in 1995 and worked with First Commerce Bank and later co-founded and became president of Consentsys, a healthcare information systems company. Avid boater, biker, backpacker, runner, and anything else that involves the outdoors.

His "real" bio would sound a bit more like this: Likes to ride his bike for freakish distances. Bizarre sense of humor including finding whimsy in all "Mother Harper" jokes from the antiquated television series, "The Carol Burnett Show". Has read more books than you. Believes shaving his legs makes him go faster. Likes shiny things.

Photo Courtesy of Glamour Shots

But I wanted to know more; to gain insight to the man, the myth, the legend. I emailed Jeff to consider an interview in person. Unwilling to sit in the legendary "comfy chair" in the Kayak Check-In office, he agreed to a well written, well thought out questionnaire regarding his deepest and darkest thoughts and insights into the US National Whitewater Center.
Here was my pitch to our Executive Taskmaster...
Jeff,
The idea is to have our readers, (this consists my mom, a few random relatives, my staff because I force them to, and some local paddlers who would never admit they read this,) have a better sense of who you are and what you do here. Thank you for your time.

And here is what became of it...

Harper: What makes you qualified to do what you do?
Wise: Awfully presumptuous to assume that I am qualified. However, I do consider my 10 years traveling with the Circus supporting the “World’s Hairiest Man” to be invaluable training in my current role as Executive Assistant to Jeff Shelton.

Harper: What is it exactly that you do?
Wise: I am assuming that this is a question my wife asked you to include and therefore I assert my 5th amendment rights and refuse to answer.

Harper: What in God’s green earth would motivate a man to shave his body?
Wise: Have you seen the “World’s Hairiest Man”?

Harper: What’s your resting pulse rate?
Wise: I generally am not concerned about what happens when I am resting. I do have extensive training logs that establish that my pulse rate when I am eating is 45 bpm. I have been called the most efficient eater ever recorded.

Harper: USNWC Paddling School…Great instruction program or Greatest instruction program?
Wise: Since I rarely attended any school of any kind, I would take my assessment with several grains of salt. Based on how smart and cool the director of the school is I would have to say, Greatest of All Time (now, can I have my car keys back).

Harper: Why are you scared of red-headed curly-haired women?
Wise: I had a real weird thing happen to me one year with the Circus when Bozo joined on for the West Coast Tour. Lets just say Bozo may not be who or what he claims in his promotional materials.

Harper: What are your future plans for the Center?
Wise: To dedicate all requested resources to the USNWC Paddling School and increase capital expenditures in that department by 100x (seriously, I need my cars keys back. I have a leg waxing appointment in an hour).

Harper: How do you see USNWC Kayak Operations being instrumental in the development of future Olympians as well as in the furtherance of the sport of kayaking?
Wise: Seeing how well we have done in the past in qualifying for the games (Exhibit A- Dave Hepp) and with qualifying folks for Beijing (Exhibit B- Crane and Cluck) maybe we should stick with developing messengers pigeons like Lil Ben. As far as kayaking in general I have noticed a vast leap forward in the development of the sport since I went into unofficial retirement. As soon as Sven Deal leaves the sport I think we will see another epochal moment in the development once again.

Harper: Which Olympic sport did you watch the most?
Wise: As if you needed to ask. Of course, men’s synchronized diving.

Harper: Other than hiring me, what has been your greatest moment in the process of starting and operating this company?
Wise: The $3 employee lunch today presenting the leftovers from the big event this weekend. Great BBQ.

So now you know. Take It Outside.

Favorite Summer Moments

2008-08-28T10:49:00.012-05:00

The season is far from over for us but as I've been going over some pictures there are definite highlights that stand out.

The season started off by hiring a very dynamic group of new instructors. Each person came with unique backgrounds and paddling experiences. My favorite part of training was working on "ninja" moves where we paddled into precarious micro-eddies, popped our skirts, grabbed the wall, climbed up the wall and with a foot, lifted the boat to shore. Intimidating but fun moves. That, and they all picked up giving the thumbs up quickly. Such quick learners!

No, I didn't get to go to Beijing to experience the Olympics first hand. I got to do something even better: I got to paddle WITH Olympians. Here's Wayne Dickert and Horace Holdan, former C2 partners from the 1996 Olympic games. We had some Big Boomin' Fun one Friday afternoon ripping it up in some of our play features. These two are just so much fun to paddle that with we sometimes laugh more than we play.

Not only was I focused on spreading the thumbs up; I got my staff involved as well. Chris Wing has been traveling the country to different freestyle competitions and helped spread the good word of the thumbs up with all the pros.
This photo has been my screensaver for the majority of the summer. It cracks me up.

We expanded the flatwater programs this season with our Catawba MicroBrew Kayak Cruise. Each time we have had a different brewery come out to showcase their microbrews. After an early evening paddle, guests return to the River's Edge Restaurant for a tasting paired with foods our chef's have concocted. The food was AMAZING! Here's our Highland Brewing Co. reps getting ready for a feast. These trips have added a certain something to our list of products. It's been fun working with different departments of the Center to create a truly unique experience for our guests.

Kayak Check-In is a whirlwind of fun. The folks working the front desk are always into something new. One of the best things of having younger staff members is that they always keep me on my toes. The summer has been filled with lots of laughter and memories due to this fantastic group.

Thursday nights are the best nights to be at the Center. The Thursday Night Concert Series began in May and is running all the way through October. The music has been really good and there are food and drink specials each week. Best of all, the crowd turnout has been phenomenal. Great times are always created by groups of great people and Thursday nights have been a blast for getting friends together and relaxing.

Last summer I took up surfing and now I feel it in my blood. Although I'm not all that good, I have loved spending days off at the beach. One of the coolest things about Charlotte is how close it is to everything; the beach, the mountains, everything.

I do love all things random and one Saturday in particular presented a truly random moment. An instruction guest wanted to barter his songs for water time. Instead of trying to convince me that this was a good idea he plopped himself in my office and started playing. He sat there and played five songs, all originals. How can you not respect creativity and tenacity. I had a huge crowd gathered at my office door throughout the serenade. It was a really cool summer moment.

Having my picture in Today's Charlotte Woman magazine was very flattering. Not only was it a very well written article but it reached a lot of folks who didn't already know a lot about the Center. I had women from my yoga class and in random shops recognize me from the article saying they were now more interested in trying whitewater kayaking. Yes!

As the season continues I know there will be many more moments to enjoy and cherish. Be sure to stop by the Center to create your own lasting memories. Take It Outside.

Whitewater Olympic Coverage

2008-08-08T08:44:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to lie. I watch a lot of television. I will never be that person who pretends to not like tv and take that holier-than-thou approach when speaking about the non-sense of reality television and prime-time dramas and seem to be above it. I love it, I love it all. I'm into anything VH1 or FOX can dream up. And in all of my recent television watching, I've witnessed plenty of propaganda for the upcoming Olympic games. Within the depths of this propaganda not one add has featured whitewater.

You'd think I'd be outraged but I understand it. Michael Phelps is ridiculously hot. There's that chick who has rock hard abs and is in her early 40's. Those gymnasts do some AMAZING things. I get it.

It is important to point out, however, that all of these sports have enormous followings regardless of the individuals. Swimming, soccer, gymnastics and others all have large kids programs throughout the US. They're popular in elementary schools all the way through college. And these are the programs that are truly supporting the sports as a whole and the elite athletes alike. Kids programs are the reason why we see these particular sports on tv.

I do realize that neither hand ball nor field hockey have received that much coverage either but my career goal isn't to make field hockey a household name, it's to help make whitewater a nationally recognized sport. So I'm calling on each of you to help make whitewater stand out and get some needed television coverage. Step one: watch your television. Below is the tv listings of when NBC is covering whitewater slalom. Step two: support your local kids program. Each major instruction school has kids clinics each season. Check them out, get your kids involved, get the neighbor kids involved, talk kayaking up with your local schools. Step three: get involved. The paddling community is fanatic about paddling but seems to only share their enthusiasm with other paddlers. Boatertalk is an extreme example of this. Getting involved is sharing the sport with those that probably wouldn't have been exposed to it on their own volition. Involvement is also about seeing what you can do to help boost your local paddling club or community to ensure greater outreach.

Let's make sure, starting today, that the 2012 Olympic advertisements have plenty of whitewater highlights. I know I'll be watching.

Click here for the official NBC write ups on all Whitewater Olympic beta.
HERE'S WHEN TO WATCH
FRIDAY, AUG. 8
NBC and NBC HD
8:00 p.m. – Midnight
Opening Ceremony — Parade of Nations, Lighting of the Olympic Cauldron

MONDAY, AUG. 11 – DAY 3
NBC and NBC HD
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Beach Volleyball (LIVE)
Swimming
Rowing
Canoeing – Whitewater Slalom

TUESDAY, AUG. 12 – DAY 4
NBC and NBC HD
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Beach Volleyball (LIVE)
Swimming
Men's Water Polo – USA vs. Italy
Canoeing – Whitewater Slalom Gold Medal Finals

NBCOlympics.com — LIVE STREAMING BROADBAND COVERAGE:
Canoeing – Whitewater Slalom Gold Medal Finals

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 13 – DAY 5
NBC and NBC HD
2:00 a.m. — Noon
Men's Soccer – USA vs. Nigeria (LIVE)
China vs. Brazil (LIVE)
Women's Basketball – USA vs. Mali (LIVE)
Women's Water Polo – Hungary vs. Australia
Rowing – Semifinals (LIVE)
Badminton – Competition, Semifinals
Table Tennis – Team Competition
Canoeing – Whitewater Slalom Competition

THURSDAY, AUG. 14 – DAY 6
NBC and NBC HD
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Swimming
Beach Volleyball
Rowing – Semifinals
Canoeing – Whitewater Slalom Gold Medal Final

1:35 a.m. — 2:30 a.m.
Swimming – Women's 200 Back Semifinal
Canoeing – Whitewater Slalom Gold Medal Final

If you want to take a look at the whitewater course, Scott Mann put up some video coverage of the course from last fall. Click here to see it.

What's Next? Where Do We Go From Here?

2008-07-26T13:25:00.000-05:00

Does anyone remember when we looked like this?
I do.
Having just celebrated my two year anniversary with the US National Whitewater Center I remember having my interview at a pizza place downtown and then driving to the construction site to get a visual of what was yet to come. I have to admit, when I was being walked around having the vision of raft and kayak operations explained to me I had no idea how it was all supposed to work. I couldn't really picture how we were to get so many people in and out of trip talks, getting the rafts down the main channels and having a process for private kayakers at the same time.

Now, just about every day looks like this. Hundreds, and on the weekends thousands, of folks are getting on the course each day enjoying the rapids and the challenges of the world's largest artificial whitewater river.

Now, our greatest focus is on how do we continue to develop top notch programs that keep people in the sport, learning, growing and having fun. With hundreds of kids having gone through our kayak program, and a ga-zillion adults having learned to paddle here, we will soon be offering more kids programs, a paddling club and intermediate packages to keep folks coming back, continuing their paddling education and creating positive social environments centered around whitewater. Stay tuned to what's around the corner and remember to take it outside.

Another Successful Women's Weekend

2008-07-26T13:20:00.005-05:00

Another 23 women were introduced to the sport of whitewater kayaking this last weekend and 4 others honed in their playboating skills. Everyone had a blast and there were numerous personal accomplishments made. I've put up some of our group photos as well as a few action shots of the freestyle clinic throwing down.

Fifth of July Celebrations

2008-07-12T15:02:00.005-05:00

Who isn't grateful for all of this rain? Rivers are up, flowers are back in bloom and the grass is green again. The rain did, however, delay our 4th of July celebration to the next night. And what a night it was. The placed was packed. Everyone brought their lawn chairs, the outside bar was hopping and the fireworks were absolutely remarkable.

Ray Gora was able to capture this shot from the front of the River Center. I think the picture is amazing. Thanks Ray.

There are plenty of other days and events to celebrate this month. Next weekend is our second women's weekend. Women's specific rock climbing, mountain biking and whitewater clinics are all available. Our third Jeep Adventure Race is happening next Saturday and we continue our Thursday night concert series with more live bands. Come check out how we celebrate.

US Olympic Team Chosen - USNWC Represented

2008-07-11T14:41:00.006-05:00

The US Olympic Whitwater Slalom team has been selected and the results are as follows:
Men's K1 - Scott Parsons

Men's C1 - Benn Fraker

Women's K1 - Heather Corrie

C2 Team - Casey Eichfeld and Ricky Powell

Benn, Casey and Ricky have all moved to Charlotte in the past year to train for these elite spots. We've had the fortune of having Casey work throughout the 2008 season at Kayak Front Desk.

Needless to say we are really proud of Casey and are thrilled to say that we have an Olympian working for us.

Casey has been paddling since he was two and was the youngest person in the history of USA Canoe/ Kayak to make the US junior team. After beginning international competition at the age of 14, Casey and Ricky just placed 7th in the world this last week in Ausberg. And, what we think is super cool; At the age of 10 Casey was highlighted in Sports Illustrated as the next Olympic hopeful.

All of us in Kayak Operations send out a huge congratulations to these fine athletes and can't wait to watch the five of them represent the United States this August.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

2008-07-05T12:21:00.000-05:00

...and no, we are not talking about a big jolly man in a red suit. We kicked off the peak of our summer season with the first of five
Kid's Summer Camps. The response from campers and parents was extremely positive and we are psyched to announce that we will be expanding the programming for the 2009 season. Below are just a few of the comments that parents of campers shared with us.

"My son had an absolute ball at the camp and I am very pleased with what he learned. It seems he has some natural skill at this and I appreciate you bringing that out in him!"

"I found out that this was the first summer camp that you have had and I think it was fabulous! From my perspective, things went smoothly and, like I said earlier, he had a blast!"

I have been doing summer camps and kayak camps for several years and I feel that the format, quality of instructors, and overall positive attitude of our center staff contributes to a phenom program. I am excited to see what the coming weeks will present to us and oh yes kiddies, I still have more up my sleeve. Enjoy just a few of the images from our past kids camp.

Aaaawwwwwwwww! Marriage Proposals and More

2008-06-20T11:17:00.004-05:00

Jonathan and Jacquelyn got married two weeks ago. Jonathan proposed to Jacquelyn here at the Center, where they met, last summer. With a little help from the kayak staff, the proposal went off without a hitch and Jonathan played this video at their rehearsal dinner. Take a look. If that doesn't make you saw aawwwww!, I'm not sure what will. I'm also not sure what the "more" is in this post but Marriage Proposals and More just sounded like a better title. Lets remember, this blog is about all the happenings here at the Center; the random, the lovely, the bizarre, the great and the everyday moments that take place at this unique facility just a few miles from downtown Charlotte. Take It Outside! Jonathan and Jacquelyn did.

Who's Your Daddy!

2008-06-15T16:24:00.004-05:00

Happy Father's Day to all, especially to those who are actual daddies. Hope everyone is treating a father figure in their life to something special today. We've been treated to a few special things ourselves this weekend.
First, we experienced the largest days of instructional programs in the history of USNWC Instruction. Our instruction staff has been hard at it since March working through instructional philosophies, rethinking their approach to kayaking, boating on their own and teaching a ton. After such a busy day, the staff spent the evening with Fergus in a continuing education class on swift water rescue. Everyone is looking forward to our biggest season yet.
If you haven't heard or read the posts below, our instructor trainer and head instructor, Fergus, was recently out in Colorado. He competed in the Teva Mountain Games Homesteak Race sponsored by Dagger. Having placed 8th after his first run and 12th overall, Fergus made a good showing for the US National Whitewater Center.
Chris Wing has been officially representing World Kayak throughout his time in Colorado but unofficially he has been representing the Center in proud form. His coverage of the Teva Games and participation in the 8-Ball race and freestyle rodeo have been spectacular. This weekend Wing-hole has been at FibArk in Salida. Just this morning, he placed 3rd in the Expert class.
Our own Daniel Stewart placed 1st in the same competition today. Daniel waited until the last minute to make plans to go out west and now he is kicking some behind and taking names.
Jon Angermeier has been picked up by Riot kayaks. Soon you'll see him firing up the Green Narrows in his big Magnum and throwing down at the center in a shiny new Astro.
Our flatwater programs, both guided trips and rentals, have been taking off at astronomical rates. Next weekend is another Microbrew Catawba River Tour which will be sponsored by Highlands Brewing Company. Tickets sold out this weekend. We'll open up more trips as soon as we line up more sponsors.
All of this activity with staff and programs makes me think the summer season is off to a great start. I'll even go so far to say as we are killing it. And in a finer moment I may puff up a little and ask, Who's Your Daddy?

Big Fat 22oz Homesteak!

2008-06-04T14:38:00.007-05:00

A little blurry around the edges we motivated fairly early to Moe’s Bagel and Vic’s Coffee to start the day off right. Remembering full well that this was to be a vacation first and week of paddling second, although the lines of definition are not always that clear. Few things are as satisfying as sitting out in the sun reading a book, drinking coffee, devouring enormous breakfast burritos and watching the life of Boulder pass you by.

Tino had been telling us of the Eldarado section of South Boulder Creek and a large and technical sequence of drops that they had run a couple of day previously. We did manage to drive up the wrong drainage first but when we did make it to the run and head into the park all of us realized that this was not a “feeling blurry” run. Homesteak ho!

I have a checkered history with Homesteak Creek and it always makes me think twice before racing. In 2006 I missed a boof and swam after a little pocket beat down in a warm up on the day of the race, this was my first swim in 7 years although I managed to pull it together and place 16th. Last year I was racing hard during the practices and getting smooth lines. In the race I turned it on and tried to cut one line too hard resulting in a double pin and taking myself out of the race. There was a small silver lining to that enormous cloud that Mather got me on the rescue squad for the rest of the day and I was able to assist in Valarie’s backboard and evac. It was something to do and the more elaborate rescue that I have been involved in to date. Maybe 2008 will be different?

What we get when we make it to Homesteak is a run on roids. It’s pumping with the high snow pack and the upper section is solid white. After a little time checking out the line Mike and I put on, Tino is still napping in the car even after we asked him to hang out with a rope just in case. From the moment I put on the run it had a very different feel and I was moguling my way between holes and flakes. I had time to look up to Mike twice but the third time I was greeted the hull of his kayak and the thought he might be a little messed up. He surface up just in time to grab my boat and get his grip two feet above the next drop. Unable to hold his boat it ran the next two drop and Jason was on hand to stop it short. Clipping in and pendulums it to shore one more drop down it was clear the boat was feeling the swim as much as Mike’s thumb.

The cost of Homesteak

After a short convo’ with Jason we put on and ran several more clean runs figuring out the last drop. No more left tight lines, but right over the submerged flake and a late boof.

Joe’s Apartment and the singing cockroaches provided some light relief from Mike’s event and we finish up the night sleeping out east of Vail.

Homesteak was not about to let up and with the water on the rise this morning pushed through a few clean runs. The issue at this point is not longer the creek but the freaking altitude. It’s kicking my arse. Fortunately Pat Keller was there to chat to about the lines and it was good to watch someone else running the top section of the course. During my last run in the final drop I managed to boof out keeping right on the exit but as the bow of my boat kicked up I caught my head on the rock wall. It’s moments like this that even when you are upright and you can catch your head that the race really is going to be fun this year.

Thunder Bolts and Lightning! Very Very Frightning!!!!!

2008-06-01T09:53:00.017-05:00

OK, I'll admit that maybe that statement is maybe a little over the top. But some times a little artistic embellishment is just what you need. It's either that or to put some title about naked girls and free beer to get you to read my blatherings.

With another successful round of new instructor training completed by 3:57pm Sarah and I are sitting at the bar drinking a beer by 4:10pm going over the finer points of making fun of people. Discussing how you can incorporate advanced skills of personal ridicule into a training program can only really take place over a pint. At least in civilized company.

Armed with coffee, a desire to eat but no real time and the need to finish packing I downed the rest of the beer, was told to get a move on by Mr Burke and scurried off. So what really goes into a packing list for a week of kayaking in Colorado and of course in order of importance.

Leak-proof insulated travel mug
Camera
Wallet
Chuck Klosterman IV
One Jefe Grande
Possibly more underwear than what I have on, I can't remember if I packed them
Paddle+Spare Paddle
Smelly ass polypro
One sleeping bag, sans pad
Drytop with rotting gasket that hopefully will last the week
The rest of my somewhat damp river gear

There is other stuff in there too but I am not sure why I packed it. As usual there is a myriad of stuff that I could use but either do not own or feel that within a week you can travel light as long as you enough stomach for copious amounts of pizza and beer as well as the patience to sleep in the back of a rented Minivan at least twice.
Typically the most stressful part of flying with the a kayak is making sure it gets allowed on the flight. $100 later my creek boat is on the baggage cart being drug around and thrown on the plane.

The big black mass of my boat on the baggage cart.

The flight was a flight, nothing special there, but the thunderstorms we flew next to and were watching crack and fester in the night sky was truly amazing. Due to the small child sleeping, thank god, in her dad's lap next to the window I was not able to get any photos of this.

Successfully assuming the persona of a soccer mom in my bright white Mini-van I headed to Boulder to catch up on sleep and get some more coffee. After a decent cuppa at Vic's just down the street I picked up Mike, who is taking on a Charlie Manson persona with a vengance, and headed to Lyons to meet Tino. More than anything the excitement of this trip was knowing that we were going to have a full week of boating together and making Tino feel as uncomfortable as possible.
We showed up just in time to see him get hit in the face by Hobie's boat during a po-dunk head to head /push up race. Oh! how pro kayaking has advanced.

After faffing about we loaded up the van and heading up to the South Saint Vrain before they turned the water off.

Mini vans rule!

The run was fairly typical Colorado mank and provided some spectacular scenery in addition to a short but quality run. Despite the water the best part of the day was being back on the water with Tino and Mike. The last time we all paddled together was in October, although I had managed to sneak an early morning run with Tino in Chile down the Middle Fuy in January.
A couple of run later we loaded some more coffee into the systems and headed back to Boulder.
This led to Jr getting a little tipsy and being very red faced.

Classic CO mank on the Saint Vrain

Walls are fun.

A fair amount of landing on rock was involved

Wall boof

Surveying the scene in Boulder proved to entertainment enough for the early evening and a few brews on the roof on a friends house and we headed downtown for a couple more. Tino's virgin liver was finally getting the work out it had been waiting for.

Colorado 08 seems to be on the right track; so here's to meeting up with old friends in new places, paddling with said friends, mercilessly making fun of them, IPA's on hot days on the patio and fresh strawberries on plane rides.

Paddles for Performance

2008-05-28T14:01:00.010-05:00

When sports are conceived, a variety of equipment choices are typically non-existent. As sports grow and technology has progressed our options for equipment have become quite varied and as a result, quite cumbersome. Within every discipline of kayaking you have a plethora of choices for equipment. My hope is to help throw light on your paddle choices by going back to some very fundamental thoughts within kayak instruction concerning body mechanics as well as discussing some of the nuances of materials used. Be aware however you will get what you pay for, and of course if you paddle less, then some of the subtleties of more expensive kayak paddles can easily be overlooked and unnecessary.

A little nomenclature for those not experienced with paddles first. The paddle is broken down into 3 major parts, the shaft, the blades and the throat (the blades structural integrity and where the blade meets the shaft). Many manufacturers use different construction techniques, but in large part are very similar. It may be worthwhile to take an interest in the idiosyncrasies of each paddle manufacturers techniques for construction. You will also start to find that paddles are now offered with many upgrades such as neutral bent shaft, handgrips and different shaft diameters.

The major factor in making your paddle choice will probably be the materials that paddles themselves are made out of. This includes plastic polymers, fiberglass weaves, different carbon fiber weaves, wood, foam core and the list continues. Each material has differences in weight, durability, flex or stiffness, and aesthetics. The most common and cost effective are fiberglass paddles which will include qualities of some of the higher end paddles but are still a great price point. At the high end are carbon fiber weaves that will at times include a foam core to add rigidity and buoyancy. Plastics are typically the lowest cost as manufacturing and cost of materials are reduced, but are also extremely reliable. Though wood paddles used to be the most common on the river at one point at time, they are less common now.

So a few questions will help us determine what type of paddle we will purchase. What is the paddles primary use? How often will you use the paddle and for what duration of time? What style of paddling are you? What is your price range? These are a few of the questions your local outdoor retailer may ask you when considering your paddle purchase. General outdoor retailers will sell predominantly what sells best and may lack the variety that many specialty retailers may have. The more specialized the shop, the more specialized the service. So be sure to do your research on the retailers as well the paddles.

The paddles primary use will narrow down many of the choices initially. This typically means what discipline of kayaking you do. Whitewater, sea touring, recreational are the large umbrella disciplines and can be further broken down. For example whitewater can be segmented further into play-boating, creek-boating, river running and different styles of racing. The more specialized your discipline of kayaking the more specialized your paddle becomes. It is pretty simple at first however with each company offering quality entry paddles that will perform well for all disciplines.

How often will you use the paddle and for what duration of time? A person who uses the paddle 4-5 days per year for a couple of hours will choose a completely different paddle than one who paddles over 300 days a year all day long. A few of the reasons are that particular materials will take abuse much better and therefore last longer. Are you beating your paddle off of rocks down a steep creek, or do you have 300 feet of water underneath you? Include incidental abuse from multiple “abusers” such as rental programs or paddling schools as a consideration.

Author using his paddle for fun - Copyright Rolf Loken Photography - www.loken.us

Also contemplate your time spent paddling. Are you going out for a few hours on the weekend, or maybe paddling a major crossing for a 10-hour day. Materials differ drastically in weight and therefore you need to think of how many strokes your swinging that paddle through the air. If you paddle an open water-crossing non-stop for ten hours you are taking one stroke per second or two. This is an average stroke rate of 40-60 strokes per minute, or 4000 – 6000 strokes per day. There are many different combinations of materials that help you reach the levels of durability, weight and price.

Next thing to consider is what style of paddling you have. I distinguish a style of paddling as the predominant stroke form that an individual uses. The stroke form is the angle in which you predominantly hold the paddle, stroke choice, and cadence which all effect length of paddle, blade shape and paddle feather (blade offset). This is typically where people differ the most on what they choose for their paddles, as this mainly is a stylistic choice. A few things to know however, the length of the paddle will directly affect the angle (verticality) of your strokes and cadence, which in whitewater boats is immediately noticed and not so much in a sea kayak. Basically, longer paddles equate to wider strokes, shorter paddles equate to more vertical strokes. For the sake of saving a lesson on paddle strokes, a whole book in itself, we will keep it that simple. It is a great idea to take a lesson from an instructor to learn many of the subtleties of stroke concepts.

Blade shape is also a direct reflection of the angle of your strokes but also translates to how much propulsion you receive from the paddle. Essentially, the more surface area, the more power. Take into consideration that moving a larger blade through the water can be more fatiguing. Larger blades are usually reserved for those looking to accelerate quickly as opposed to smaller blades used for a very uniform paddling cadence over longer periods of time.

Outer - Larger RiverRunning Blade

Inner - Smaller Downturned Playboating Blade

Blade offset, also known as paddle feather, has become a hot topic of debate in recent history and has so many differing opinions that I would be opening a grand forum for never ending head aches, er... I mean debate. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and should be played with to find what you like. You will most commonly find 45° paddles in retail stores, though retailers are carrying a better variety to cater to new trends in paddle sports.

One last stylistic choice again takes us back to materials. Different materials will flex and absorb shock differently as well transfer power from your body to the paddle more effectively. Once again the best course to find what suits you, is to try out many different paddles to see what you like. A way to tell a paddle that will flex more or less is in the density of the material used to make the shaft and blades. I will use carbon as an example as these materials are the easiest to see its density of weave. The tighter the weave of the carbon, the stiffer the paddle, and hence the wider the lay-up the more flexible the paddle will be.

Tighter Weave - Stiffer Feel

Larger Weave - Flexible

The bottom line will probably always come back to price and it is not difficult to get sticker shock the first time paddle shopping. I have however never regretted paying higher prices for a paddle, as I have always have been satisfied with the quality of the product. The customer service is top notch as well. That being said, a good all-around mid-range paddle can be acquired without breaking the piggy bank and give you years of quality service.

Paddle Images Courtesy of H2O Performance Paddles

The Green Boat Is Here!

2008-05-27T18:54:00.002-05:00

We've finally got our hands on a Green Boat at the Center and it was definitely worth the wait. We will have it on hand for a few more days if you want to come out and test drive it. It's fast, it's slick and it's mean. Come see for yourself.

Here's a pic of my two favorite red-headed Limey's after their first few laps.

Newfoundland Whitewater.

2008-05-26T13:01:00.001-05:00

When the last call you get from the President of KNL is "now I caan't stress the moose enuff, really watch out for the moose" you take it seriously.

It's now 2am on the Newfoundland portion of the TCH with some doughnuts and coffee and my rather erratic driving. I'm not sure which is scarier, me driving having had little sleep in the last two days or the fact that 90% of a moose's body weight is at the same level as my head or higher propped up on some very spindly legs. An overactive imagination and fog is not a good thing. Luckily we did not have to deal with any moose and arrived at the retreat at a respectable 5am and a very friendly Dave Ennis. Not really thinking of it at the time but in retrospect I am sure we looked rather disheveled and concerning to our hosts having managed only a few words in response we crashed.

Dave returned at 9 for the much needed wake up call and we were off to the river. Bryan joined some of the experienced paddlers on the upper section of the Terra Nova River while I headed to The Ruins. Typical of Canadian rivers the water was black from the tannins and running over bedrock ledges to form great class 1 and 2 rapids for the beginner group. Set under the backdrop of an abandoned factory adorned in some of the better graffiti that I have ever seen in the middle of nowhere this section of river provided an atmospheric and perfect setting to paddle for these novices.

The Ruins

Saturday evening was a chance to relax, socialize, share stories from the rivers around the world and gorge ourselves on some enormous steaks once again provided by Dave Ennis. I keep using Dave's surname on this one since I met more Daves than I can count over the weekend. Bryan came back from the Terra Nova with some good carnage from his group that another Dave was subjected to. Putting his brand new helmet fully to the test and breaking his boat, it was an eventful day. Despite his head Dave M. was in high spirits. As with most paddling events the beer was always present and some of the sea kayakers were dancing to Michael Jackson with some moves I am sure the King Of Pop would be proud of.

Now with some reasonable rest Bryan and I were to switch up the groups and I was off to the Northwest for some quality creeking. Maybe it's a Newfie quality or just Darren, he definitely understated the quality of both these runs. I was blown away by the solid nature of the rapids and their quick succession with classic Canadian backdrops.
The day was set up as a creeking clinic which supplied an interesting dynamic while they were giving me rapid descriptions and I'm trying to convey some body mechanics for the boof. After a few drops the guys were pretty sold on some of the new ideas and happily clearing holes on their way down the run.

Darren in Fishhook

As far as Newfoundland paddling this group was huge. We were fortunate to paddle this run with Jim who is pretty much the Grandfather of Newfoundland whitewater having pioneered these runs over 20 years ago, and was joining us on this run for the one of his first in a year and half. Paul of Red Indian Adventures, Chris, Dave, Darren, Cody and I rounded of the group.

Distinctly split into three sections the run never lets you down. Starting off with a very open and ledge type rapids the run rolls through several bends over multiple drops. With great boofs and smooth lines the run would not be that fun upside down due to the rather abrasive bedrock.

Bryan clearing one of the many boofs on the run.

With the open section of the river ended we entered the two mini gorges of the run.

Dave Ennis entering the first mini gorge.

Both had similar style drops that flowed well into each other for great flowing moves.
The second gorge was short and sweet with a good lead in rapid to the infamous weir. The guys were able to give me great beta to route it and after cruising up to the lip it was the best boof of the run.

The lead in to the Weir.

Bryan clearing the Weir.

Feeling Lucky is the biggest stand alone drop on the run and having only been run Kevin England and Fraz Champion it holds a fair amount of local lore. The group looked hard at this one on Sunday but we all walked away from it and ran the salmon ladder instead.

Making it through the golf course with only two swims and no stray golf balls, which was probably a larger achievement. Running between the tee off and the green was nerve wracking. After all golfers must be sick and twisted if they are going to stand in the rain chasing balls. So we scampered through the drop as fast as possible.

Chris boofing through Par 3 in the golf course.

Golfers are a strange bunch.

Several golfers we playing through while we ran down
Darren routing the last big drop of the golf course after spending a few good moments in the hole at the top.

At the banquet dinner Bryan and I were required to say a few words after which Bryan gave a helluva presentation chronicling his team's Vacation to Hell expedition in Peru. Mixing video, slides and his take on the trip it gave a very unique perspective to the group dynamics and factors that lead to them hiking out of the Wayaga.

Then the Screech-In begun. Jim put us through Screech-In. Inaugurating us into the Newfoundland community. For whatever reason we bit the head off a dried fish and then drowned it in a hefty shot of Screech, newfie rum. I could taste this for a couple of hours after this each time I belched. Bahhh!

Following more stories and accounts from locals we heard all about kayaking in Newfoundland and learned a fair amount of the general history. As with many maritime cultures the people are hard, welcoming and when plied with a little lubrication will open up more than you would expect.

Leaving full on pancakes and bacon we had one more trip to the Northwest waiting for us before all heading in different directions. After a full night of thinking about the run, I was feeling just a little luckier.

Sunshine always make the bigger rapids just that little more enticing and when we arrived at the drop I was pretty psyched for a good run. Bryan got into position on river right for some video and Darren and Dave got downstream. Rolling up to the lip it was all looking sweet and coming off the lip right where I wanted to be it was home free from there on.
With the apature set it was now Bryan's turn to roll to the lip and cruising up he styled the line.

Bryan stomping the drop.

Sitting in the pool below the drop a float plane gave us a immaculately timed flyby. New people, sunny days, big drops, long rapids, it all adds up for a great day on the river.

The view back up to Feeling Lucky

Finishing the run not letting 50/50 live up to it's name and a couple of take out beers we loaded up, caffeined up, donutted up and made the hike to St. John's. Passing a refinery and many miles of beautiful coast we got the word that the ice bergs had moved south of the city so we were to take a slight detour. However, the catch was that the dreaded fog was moving in fast leading us to duck onto some back roads making the decent down to the coast a touch faster.

50/50

Unfortunately as we ducked down off the plateau the fog was in full effect and while we could feel the icy presence of the bergs we could not see hide nor hair of them even though they were only 200 feet offshore. We tried a couple more bays to see if anything was visible but after 30 minutes we left the fog to check out St. Johns and grab some fish and chips.

The ice bergs are out there somewhere.

Having filled up we wound our way up to Signal Hill for a lit up city view. Suitably though we had less than 20 feet of visibility with fog so thick you could not even see the glow from the city below.
Standing up on the top of a socked in hill freezing in the Atlantic breeze listening to the fog horn my first trip to Newfoundland ended much as it had begun; shrouded in fog.

St. John's.

Thank you to everyone at Kayak Newfoundland and Labrador. Especially, Leslie Wells, Dave Ennis, Darren Macdonald, Paul Brennan and everyone that made the trip happen.
Cheers

What can hold a plane back?

2008-05-16T11:36:00.006-05:00

Chewing Gum, oil leaks, cats, rouge snakes horny on pheromones. Unfortunately Fog is not quite so easily fixed. St. John's has been encased in a thick pea soup for the last several days. Hoards of Newfie's are practically breaking down the doors to be let out and we are stuck wanting to get on to the island.
Last night I arrived looking at a lot of red blinking lights and trying to figure out what "annule" meant, it quickly switched to canceled which was only slightly better but I got the hint. Waiting for the baggage I met up with the other presenter for the KNL retreat, Brian Smith, and we hatched a plan to get on a plane the next day. After a truck stop dinner and some late night wrangling we end up at quality inn for the night with a leaky air mattress and so free coffee.

The next morning we are on the way back to the airport and an unlikely standby situation to St. John's. Not wanting to be pessimistic we wandered our way to the gate and actually got on the flight much to our surprise. The plane took off, flew, circled, returned, landed and off we got. Back in Halifax. As we touched down one of the locals I was sitting next too lets us in on some local wisdom, "you don't groow up in Newfundlund withoot knoowing the best laid plans will get screwed by the weather." Brilliant!
This is the most ground I saw on the whole flight, other than that I was watching an enormous alien attack New York.

With little or no chance of making it to St. John's, Gander or the island today we opted for a definitive flight to the oposite side of the island to at least set foot on the Province. The guys from KNL are now on the case arranging for a rental car so that we can drive through the night to the retreat. Look out Moose, here comes a driver stoked on coffee with little or no sleep to speak of and whitewater on the horizon.

Booze Cruise Take Two

2008-05-13T16:03:00.004-05:00

The Booze Cruise has been rescheduled for this coming Saturday, May 17th at 6PM. If you or anyone you know are interested in a guided Catawba River tour exploring Long Creek and all of the colors of spring and then have a beer tasting at the River's Edge restaurant including food pairings from our talented chefs, sign up now by calling reservations at (704) 391-3900 or stop by the Kayak Check-In building for more information.

See you there. Just another way to Take It Outside.

Staff Profile: Kayak Front Desk

2008-05-13T14:10:00.004-05:00

Kayak Check-In offers a plethora of activities. You can sign up for the Weekend High Ropes Course, Climb-to-Zip (I always accidentally call it Zip-to-Climb but am constantly reminded by the staff that that is almost an impossible way to go about said activity), private kayak lessons, group lessons, guided Catawba River tours, flatwater rentals and of course, it's where you go to get your bib to paddle. Not many people know that Kayak Check-In is also where you can sign up for overnight boat storage, demo whitewater kayaks, buy some nose plugs or croakies, and get info on our trails system.

When you walk into Kayak Check-In anyone of our Front Desk staff are able to help you with any of these products as well as shoot the breeze.

When Erin isn't hanging out with Logan, her adorable all-American retreiver mix, she is busy working behind the desk listening to some classic rock. Brittany just finished college so we aren't all that sure what she'll be doing when she's not at the Center because there won't be classes and two other jobs to juggle anymore. Essentially, Brit will be here a lot this season to answer any of your questions and talk to you about kayaking. Ted, if he hasn't told you already, is the best employee of the entire of Whitewater Center and once you meet him and hear him laugh you'll understand why that's true. Jessi will show you some of her ballet moves when the line dies down a little. If she isn't twirling she is working hard to make sure the kayak area stays orderly and ready for our high volume of guests. Anna has recently joined the Kayak Front Desk as a part time gig away from working as an ER Nurse. She is quick with a story and has that type of personality that gets along with just about anybody. Now that Casey is on the US Slalom team as a C2 contender he is busy training for an Olympic spot in his spare time from being part of this team. Although Becca has been working at the Center for over a year she is our newest member of the Front Desk staff. Her background in reservations along with her infectious smile is a fantastic attribute to this group of folks.

So, next time you're in Kayak Check-In be sure to say hello to Erin, Brittany, Ted, Jessi, Anna, Casey or Becca. They're super knowlegdable of all our products and are quick with a thumbs up for any photo op.

The Condiments of Life; much like mayo on french fries, it just makes things better!

2008-05-13T10:16:00.001-05:00

At this time of year the important decisions are only too apparent.
Q: How much relish do you want on that Hot Dog and are you sure you also need copious amounts of buttah (spelled of course to show the due respect to cows around the world that produce the real stuff) on that bucket of popcorn.
A: Lots, and hell yeah! what else is popcorn but a medium for trans-fats.

Yes it's true the summer blockbuster season is upon us with a vengeance and while Ironman was a spectacular way to kick it off, the orgasmic glory of the first Hot Dog of the summer surpassed all the flashy special effects and this was devoured well before the trailers had finished.
You may well ask how I got to this state of cinematiccolesterol fueled bliss? Well let me accompany you on that small caffeine odyssey along I-85.

During the drive to Greensboro to pick up some bright and shiny new boats we decided it was to be a day of American experiences. Let's kick the day off properly with a high dose of caffeine. Mine was prepared diligently using a French Press, while Sarah used the convenience of the local Starbucks to ease her socially accepted addiction. However, like the crack head has a sixth sense, even if the first 5 are not fully intact, to know exactly which alley to creep down to get a hit, so the hardened coffee abuser knows which exit is going to produce the best pulse racing shot. In our case this happened to be barely 10 minutes into our drive and just down the way from Lowes Motor Speedway. While I am no NASCAR fan you can hardly be immune to the shear enormity of the stadium and in a sense of awe of the marketing genius that these execs have achieved. Now desperately craving a Coke and with a strange desire to live in a climate controlled motor home we were back in the Saturn heading north to four hunks of plastic.

Given that one US Cup is the equivalent of 8 fluid ounces I am now running on 6 cups and it's only 1:30pm. Oh yeah and don't forget the Wendy's Double Classic with Cheese. One hour later and several changes of music genres, politics, music, people and general gossip covered we have finally arrived at the Liquid Logic/Legacy paddle sports factory and distribution center.
The little Saturn was not too sure what it thought about having 200lbs of boats on the racks and with stimulate assisted visions of the roof racks ripping off we went a little slower.

On the drive back Sarah found out that I had never been to Chick-Fil-A and insisted that we stop and try the best chicken sandwiches, waffle fries and lemonade this side of the mason-dixie line. I'm still not sure where that really is but I nodded my head and let her order a Meal Combo 1 for both of us. I am not sure when I have ever had a chicken sandwich before but I am certain I have never had anyone be quite so excited about serving me one.
Whatever my opinion of Chick-Fil-A it was very conveniently right next to another Starbucks.
9 cups and counting. Some more highway, a glass of wine and three tickets to Ironman it's alll goood.

It's at this point we join our protagonist biting into a glistening movie stand hot dog overflowing with ketchup and relish.
So what does this have to do with kayaking?

Absolutely nothing, and hence quite a lot. There comes a point when kayaking is so all encompassing that you have to escape. Ever since moving to the Ottawa 7 years ago it has been Tuesday night movies and the after-movie curbside donut and coffee from Tim Hortons as my escape from the river, the tent and talk of the river. Whether in Chile, New Zealand, California or Massachusetts, movies have provided me with an escape. Anyway, I digress.

Arriving fresh from an entire day avoiding kayaking, Sarah and I loaded up the trusty Saturn once more, although this time with slightly less on the racks but an equal if not larger quantity of caffeine coursing through my veins, it was off to IHOP on Cox Ave.

Now the glorious thing about IHOP along with Friendly's in the Northeast is that not only do they give you a bottomless cup of coffee, they leave the carafe on the table so you can mainline it at your leisure. Now uncomfortably full, you know the feeling where you almost need to waddle, we manage to head to the Green.

Passing many roadside attractions and used car lots we stopped in to Liquid Logic's top-secret R+D facility, mainly so that Sarah could gossip with Obie and meet new puppies. With Sarah now stoked up on some Red Bull we headed to the parking lot. 30 seconds of outfitting my boat later and the last few ounces of coffee we trudged down the trail. The most striking aspect of this day was paddling the Green while there were leaves on the trees. Having only paddled in the south during the early spring or late fall it's been fairly bare and it was a beautiful treat to see the river with foliage.

I'm not going to bore you with tales of the river since it's been written about more times than you could shake a cat at. Since you can shake many cats many times that makes lots of times.

Some people may well be thinking about the next run, the next whitewater adventure, my mind is wandering off to where my next black gold fix is coming from. Then I might be able to contemplate another foray to the river, but the day a thermos camel back for paddling hits the market I am all over that.

So what are the condiment that we use to season our lives? While the river may supply the roast beef or the fresh cut thick chips (that's the french fried variety) it all those little extras that make things really zing. Movies are the mayonnaise, good coffee the fresh ground pepper, poking fun at all your friends constantly and mercilessly the Marmite. Well that last one is more like the snacks you keep to munch on constantly. Much like Yucatan Sunrise hot sauce makes the chili taste just that little better, so does every random roadside purple gorilla in yellow boxer shorts make putting on the river that little more exciting.

Canadian Twighlight Zone, you are entering NST

2008-05-13T08:55:00.016-05:00

When most people have found out that I am off to Newfoundland this weekend, they turn their head slightly off to the side, screw up their face a little and often reply with"why? Now paraphrase with me here, what they really mean is "where?" It's okay to admit that your geography of Canada is slightly fuzzy. You were probably not taught anything about it in school, and even if you were it might mention that they speak a bastardized version of French that even the French make fun of, or that french fries with cheese curds and gravy is called Poutine.

The modern map and below is Cook's version from back in the day.

So it's understandable that you may not know that the furthest piece of rock to the east, poking out into the Atlantic where the cold Labrador Current and the warm Gulf Stream meet is Newfoundland. Inhabited by a hospitable crowd of folk with an accent lost somewhere between Irish, Scottish and Canadian, who unjustly so are often made fun of by the rest of Canada. Which is a shame really because we know full well that the only Canadians we should be picking on are the Quebecois.

Thursday morning I'm off to Newfoundland and an entirely new place. It's been some time since I went somewhere completely new and hearing the other day there are icebergs in the bay i was truly excited. The type of excitement when you go the video store and they have the watermelon variety of Sour Patch Kids, or you find Marmite in an American Supermarket. That wonderful childhood "just found your mum's secret stash of white chocolate and macadamia nut cookies" excitement.

Newfoundland's official animal is the Caribou, a large, majestic beast tough enough to stand up to the harsh winter this province is subject to.

It is also in possession of it's own time zone. Newfoundland Standard Time, which is an hour and a half, please do not forget the half, a head of Eastern Standard Time. Those crazy kids!

After getting a message the other day that saying we may have a chance to see icebergs in the bay I was getting a little more excited about the trip and the possibility of quality whitewater. While I thought about this a little more it dawned on me how cold I was going to be. So checking the weather was not really that much more comforting. Tonight's forecast is 0 degrees centigrade with freezing drizzle. A quick couple of calls to beg for a borrowed Dry-suit and I'm glad that I did not donate my down jacket to goodwill when I moved to the south.

Having been paddling in a rash guard for the last few weeks it will be odd to don every piece of fleece I own but fun none the less to see new runs in a place I have never been. Can't wait, and if the Shipping News is anything to go by I am sure that it'll be a fairly beautiful place. Despite the freezing drizzle. Oh yeah, and Puffins.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

2008-05-10T11:54:00.004-05:00

Last night I got to see one of my favorite bands, Radiohead, live at the Verizon Amphitheater. While there, I saw many disenfranchised youth with ponytails wearing woolen beanies in 85 degree weather drinking $4 bottles of water. The disenfranshised youth of America and their conspicuous consumption are my favorites. Before we left for the concert we had our Friday Night Freestyle for teens out on the water. Six kids got together with Fergus and Daniel to throwdown on some of our new features. Having folks gather around to watch our future shredders was a favorite moment. One of my favorite people from the whitewater industry is here this weekend. Anna Levesque is teaching women's clinics today and tomorrow. Introducing women to the sport of whitewater kayaking is definitely one of my favorite things. Successfully throwing loops, smiling people completing their first trip down the comp channel, being serenaded with Stevie Wonder songs by a handsome man, having a splash of bailey's in my coffee on a day with nothing to do, paddling with friends who make you laugh, hiking the trails at the Center, pushing my skill set on challenging creeks, the look of excitement when someone rolls for the first time; these are a few of my favorite things. Summer is here and I hope each one of you is experiencing, discovering and creating your favorite things.

Watch Your Television

2008-05-09T14:41:00.002-05:00

Don't forget to watch the 1-hour television broadcast of the US Olympic Team Trials for Whitewater Slalom on Sunday, May 11, 2008, Noon-1pm ET on MSNBC

Our Littlest Biggest BadAss

2008-04-25T09:16:00.005-05:00

Mason Farmer is the man. At twelve years old, Mason is quickly becoming my personal hero. I met Mason in the fall of 2006 when he and his mom took a two person private lesson while his older brother and dad took off to playboat. The entire family has been paddling at the USNWC ever since and it's been fun to watch them all progress in playboats, creeking and slalom. Mason went with our local Chilean wonder, Pablo McCandless to a qualifying race in Maryland in late March. It was a balmy 45 degrees for his first slalom race ever. On his first run he missed 8 gates and rolled 3 times. He got out of the water after that run really cold and dejected and told his mom he didn't want to do his second run. Pablo gave him a good pep talk, looked over the course with him and got him out on his second run where he improved significantly. Because Mason finished the race he qualified for a slot at this weekends Olympic Team Trials. His second race ever and he is hanging with the likes of Scott Parsons, Brett Hyle and David Ford.

Watching Mason's race on Friday was nothing short of inspiring. On his first run he hit the big drop thru gate 19, flipped, rolled up quickly and finished strong. Let's set the scene. The competition channel starts with a series of pushy class III wave trains and comes around a tight corner with a class IV drop into a munchy hole. Friday's race course had racers eddying out at gate 18 on the river left side directly above the big class IV drop. Then they were to slide through gate 19 into the middle of the big munchy hole keeping their boats straight to the finish line. Mason's second run he spun through a few gates upstream of the big drop, came into number 18 backwards, spun out of gate, down the big drop, missed number 19, paddled back up to the gnarly hole, crashed into the foam pile without even flinching looping back through 19 and finishes the course strong. It was amazing! Most pro slalom boaters I know would have been okay with missing the gate because going back into that hole is a pretty intimidating thing but this 12 year old kid who just got in a slalom boat for the first time not even six months ago is charging it hard. It was probably the coolest thing I saw all day. Mason and the other 119 paddlers are racing again today and tomorrow from 11 to 4. Be sure to come on out and cheer them all on and keep an eye out for Mason. In between races he has been getting in his playboat so look for him throwing down at M-wave.

Olympic Team Trials Are On Like Donkey Kong!

2008-04-24T10:33:00.006-05:00

I'm a sucker for marching bands. I've been known to go to football games just for the halftime entertainment. So yesterday I started to get really excited for this weekend when the local high school marching band played for the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Team Trials and Pan American Championships. We've been preparing for this event practically since November and like any task it has lost some of its luster over time. But when the band started to play the national anthem I was like, "game on".

The Center now is packed with over 120 athletes from the states, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Ireland, Australia, and many more. Also, walking around you bump into former Olympians, members of the US Olympic Committee, folks from the International Canoe Federation, and some random pro boaters.

Here's Scott Shipley, (we're not exactly sure of how many international and national titles this guy has under his belt so lets just go with plethora) US National Whitewater Center designer, giving the thumbs up to what will be a great weekend.

We are expecting around 10,000 spectators each day with lots of national media coverage. You can purchase tickets for the weekend's event at TicketMaster online. Check out our main website for more details about the weekend's festivities. And remember, take it outside.

Catawba Booze Cruise

2008-03-31T10:33:00.005-05:00

This Saturday, April 5th, USNWC Kayak Operations will be hosting our first Catawba Booze Cruise. We will take an evening paddle exploring Sadler Island and Long Creek keeping our eyes open for Osprey, River Otters, Blue Herons and Turtles. Upon return we will head up to the River's Edge Restaurant patio for a magnificent sunset. Representatives from Tryon Distribution will share their wealth of knowledge of beer while pouring healthy tastings of numerous varieties.
This is an experience not to be missed. River afficianados and lovers of good beer will both enjoy this unique trip. Spaces are still available but limited.

Sign up today by calling (704) 391-3900 to speak with one of our reservationists. All participants must be 21 and older. TAKE IT OUTSIDE!

Hometown Throwdown comes to Charlotte

2008-03-27T19:15:00.005-05:00

Saturday, April 5th the USNWC will host the first of the Charlotte Hometown Throwdown series presented by WorldKayak. Check out registration details here. Come out and try your hand on the instruction channel with your hottest moves. The World Kayak Throwdown is a series of FUN events aimed at friendly competition at the United States National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. Judging is fun, rules are easy and prizes are only given out for participation... we draw names from a hat!

Come out, have fun, strut your stuff and be sure you attend all events for that grand prize at the end of the season.

- Registration and sign-in will begin @ 4:00 p.m.

- The event will kick off @ 5:00 p.m.

Hope to see you there. TAKE IT OUTSIDE!

Relinquishing Stigma - A Day At The Green

2008-03-19T14:47:00.002-05:00

A cornerstone of the USNWC Instruction program is to not lend a negative stigma to ourselves or our guests in regards to anything hard, challenging or scary.

What this means to me is that we are doing folks a disservice by saying that running class IV or class V is beyond their reach, or giving connotation that the Competition Channel is scary with munchy holes and that it could take years of paddling before attempting successfully. This type of talk can easily disable peoples sense of reality of what they are capable of. Also, it is a thought pattern that is contagious.

This is not to be misconstrued as pushing people into something they aren't capable of through negligence. Nor is it an "absolute" statement. (Yoda states, "only dark Syths speak in absolutes.") People progress at their own pace but I've seen it first hand and numerous, numerous times where we talk about a river or feature in big and scary terms and those conversations get into peoples heads. It can get so bad that the picture they have is not based in reality and distorts a persons capabilities.

This is why we put so much emphasis to our instruction staff to not unnecessarily imply a stigma to that which challenges us. When I started paddling I was told about the Zoar Gap, a class III rapid on the Deerfield River. I was told how scary it was, how many people swam there, how some people had gotten hurt in the past and how terrible it was to swim there. The emphasis was not on the necessary skill set needed to run it successfully. Instead, the focus was on fear and that is exactly what stayed with me for a long time. After becoming a proficient paddler I still fear that darn rapid because it's so ingrained in my mind that the Gap is this big, scary thing.

If we do this to our guests we are limiting them before they even begin. And as a goal to create lifelong paddlers we as instructors need to create pathways not set up roadblocks. Anyway, I personally wanted to put this idea to the test on the Green Narrows. What if you approached the Green without the thought of how scary it is and approached the day by knowing your skill set, assessing your skills to the challenges at hand, and focusing on the moves that need to be made to run these rapids successfully. My good friend Herm wrote an article on the NOC Paddling School blog regarding the Who, What, Where, When and Why to run a rapid. Click here to read Herm's post. This is a great supplement to deciding to run rapids and rivers while purposefully trying to negotiate mental stigma that surrounds whitewater kayaking.

Besides, we all know that a truly good day on the water is mostly decided by the silly, random things that happen throughout the day such as Chris asking me to hold his latte, Fergus singing along to the Sound of Music soundtrack at the top of his lungs, Spencer cringing at the thought of listening to showtunes like the Sound of Music, me loosing my drainplug above Groove Tube, and bringing back the thumbs up with Woody while scouting Gorilla. For memories like that, this is why we paddle. No stigma needed.

Bringing Back the Thumbs Up

2008-03-19T13:52:00.006-05:00

We've started our own little competition here at the USNWC. See how many photos you can snap with pro paddlers giving the thumbs up. That is correct; we are bringing back the thumbs up.
This started a few months ago while meeting HeeHaw Jones (see post below) and it just makes a lot of sense to continue. There just isn't anything cooler than giving a thumbs up. Waving hysterically to people and giving the a high five are both close in the running but we'll save those for next season. So, for all you average joes out there, spread the good word, spread the love, get those photos with the pros and rock out the thumbs up. Feel free to send us your pics and we'll post them. Chris Wing got this shot at this years NAWFest. It makes me smile so big that I had to put it as my screensaver. Email photos to sharper@usnwc.org

Sarah Harper Named "Today's Charlotte Woman"

2008-03-12T09:43:00.006-05:00

Today's Charlotte Woman magazine recently published a four page spread on the US National Whitewater Center. Sarah Harper, USNWC Instruction Manager, was profiled as attempting to bring down the barriers to enter the sport of whitewater kayaking through sharing the lifestyle of paddlesports. Harper, an American Whitewater Athletic Ambassador, is passionate about spreading the lifestyle tone instead of just focusing on the sport itself.

To read the full article click here

Kelly Woolsey, former marketing manager for Confluence Watersports, was recently interviewed by Paddling Life eZine saying, "Whitewater paddlers need to realize that they need to sell paddlesports and the lifestyle – not just whitewater. They’re the extreme athletes that compete in an exciting environment who can help build awareness for the sport – kind of like what skateparks and half pipes do for skateboarding and snowboarding...I also can’t emphasize enough the importance lifestyle plays in each sport. Water parks played a huge role in the expansion of surfing just as whitewater parks are doing for paddle sports....the Charlotte course is a great example of the type of impact it can have on building awareness." Kelly goes on to say how important it is to get more women and children involved in the sport. Sarah could not agree more. She says, "Today Charlotte, tomorrow the world."

To read the full interview of Kelly Woolsey, click here

USNWC Staff Profile - Chris Wing

2008-03-04T10:24:00.012-05:00

Chris arrived at the US National Whitewater Center last fall with a passion and fervor for whitewater kayaking that we are still (unsuccessfully) trying to simmer down. This guy just really loves whitewater kayaking and it shows. Chris is not only a phenom instructor but he is also an aspiring professional freestyle kayaker. This year he will be touring to some of the largest freestyle competitions in the country to see if this passion pays off. While on tour, Chris will be sharing his experiences through World Kayak as their Pro Events Corespondent.

USNWC:What's ahead for you this upcoming season?

CW: Well, what's not ahead of me this season may be an easier question? This will be my most ambitious year to date which includes new responsibilities with USNWC Instruction, a new project with World Kayak doing event coverage, my first freestyle circuit competing, and as always my continued web project H2O Dreams.

USNWC:What are you looking forward to most?

CW: Honestly, I'm pretty psyched about the whole upcoming year. But most of all, I look forward to my first trip up to the Ottawa in September.

USNWC: How will the good folks at home be able to keep up with your season?

CW:Two ways, H2O Dreams is a website I created that documents my friends and all of our shenanigans (always fun). H2O Dreams is going to experience some tremendous growth this summer, keep yer eyes peeled. As well as updates onWorld Kayak with event coverage.

USNWC:What have you enjoyed about working at the USNWC?

CW: Working with a young and ambitious team of kayakers. I feel that I work with a group of people that are truly on the verge of something big. We've got a lot of big plans for this instruction program that is unlike any thing I've seen.

USNWC:How have you been preparing for competition?

CW: Eating lots and lots of Wheaties, for real. I also just finished a three week trip to Rock Island, TN and got to paddle with many of the team members of Team Jackson. I felt it helped me with how I approach learning new things and preparing for upcoming events. Not to mention it was tons of fun!

USNWC: What sick moves are you presently working on?

CW: I'm working on smoothing out my phonix monkey and tricky woo, but I pretty much have perfected the side surf power flip to beat down and the carped roll to a swim. It's a pretty wicked combo move actually.

USNWC: What else should our valiant blog readers know about you?

CW: Nothing, they know too much already. Hmmm, I live in my truck. How's that?

USNWC: Last question...Aren't you glad I taught you how to kayak?

CW: Sharper, I am glad!

And It's Only March 1st!!!

2008-03-01T19:20:00.005-05:00

I said this a number of times today; "and it's only March 1st!", because one look at the crowd at the USNWC today and you would have thought that it was the middle of June. I rolled up to the parking lot around 8am and there were hundreds of cars in the parking lot. The third stop of the four part series of the Finish Strong Duathlon sponsored by Inside Out Sports was already underway. Over two hundred competitors were there for an 8k run/ 53k bike/ 8k run with the run sections on USNWC trails and the bikes rode out through the small town of Mount Holly and into the countryside of Gaston and Mecklenberg counties.

My day progressed on to our first day of flatwater guide training. It was an absolute joy to hang out with these fourteen folks as we started getting prepared for our biggest season of flatwater trips yet.

In addition to our guided flatwater trips we will be offering flatwater boat rentals on the Catawba. Guests ages 9 and up will have a chance to discover parts of the Catawba on their own. Today we paddled up Long Creek, a bordering tributary to the Catawba, further than I've ever before been. The water levels were up far enough for our group to get to the "waterfall". Congratulations to Adam Seacrest for his first decent of this impressive drop. Adam spends an inordinate amount of time on the Green River Narrows, and those class V skills paid off on this "first D".

Once we wrapped up our day of training we all headed over to the Competition Channel to check out the Slalom Springs Series race. Over 50 competitors registered for this event. An impressive number for any time of year. I caught this shot of local paddlers Scott McCluskey and Austin Crane racing C2 in the first round.

To wrap up the day we headed to The Eddy Restaurant and Bar overlooking the Comp Channel to grab a beer.
I just couldn't believe that there was a two deep line at the bar. ......AND IT'S ONLY MARCH 1st!!!

USNWC Slalom Series Continues

2008-02-27T14:17:00.006-05:00

In preparation for the upcoming 2008 Olympic Team Trials, held here April 25th through the 27th, the USNWC Slalom Series continues this weekend.
Saturday and Sunday the race will be held from 3 to 6pm.
Traditional Slalom format. Two runs, no demos.
Registration at Climbing check-in Wed-Friday. $30 registration fee.
Competitors meeting 12 noon Saturday @ Kayak Check-In.
The rest of the details will be gone over in the competitors meeting.
We are in huge need of volunteers to help time and judge the event. Contact Dave Hepp at dhepp@usnwc.org or call (704) 391-3900 ext. 115 if interested in volunteering. Volunteers will meet at Kayak Check-In at noon Saturday.
TAKE IT OUTSIDE!

USNWC Youth Kayak & Climbing Camps - Building America's Newest Hucksters and Shredders

2008-02-26T10:49:00.000-05:00

US National Whitewater Center Kayak and Climbing camps are an opportunity for youth ages 8 to 11 to have fun in challenging and rewarding activities.

Our programs are designed to provide kids with an exciting, safe and enriching experience that is appropriate to their age and ability.
These camps provide an exciting introduction to the thrill of whitewater kayaking and climbing. We encourage participation and group support while focusing on safety and solid fundamental skills.

Our one week kayak programs will cover all beginner skills and progressions using the upper and lower ponds, the Catawba River and our class II instruction channel.
Students will come away from this experience comfortable and confident in moving water.
The two week program will expand upon the basics working on gaining confidence in class II and III whitewater.
Each camp works at a five to one student to instructor ratio guaranteeing individualized attention.

Climbing camps will learn about balance, safety and basic climbing movement over rock. This camp provides adventure on both the spire and main wall with an emphasis on team work and instruction.

Registration begins March 3rd. Call early to reserve your spot.
Space is limited to 10 children each session.
USNWC Reservations - (704) 391-3900.

The Donkeys Are Coming

2008-02-13T11:56:00.003-05:00

Attention Charlotte paddling community: The Crown Town video premiere of Night of the Living Donkey is at Creation Monday, February 25th . The movie starts at 9 PM sharp.

The US National Whitewater Center is the featured spot in which both Cooper Lambla and Garrett Bryant perish by the might of a group of Zombies. It is truly terrifying.
See you there.

1st Annual 'Shamrock & Swap' Saturday, March 15th

2008-02-12T12:21:00.001-05:00

Kick off St. Patricks Day weekend at the US National Whitewater Center for our first annual "Shamrock and Swap". This is a used gear sale for anyone who wants to participate. $10 buys you a space to sell your used outdoor goodies like last year's skis, that kayak you would like to get rid of so you can buy this year's latest and greatest model, the climbing shoes that you thought were okay to be "snug" but hurt like hell, those rollerblades that have sat in the garage for the last four years because rollerblading seems so four years ago, the snowshoes you thought you would use when you lived up north but now only look good above the mantel although your decor doesn't call for a "cabin" look. Bring it all, bring it on!

The gear swap will take place between 10am to 4pm. There will be live music from 4 to 7 and the Spring Slalom series continues with a slalom race from 7 to 9pm.

These races will serve as some of the final preparations for the athletes as they prepare for the Olympic Team Trials to be held at the Center on April 25th-27th. This is the perfect opportunity to come and learn more about the sport of slalom kayaking and the athletes.

Register your space by calling the Outfitter's Store (704)391-3900 ext. 203. See you there. TAKE IT OUTSIDE!

The IceMan Cometh???

2008-02-06T11:54:00.001-05:00

I haven't been this confused in a long time. I've been waiting for one of the staff to send me the pictures of the recent IceMan competition on the Saluda thinking I would post some info on the race, congratulate Pablo, Jon and Daniel for their participation and lend thanks to the event organizers. I had even already written up a little witty schpiel (italicized below) to paste on the blog once I got the pictures. After downloading the pictures this morning, the confusion began.

What type of race is this???The boys told me they stomped it, they told me it was tough competition but they pulled through. I even let them borrow boats to help ensure a victory. But when I open the first picture of Pablo smiling from an innertube I am definately starting to feel a little hoodwinked and bamboozled.

Jon was neither going forward nor was he "stomping it" as the three of them proclaimed.

Daniel looks as though he is posing for the camera rather than barreling through the thick masses of competitors.

Here's the original write up on the event:
The 8th Annual IceMan Championship and Millrace Massacre took place earlier this month (January 5th to be exact but the winter is flying by so quickly it is difficult to remain exact) on the Saluda River. Pablo, Jon, and Daniel decided to bring the noise, bring the pain all the way to Columbia to tempt their fate at freezing cold temps and must-make moves.
The Millrace Massacre is a time trials for boats 8'6" and under, with several must-make eddies.
The Iceman Championship is a mass start downriver head-to-head race with no length limit that also involves paddling back upstream, running, and even swimming. This race states that "it truly separates the men from the boyz". The event has been put on by the in-famous "SaludaBoyz" or the less gender specific "SaludaKayakerz" for the past several years. Now, I don't know who these good folks from Saluda are or why they defy the rules of grammer constantly replacing a perfectly good s with a z, but I do know that everyone who attended had a great time.

After scrolling through all the pictures I finally did come across one of Pablo "racing" in an actual kayak. Now, I've seen Pablo race before and this is definately not his "game face". He's not even in the boat I let him borrow. I'm very confused.
Next year I'm just going to have to experience this race for myself to see what the real story is. Find out more about this event at www.saludakayakerz.com and be sure to join in on the fun next January.

Who In The World Is HeeHaw Jones?

2008-02-01T10:53:00.002-05:00

I've been very puzzled by this question for a long time and I know I'm not alone. But when I got the chance to meet the man, the myth, the legend you better believe I jumped at it. Last night was the world premier of "Night Of The Living Donkey" at the Asheville Brew and View and HeeHaw Jones was there signing autographs, talking about what it's like to be a pro, you know, a typical Thursday night for HeeHaw.

You better believe I got my picture taken with him and let me tell you he lives up to all the hype. I've met many a pro boater in my day but HeeHaw Jones is the consumate pro. He definately stands out from the rest. Learn more about HeeHaw at www.heehawjones.com

The movie was fantastic. Spencer's best work yet even if he says so himself. All of us here at the US National Whitewater Center are very proud of Cooper Lambla and his feature roll in the film. But even more so, we want to shout out high props to our own Garrett Bryant, USNWC Retail Manager extraordinaire, for his movie debut. Garrett's moment in the spotlight alone was worth the price of admission. Everybody needs to go see this movie. You can purchase it at www.effort.tv but I'm afraid you've missed your chance at an autographed copy from HeeHaw Jones. Garrett got one but he had to pay extra. Fame gets you nowhere.

Skateboarding Is Not A Crime

2008-01-31T19:34:00.001-05:00

Or at least is isn't for now. We may have to start banning it if our instruction staff continues to hurt themselves on skateboards.
There is always a stack of boards in the instruction office for folks to use when it is slow. This last week there has been a lot of down time so we've been getting creative with long board races, double-dog dares and stupid human tricks. As your paddling season slowly ramps up, keep skating and enjoying other outdoor activities but keep it safe people.
On a side note, Chris Wing does not endorse the use of packing tape as wound dressing.

Rollapalooza Rules!

2008-01-22T10:53:00.001-05:00

I'm standing there watching Brian Jennings, Brian Kirk, Yonton Mehler, Dane Jackson and Ruth Gordon teaching rolling, loops, cartwheels, t-rescues and other such nonsense all right next to each other and I'm thinking, "this rocks!"
Rollapalooza brought together the top athletes in the industry along with all the top manufacterers for one night to share the sport of kayaking. I was amazed by how many people showed up.
Myself, Daniel, Jon and Pablo all taught different clinics throughout the evening and got to meet some great folks from the Raleigh-Durham area.

Huge props to Raleigh Parks and Rec and Great Outdoor Provisions for putting on this fantastic event and kudos to all who made it through the nasty weather to get there. See you there next year!

2008: Gonna Be Great! or some weird tag line to kick off the year, preferably one that rhymes because 'rhyming is the bait in 2008'

2008-01-18T14:35:00.001-05:00

I've always thought it strange that the words tomb, comb and bomb don't rhyme. Anyways, as I think of all the fabulous rhymes and poems one could create about 'season 2008' all I really want to share is how many cool programs we have lined up already.

Tomorrow we are headed to the Raleigh Rollapalooza. If we make it through the snowstorm it should be great. Three hundred plus people looking to get into the sport of kayaking and learning from some of the top names in the industry. We'll post pictures soon.

April is going to be crazy busy. The USNWC is hosting the 2008 US Olympic Team Trials as well as the Pan American Slalom Championship April 25th - 27th. This event will be nationally televised and we are expected thousands of spectators. Tickets for the event can be purchased through Ticketmaster or visit our website.

Women's weekends are already on the schedule for this year. Anna Levesque will be joining us again along with other top female athletes in climbing and mountain biking on May 10-11 and July 19-20. We are hoping to expand into more opportunities for women to take advantage of all the programs we offer here.

The Thursday night concert series returns with a vengence. This year the series will host 23 nights of free entertainment. Yes, that's correct 23 Thursday nights of live music, food and beer specials, party atmosphere, etc. This concert series is not messing around.

We will be doing another race series but this year the folks from WorldKayak.com are stepping up and putting on a "shoot-out" series where all events are geared towards the average joe paddler. This series promises to be a lot of fun for all levels of boaters. More info on that soon.

Oh yea, we are offering a whole new smattering of instructional programs this year. Kids camps, teen freestyle and slalom clubs, lots more roll clinics, beginner playboating clinics, frequent flyer (paddler) memberships, and discounts to folks who sign up for four or more programs. Once we finish renovations to the Kayak Check-in building we will also have a new retail outlet.

Yep, lots of new stuff and bigger and better ideas for our second year. Can't wait to see you all out here soon.

Water is back on FEBRUARY 2ND!!!!

The REAL "Wildlife" at the USNWC

2007-12-28T16:42:00.000-05:00

No, you will not find it at a Raft Guide party, but on the Catawba River during one of our guided Kayak Tours. These tours are offered year round by appointment on Saturday and Sunday.

If you have wanted your family to paddle at the USNWC, but have children who are not old enough for rafting, we are your answer. Our minimum age is four years old and we have yet to find our maximum age, but based on experience, we know it is well over 70!

If you want to paddle at USNWC but are not interested in an adrenaline rush, we can help you there too. With no whitewater rapids to worry about, you can focus on taking in the scenery and enjoying the serenity of the Catawba River.

The wildlife we have seen on our tours include:

Great Blue Heron

Musk Rats

Wild Turkeys

Deer

River Otters

Osprey

King Fishers

Turtles

Bald Eagles

Here is a picture of one of our most frequently seen form of wildlife.

He is a great blue heron we call Walker. Yes, I named him. He received his moniker because he prefers not to fly away when you get too close. Instead he will wander into the woods until we pass by, or in this case move into a near by tree. He stands about five feet tall and has a wingspan of over seven feet yet weighs only 6 pounds!

If history floats your boat (or kayak in our case), our guides have lots of stories about the Catawba River and its unique impact on our region.

If you have never been Kayaking before, don't worry. Our experienced guides will help you with your paddle strokes and have you exploring the river with confidence.

Our boat launch is just a short walk from the Kayak Check-in building and there are miles of shoreline to explore. Call us at 704.391.3900 to book your adventure.

Holidays Bring Out The Best In People

2007-12-11T22:15:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays everyone! Our company holiday party went off with great success. Good food, good times and great people.
Here's Ted, Mike, John, Sanders, Cooper, and Tuan spreading holiday cheer.

Garrett and Mike decided to ring in the holiday season with cardigans and hawaiian shirts. To each his own.

And remember, you too could work for this man. We are currently hiring for the 2008 season.

Spread Some Holiday Cheer

2007-11-30T16:24:00.001-05:00

The holidays are upon us and we've created plenty of ways for you to share some holiday cheer. Parades, candy cane hunts, breakfast with Santa and best of all, "Santa Paws", photos taken with Santa and your four footed loved ones. Here's Morgan-the-dog and I getting our Christmas cards ready.

Check out our website at www.usnwc.org to see specific details about how you can be part of the holiday spirit. Remember to TAKE IT OUTSIDE this winter!

It's The People That Make The Difference

2007-11-24T18:05:00.000-05:00

What a year it has been! Our first full year of operation is wrapping up and I'm almost to a place I can take a deep breath, look around and smile at what we have accomplished. I very purposefully say what we have accomplished because none of this year would have been successful without the great people that work here. Attached are some photos of our whitewater instruction staff through training and into the fall. Now, the whitewater staff aren't the only ones who deserve big props. Everyone who works for the Center are essentially "front line" personnel and are very appreciated. Way to go! to folks working in the restaurant, reatil store, front desk, reservations, maintenance, banquet, climbing, high adventure, rafting, flatwater, group sales, marketing, finance, human resources and kayak check-in. It takes a lot of dedicated folks to make this place happen. As you visit the Center over the holidays please take a moment and say thanks to those who've worked here in our first season. They are the true heart of this place.

Here's a shot of our first day of instructor training. This is not a group of people who enjoy being in a classroom super early in the morning.

Once we got outside things turned for the better but I remember that it was a very cold March day.

We spent a good amount of time teaching each other new skills. I don't exactly remember the skill set we were learning from Harriet that morning but I do remember how much we laughed.

As the season progressed we started to see some new faces on the staff and with such a great mix of people it just got sillier and sillier.

A lot of what we worked on was trying new approaches to teaching kayaking so we partnered up to try different theories.

We did a second round of training later in the season with a great new group of folks.

Here's Harriet with some guests.

Chris has ninja skills when it comes to teaching rolling.

After numerous physical mishaps, Sanders decided to go the safe route in choosing his attire for the day.

Some of the season's highlights were off the water.

If any of you know Ken, watching him paddle is a rare sight.

I'm not always sure what goes on in my office when I'm not there.

We are currently hiring experienced kayak instructors for the 2008 season. If you are interested in applying, contact Sarah Harper at sharper@usnwc.org for more information.

Cleanup on Sadler Island

2007-11-02T09:02:00.001-05:00

Neil Allen leads our guided flatwater trips on the Catawba River. Neil took the initiative to start cleaning up parts of the river as part of the National River Clean-up day in early October.

Neil wrote: These pics are from a cleanup project on Sadler Island. I had noticed during our flatwater trips that much of the shoreline is strewn with litter, mainly cans and bottles left over from fishermen. Just by picking up for an hour over the course of 2 days, I was able to cover one side of the island and collect nearly 100 pounds of trash. This project will continue to cover the shoreline of the Catawba from Long Creek to the I-85 bridge, as well as routine cleanups on Sadler in an effort to protect the environment and beautify trips for our customers.

Keep up the good work Neil! We continue to offer flatwater trips on the Catawba throughout the winter. Paddling in December is a unique look at the natural river environment that the USNWC is part of.

USNWC Staff Profile - Tuan Truong

2007-10-26T15:37:00.000-05:00

Tuan is a great example of how the USNWC can build competent gnar boaters in a minimal amount of time thanks to accessibility as well as close proximity to many expert and elite paddlers. Tuan came to us earlier this past year and since then has became a dynamic raft guide and a thoughtful kayak instructor. It is for these reasons I decided to profile Tuan Truong by asking him a few questions.

USNWC: How long have you been working with us Tuan?

Tuan: Since July for instruction, and I guess October of 06 for rafting. I got my start with High Ropes though.

USNWC: And how long have you been boating?

Tuan: I've been swimming out of my kayak since April, sometimes I try to stay in my boat though.

USNWC: Our readers are dying to know, are you single?

Tuan: (In a morose voice) Yes....

USNWC: Have you actually ever paddled any "real" rivers, if so, how did you do?

Tuan: Yes, the Lower Green, it actually frightened me quite a bit though, (Note to our readers: he was frightened of the prominence of scary rednecks) as well as the Ocoee, Cheoah, Upper Gauley, and Wilson Creek.

USNWC: Wow, that's quite a list Tuan, since April, right?

Tuan: Yeah actually

USNWC: Do you think your experience at the USNWC has been a contributing factor to your sucess on the water? By success I mean, your ability to carp air so well before executing a roll?

Tuan: (With a quizzical look) Carp air? Absolutely, I learned a lot about boat control in pushy water. Also, my training as a kayak instructor has helped me think critically about my skills as well as others.

USNWC: What paddling products do you like to accessorize with?

Tuan: NRS, IR, TEVA (and yes, he pronounced TEVA wrong), and all the other free stuff I can get my grubby raft guide hands on.

USNWC: If you could be any "Bad to the Bone" boater, who would you be and why? Don't worry,I know you already like me the best, but just humour me...

Tuan: I don't know... mmm... How about Cooper, I definitely wish I could be Cooper. (Cooper Lambla can be heard in the background making sly comments to the ladies)

USNWC: Do you hope that this prestigous interview brings you widespread notariety?

Tuan: I hope so, but I would love to see what Cooper would say to this question.

USNWC: Alright Tuan, one last question. What is your favorite paddling moment with me on the river?

Tuan: That night we went play boating together and you showed me how to roll up after a catching a fish in your mouth.

USNWC: Thanks Tuan for being so patient and sitting through this interview.

Tuan: (He laughs mockingly)

Rain or Shine – National Teams Train Hard

2007-10-26T12:42:00.000-05:00

Conviction is what it takes to train hard in inclement weather, and it takes passion to be that deeply convicted. While most others are out on the rivers of Western North Carolina, our U.S. National Canoe/Kayak Team is out training just as if it were any other drought stricken day. Since arriving at the U.S. National Whitewater Center I have admired what “our” team puts into their passion.

Apparently this conviction has rubbed off on others, as there are many people training for different events in different disciplines of canoeing and kayaking. The Whitewater Center has been busy with those training for the Russell Fork and Green Races as well as a few who have been putting in some extra time honing their freestyle skills for competition.

Soggy days in Charlotte provide a perfect setting for those looking to train and learn as the huge weekend crowds clear out and make room for those a little more focused on their boating goals.

Spreading the Good Word

2007-09-09T17:53:00.001-05:00

Tom's of Maine, makers of tasty, all natural toothpaste, hosted a National River Awareness Day through our local EarthFare grocery store. The grill was going serving up tasty, organic burgers and not-as-tasty-but-pretty-darn-good chicken bratworst (being from the midwest it is hard to accept any bratworst other than the famous Johnsonville brat boiled in beer and then grilled to perfection - Thanks Ted for the recipe). All of the proceeds went to the Catawba RiverKeepers and the US National Whitewater Center. Each organization was there to spread the good word about river awareness, conservation and education. The Catawba RiverKeepers, "advocate for and secures protection and enhancement of the Catawba River, its lakes, tributaries and watershed so that it will always sustain the human and wildlife populations that depend on it for life." That is a pretty burly mission statement and the volunteers that support the cause are passionate about what they do. Here's Ed, one of the Catawba RiverKeeper volunteers spreadin' the good word about conservation issues surrounding the Catawba.

Participating in events such as these always brings me back to the USNWC Mission Statement and the top three reasons that I work for this organization. The USNWC’s mission is to build stronger communities by: Promoting healthy and active lifestyles, Developing environmental stewardship, and, Encouraging family/civic interaction. It's so cool to see the mission in action at places like EarthFare and working with groups like Tom's of Maine and the Catawba RiverKeepers. I hope to continue to seek opportunities to spread the good word.

Daniel Goes Huge

2007-08-17T09:03:00.000-05:00

Daniel Stewart started his journey with the USNWC last summer in the Guest Services department. We quickly saw his potential, not only as a phenomenal paddler but also in his ability to share the sport he loves with others. Daniel has quickly become one of our most requested kayak instructors due to his patience, keen understanding of the physics of kayaking and level of maturity. Daniel is moving on to a new adventure. This year he will be travelling with Academy of Huge Experiences kayak school to Canada, China and Chile.

Daniel wrote a brief overview of his upcoming trip:

Most teenagers aren’t looking forward to going back to school this August. But, then again, most will simply be settling back into the routine I’ve been a part of for the last three years. For my senior year, however, I will be attending The New River Academy/The Academy of Huge Experiences, a high school program that travels the globe in pursuit of whitewater. For the last three years whitewater kayaking has been a huge part of my life, and attending this school is a great opportunity for any young kayaker. For the fall semester, we will be in Canada and later on, China kayaking the numerous rivers these countries have to offer.
In addition to focusing on my own kayaking and improving my skills, I will also be involved with video work connected with LVM, a paddling video magazine. I have been interested in video for some time, and was lucky enough to receive a video scholarship in conjunction with attending Huge. Two of my classes will be dedicated to video and video editing, a tedious and time-consuming process, but also a rewarding one. Video is a great way for our sport to receive exposure and continue to grow; the increasing numbers of videos released in recent years provide an easy way for people to become interested in the sport.
Attending Huge will allow me to paddle overseas and experience new culture and countries, as well as allow me to attend competitions and make videos that otherwise would have been impossible. I am an avid freestyle kayaker but enjoy steep creeking and downriver races the most. Living in North Carolina allows for many opportunities to creek, which I take advantage of as much as I can. There are freestyle opportunities, but creeks are much easier to be found. Now that the US National Whitewater Center has been built, however, I have been able to practice freestyle while we have been in this summer drought! Attending Huge will allow me to do all of this, with quite a bit of video on the side.

To learn more about Huge Experiences, check out their website at http://www.huge-experiences.com/
We all wish Daniel the best of luck on his new adventure and cannot wait to see him back next summer. Should we ever miss him we'll just have to look on any one of the numerous USNWC brochures, posters, banner ads, etc. because that kids face is plastered on everything around here.

Feeling Thirsty on Thursday?

2007-08-06T14:52:00.000-05:00

On Thursday nights, the US National Whitewater Center is the place to be. Although it is not to promote both drinking and paddling in the same sentance, each Thursday night in August we are hosting a concert series with live music on the porch overlooking the center. It's pretty sweet! Drink specials galore, $0.25 wings (yummy and hot, just like you like em) and special on-water programs round out a fabulous Thursday.

July Was A Blur: A Look At Women's Weekend, Race Series Results, ICF Jr. Wildwater World Championships and Deep Thoughts About Fountains

2007-08-02T14:48:00.000-05:00

Six months ago we were walking around the course, talking about what this place would look like once we were in full swing. I paused for a moment last week and thought, "so this is what it looks like." Boats filled with happy rafters, the climbing wall fully animated at all levels, families walking around, groups in the conference center, the retail shop packed with souvenier seeking tourists, the patio filled with happy restaurant patrons, all the flatwater boats being used on the Catawba river and bikers a plenty out in the woods.

The second women's weekend of the season took place July 14th and 15th. The Dirt Divas were back hosting mountain bike clinics for all abilities. Here's Jen Dilworth going over some good beta about bike maintenance, trail etiquete and appropriate gear.

Anna Levesque returned for another Girls At Play weekend.
It is always so cool to see more women get into kayaking.

Pyranha was on hand to host another part of our race series. The brought an entire fleet of Speeders for us to race down the comp channel. This was one of the most entertaining races we've held to date. Lots of carnage, lots of sneaky game to gain the lead. Both Kevin and Dinver from Pyranha showed amazing skill and athleticism as they stomped some of our younger locals. I'll add in the exact results once I find the waded up piece of scrap paper I wrote it on which I think is still in a pair of jeans somewhere in the closet.
Some Charlotte locals love the race series so much they've been jumping out of their boats to say so.

The Jr. Wildwater World Championships was the first Internation Canoe Federation event we've held here at the USNWC. It was so impressive to see sixteen different countries represented here in Charlotte.The fans were amazing. Lots of national pride, lots of support for these athletes. I hope we get to continue having these international events if only to continue to bring awareness to the sport of kayaking here in the US.
Taking pictures of wildwater boaters is a challenge. These kids fly!

Last weekend I had the chance to visit Philadelphia. Although it is nowhere near the city of brotherly love like they try to make you believe (I almost got mugged in broad daylight), Philadelphia has one really cool feature; it is legal to play in all public fountains. And after walking around the Constitution Center and various other neat historical attractions, that is exactly what I did. As I watched the droves of folks young and old enjoying the respite from the heat, I began to understand that I am not the only one who has a keen, inherent attraction to water.
City fountains are just one way people can enjoy water. Aren't we lucky to have what we have here in Charlotte to meet our inherent needs. Of course, we don't have cool statues just yet.

Charlotte Gets High Props

2007-06-28T22:09:00.000-05:00

I'm having dinner of ice cream and beer, flipping through Shape magazine, checking out how I can get firmer abs (preferably while not having to give up beer or ice cream), there is a picture of me paddling (probably when I should have been working).
No, that's not me on the cover, but LeAnn Rimes does credit her yoga routine for the level of fitmess displayed here. Hurrah for yoga.
The recognition for Charlotte's different healthy outdoor pursuits is fantastic. Great coverage of the USNWC, Ballyntine Resort, and numerous local, luxury golf courses. Be sure to pick up a copy.

Hurrah for Charlotte, hurrah for the US National Whitewater Center, hurrah for healthy outdoor lifestyles, hurrah for beer and ice cream!

Proud Moments

2007-06-28T21:49:00.000-05:00

Today we had four guests come to paddle the course who had all learned to paddle from our instruction program. We've watched these folks progress from absolute beginner, learning to roll, learning to read water and finding their sense of balance to the point that they are styling the channels. If you've paddled here, you know how challenging a course it is with its swirly eddies and surgy features. It's so cool to see these four paddle with style and confidence knowing that they barely just started their lifelong paddling careers. Congratulations Tracy, Ted, Tim and Sam. I'm so proud of each of you sticking with the sport and with instruction programs to get to this level.

Kids and Cowbells

2007-06-24T18:43:00.000-05:00

This Saturday we hosted our first Kid's Weekend. Kids events and activities were going on everywhere. We had full clinics of kids in whitewater. How cool would it be to learn at this age? It amazes me of how good these kids get so quickly. That, and they are typically having a lot more fun learning than your average adult.Both Bass Pro Shop and REI were on hand as event sponsors adding to the list of activities for kids. The archery range that we built next to the Comp Channel stayed busy all day with the help of Bass Pro Shop professionals teaching kids how to shoot a bow and arrow.

With the help of our super friendly summer interns, the Ducky race was a huge hit.

We even had a real Nascar race car on hand for kids and their families to check out.
It seemed a little out of place but this is Nascar country and it would be bad to forget that rubbin is racin.

Flatwater is a fantastic way for families with children to get on the water.
The Catawba is a great place to explore and the sit on top kayaks from LiquidLogic make it easy to navigate your way to the ins and outs of this fantastic waterway.

Lastly, amongst the thrills of kids weekend, we simutaniously held the Cowbell Challenge, a 12 hour mountain bike ride.
That's right, 12 HOURS!!! of being on a bike. My butt hurt just watching these guys. After watching less than one hour of the twelve, I figured it was way too hot and made my way back to the paddlesports side of things.

A big thanks to all the kids and families that came out to participate in our first kids weekend. Thank you to all of our sponsors for helping make it happen.

God Hates the Race Series

2007-06-12T15:07:00.000-05:00

We've held the race series in 30 degree temperatures. We've put it on regardless of gail force winds. The race series continued even in the face of torrential rain fall. This last week, after three futile attempts, God finally shut us down. Lightening bumped its way through the greater Charlotte region on the eve of the LiquidLogic race. We held tough as long as possible, but the race down the channels quickly changed into a race to the bar. Woody Calloway, LiquidLogic Marketing Manager and all around cool guy, would not be swayed to give up by the mere onslot of lightening. He vowed to return this coming Friday night for a rematch of the USNWC Race Series vs. weather. That's right, LL returns to host a head to head citizen slalom down the wilderness channel Friday, June 15th. Only $5 to enter, great prizes provided by Woody and his disregard for our precociuos weather patterns. See you there.

Cooper at the Teva Mountain Games

2007-06-04T19:01:00.000-05:00

Cooper Lambla, kayak isntructor extraordinaire, fired up the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado last week. In his first lap he placed 11th beating out both Eric Jackson and Tommy Hilleke. Finishing 18th overall, we're all very proud of Cooper's accomplishment and can't wait to see some of the video footage from his western road trip. Cooper is just one of our many highly esteemed instructors. We'll keep you updated on all of the activity of our staff throughout the season.

Race Series Is On!

2007-06-04T18:31:00.000-05:00

The next instalment of the USNWC Race Series is this Friday night. The good folks from LiquidLogic will be on hand to help with the entertainment. We'll have our Race Series t-shirts on sale for $10 plus tax on race day. Hope to see you out here.

This Friday's race is a citizen slalom down the Wilderness Channel. Beginner and intermediate paddlers are encouraged to participate.

Memorial Day Weekend

2007-05-22T15:14:00.000-05:00

The most relaxing weekend of the summer is upon us. Memorial Day weekend is looking like we are going to have some great weather. Come out the the US National Whitewater Center to enjoy all that we have to offer. Flatwater paddling, trail running, mountian biking, whitewater rafting, kayak instruction, rock climbing, team building, food, beverages, music, shopping: what else could you want from a weekend. Don't forget, we now rent mountian bikes! New trail maps are available for purchase at our retail store.
Some lucky few will receive a burger flipped by none other than our famous executive director, Jeff Wise. Look forward to seeing you out here. Enjoy the sunshine and the beginning of summer.

Media Frenzy

2007-05-22T14:41:00.001-05:00

The Center was a buzz with media coverage this past weekend. Two television crews were at the USNWC featuring all that we have to offer. To start, paddler Tao Berman and Nascar driver Brian Vickers, both Red Bull sponsored athletes, swapped experiences. Tao taught Brian to paddle and Brian got Tao behind the wheel. Cameras and audio booms everywhere made for a pretty entertaining scene both on the water and off. Here's the link to the Red Bull video http://www.teamredbull.com/video.php?id=272
Since both tv crews were from Discovery Channel, Tao knew some of the folks from the other crew from his Stunt Junkies experience.

A new show on the Discovery Channel is Really Big Things with host Matt Rogers. The show features massive man-made wonders that change the way we live. What a perfect fit for the Whitewater Center. The show airs Tuesdays at 8pm est. Later posts will update exact air times. Here's a shot of host Matt Rogers learning to kayak from our star instructor Daniel Stewart.

Guided Flatwater Trips

2007-05-22T14:21:00.000-05:00

Our flatwater program is becoming the most popular trip we offer. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday join us on one of our guided trips along the Catawba River. Use one of our recreation sit on top kayaks as you navigate your way through Long Creek or circumnavigate Sadler Island. Check out the reminants of the historical Tuckaseegee Ford Trail and the history that connects the Catawba to the growth of Charlotte and western North Carolina.

Families can enjoy this flatwater experience. Ages five and up are encouraged to participate. With over 1.5 miles of riverfront property, paddling on the Catawba with its dense vegetation and wildlife will make you feel as though you are miles away from the city.

Skills Clinics

2007-05-15T13:54:00.000-05:00

Every Thursday night at 6:30 our top instructors will be on hand to teach our intermediate skills clinics. Each week
we will offer unique opportunities to perfect different skill sets. Programs change
weekly in order to offer something for everyone. Spots are limited. Reservations can be made at (704) 391-3900. Enroll now!
Here's the list of what we offer:

Essential Freestyle Skills – April 26th, July 12th.

Slalom Technique for Recreational Paddlers – May 3rd, July 19th.

Advanced Rope Throwing – May 10th, July 26th.

The Magic Tricks of Kayaking – May 17th, August 2.

The Thrust Behind the Advanced Forward Stroke – May 24th, August 9th.

River Running Strategies – May 31st, August 16th.

Back Deck Roll Made Easy – June 7th, August 23rd.

Perfect Your Draw Strokes – June 14th, August 30th.

Rescue Vests/ Tow Tethers/ Hand’s-Of-God – June 21st, September 6th.

Surfing Shred Session – June 28th, September 13th.

Bow Stalls Demystified – July 5th, September 20th.

Check out our website for the specifics of each course.

Roll Clinics

2007-05-15T07:25:00.000-05:00

Group roll clinics are happening every Wednesday and Thursday night at the US National Whitewater Center. Low student to instructor ratios guarantee more individualized attention and get you rolling quicker. Never tried to roll before? Thursday clinics are focused for beginner rollers. We go over the basics of how the boat can transition from upside down to upright. Have you been working on your roll and need a little help and guidance? Our Wednesday night Roll Tune-Up clinic would be perfect. We can work on your c-to-c, sweep, backdeck and off-side roll to help you gain more confidence on the river. Call our reservationists at (704) 391-3900 to sign up now. See you there.

Riot Karaoke Night

2007-05-05T23:03:00.000-05:00

The folks from Riot came out in full force and the race was on. Nine competitors went individually down the competition channel for their pole position. Three heats of three raced down to determine who would come out ahead. Finally, it was down to the top three. Jon Angermeier pulled ahead at the top of the big drop and there was no looking back. Here's a shot of our finalists, Jon in 1st place, Daniel Stewart 2nd and Will Berkeley in 3rd. Spencer Cooke was able to provide great prizes for our winners including a pair of Mion sandals and a copy of Buck Fever on VHS (a three part coming of age series about a man and his love for donkeys).

The race seemed secondary to what we were about experience. Members of the local Charlotte paddling club, the Mecklenberg Regional Paddlers (MRP), showed up in good form to participate in Riot's "Don't Quit Your Day Job" Karaoke Tour sponsored by Mion, Shred Ready, H2O Audio, Smiley's Nose Plugs and many others. Andy Travis got the evening kicked off and the crowd pumped with a solid representation of Vanilla Ice's Ice Ice Baby.

Spencer and Riot paddler Nathan Silsbee were on hand as official judges. Great prizes were awarded to the performances that wowed the crowd.

Brentley and Ashley did their rendition of She Bang in true William Hung style.

I don't remember what John and Josh sang (and I'm pretty sure neither John or Josh remember either) but it looks romantic.

Brentley, Andy, Josh and Ashley ended the evening with Celine Dions love theme song from the movie Titantic, My Heart Will Go On. The crowd was deeply touched, grown men were weeping, and I saw a tear fall from Chris Gratman's eye. We all had a group hug and held each other until the moment passed. It was a great evening. Can't wait to see the tour at Gauley Fest.

So Much To Say

2007-05-02T19:22:00.000-05:00

There is so much going on at the USNWC I don't know where to begin. Starting next week all of our weekly group programs begin. Beginner roll sessions, roll tune-ups and beginner samplers are ready for sign ups. Call reservations for availablity and to book your spot now.
Last week was the beginning of our weekly skills clinic where each Thursday night we teach different skill sets such as draw strokes, back deck rolls, and freestyle. Here's the link to our website to learn more.
http://app.wampower.net/WamUser/UserFiles/333/File/USNWCSkillsClinics(1).pdf
Tomorrow night is slalom skills for recreational boaters taught by our local slalom phenoms Scott Mann and Pablo McCandless.

This Friday night continues our Race Series as Riot hosts the next head to head downriver race down the competition channel. After the race Riot is putting on the second leg of their Karoake Tour. This is sure to be an absolute blast.

Our flatwater program is now up and running. A day on the Catawba paddling one of our LiquidLogic Mantaray sit-on-top kayaks is fabulous. All of our trips are guided by our friendly and knowledgeable staff to share with you the local history, flora and fauna, and different places to explore.

This busy week is just another example of how much is constantly going on here at the Whitewater Center.

US Team Trials

2007-04-30T07:05:00.000-05:00

The USACK Team Trials just wrapped up Sunday afternoon. The entire weekend was an impressive display of athleticism and fortitude. The course changed each day offering harder and harder challenges to racers. Sundays race had an ambitious gate on the river right eddie just above the big drop on the competition channel. That's a scary place to be let alone glide with precision between two sticks. The race was enjoyable to watch but most importantly it was great to see some of the USNWC staff and community do so well.

A reminder...Hawfield road is now paved. Please Drive Slow!

Staff Night

2007-04-26T07:32:00.000-05:00

One of the best perks of working at the USNWC is the opportunity to take advantage of all the activities the facility provides. Last night, the instruction staff hosted free kayak clinics for staff. Lots of folks from food and beverage, guest services, climbing and rafting showed up to work on skills or experience their first time in a boat. Here's some photos.

We have a great staff of friendly people who like to play hard and work hard! I love that we are living out our motto of 'Take It Outside.'
Interested in working here? We are currently hiring for all positions. Find an application on our website.

Riot Demo Reviews

2007-04-24T16:00:00.000-05:00

One of our new instructors, Daniel Stewart, spent the day test driving each of our new Riot Demos. Here's what he had to say:

The demo boats from Riot have just arrived at the USNWC and I took it upon myself to break a few of them in. Specifically, we received an Astro 54, Astro 58, Nitro 58, Thunder 65, and Magnum 72. I tried all of them except the Astro 58.
My Stats
Ht. 5’11”
Wt. 160
17 yrs old, 6 years paddling

Astro 54
This boat is pretty easy to get tricky with. At my weight, I kept my review of this design to the 54 gallon model only. That said, this boat has ups. After getting fitted correctly into its lime-green nastiness, I hit up the wilderness side for some playboating.
The first place I took it was a medium-sized wave on the rodeo channel. This wave surges a lot, but it has a nice green left shoulder to launch righty blunts, backstabs, and other more advanced moves if you are so inclined. The edge transitions were nice, snappy, and controlled. This boat really wants to get out of the water. Unlike many other Riot boats of the past, this boat favors more of a bounce style than a hard carving style; still, it will hold an edge when you need it to, and the bounces go big! Air blunts and backstabs went really well, with an emphasis on the stabs. They were effortless.
Secondly, I took the Astro to a small wave-hole that will give up loops, a few ends, the occasional mcnasty, and… well, not much else. The loops were big. It sometimes was challenging to plug in (due as much to the low angled greenwater as the rocker of the boat), but plug in right and you will fly. Cartwheels were balanced, like a lot of the boats these days a little more effort has to be put in on bow ends. I had trouble linking more than two or three ends in a row, but the feature is really flushy. Later, I took it to a small cartwheel hole and didn’t have much trouble linking five, six, or more ends.
Lastly, I took a few rides on the dubbed, “M-wave,” a feature designed to mimic the original M-Wave in Colorado. This wave has a large retentive foampile with greenwater to bounce off on the bottom and sides. It is also only a couple inches deep, complicating matters further. The boat skipped and hopped like a stone, spinning in circles like a top. Good thing I am immune to the dizzy factor. This made it a little difficult to control coming down the pile, but nevertheless a few blunts were launched. Once again, this boat likes to get up. Air blunts snapped around quickly and easily. Honestly, I didn’t try many other tricks due to a recent injury to my hand and the possibility of re-injuring it on the shallow bottom, a big no-no before prom. Can’t have bad hands.
Overall, I liked the boat a lot. It isn’t too forgiving, but you can’t have it all. Honestly, in my position, there’s not much I would change about it. Gotta sacrifice some downriver for some play. It is a playboat, afterall.

Thunder 65
For my time in the Thunder, I took it over to the class 3-4 Competition Channel. This boat was easy to paddle. It did not take any time to get used to; I immediately felt at home in what it was: a river runner. I didn’t feel it truly excelled in any one area, but it responded really well and easily made all the moves I wanted it to. Unlike a true creekboat, the edges were pretty hard, something I enjoyed in the pushier style of water. The speed was good, it was there, but it was not exceptional.
For a little workout, I went down the last class 4 drop on the channel, a hard left-hand turn into a chute that ends with a hole and turbulent eddies on either side. In this drop are numerous difficult eddies, but the Thunder made them seem easy. I caught every eddy I wanted, and even attained up a few of the sections. The edges really helped here, they are hard. For this, a beginner might not find it so friendly, but in the long run, it would be a great beginner boat. Personally, I want something more creeky. But for pushy water and river running, the Thunder will be hard to beat.

Magnum 72
The Magnum is a boat I’ve long wanted to really check out. Many of my friends absolutely love it. After spending time in it, I agree. This is a great boat. Like many other new-age creekers, it gets up and over stuff. Really well. I mainly used this boat for a race, where two of its main characteristics really came out: the speed (especially for its length) and the up and over quality. This really helped in carrying speed through drops. For a creekboat, though, it definitely has some edges. They are not as pronounced as the Thunder, but they are there. I’m not sure if I like that in a creekboat. However, for pushy water, such as the park, it is awesome. But maybe that small sacrifice on less-pushy creeks is worth it, especially for when those creeks get high, pushy, and still have all that gradient! Try one out, it’s worth your while, and see what you decide

You can demo these boats through the kayak check-in building. The cost is $15 for an hour and a half session trying as many boats as you want within the time frame.

Jackson Kayak and Hotel Charley

2007-04-22T07:31:00.000-05:00

Another fun filled Friday. Colin Kemp represented Jackson Kayak as a host for the second installment of our race series. He put on a great event. The relay consisted of three person teams. Each leg of the race had a floating JK carabiner which he or she had to pass off to their teams boat until all three were connected to the finish line. After the race, we had the grill out for burgers and brats and filled a raft with tasty beverages. It was a great atmosphere. JK provided the awards for the top three teams including patagonia base layers and beanies and raffled off a creek float bag. Thanks to all who came out and made it a fun night.

Colin Kemp, Jackson Kayak team member and ambassador, discribing the race to participants and handing out bibs.

Coming down fast in the first leg.

Playing a little rough in the transition eddie.

Speeding through M-Wave.

At times it was a jumble of chaos. Even though it looks like he is about to swim, Ashley did hit his roll.

The finish line with the River Center in the background.

Colin and James from Diamond Brand introducing the east coast premier of Hotel Charley vol. 2: River of Doubt. Great footage, enjoyable music, amazing drops. So glad folks came out to enjoy the evening at the Center.

Ya Gotta Have Friends

2007-04-15T07:32:00.000-05:00

We were fortunate and excited to have our friends from NOC Instruction come for a visit. It's always a blast to share the Center with friends who have never been here before. That, and anytime paddling with friends always ends up with memorable moments. And not just Herms huge kick flip off the wave at "biscuits and gravy" or Wayner blunting right and left on the Rodeo channel or the sillyness we had on the water but also eating together on the porch, walking around the site and sharing being outside are all part of the experience that make being here with good friends worth it and memorable.

Don't forget to share this special place with your friends. They might give you weird looks about it but that's okay.

Instruction Equipment

2007-04-09T15:52:00.000-05:00

We've been busy this week with new equipment arriving daily. With so many new people getting into the sport of whitewater kayaking, putting them in gear that is not only comfortable but utilitarian is definately going to enhance their experience on the water. There's lots of thoughts about what gear and boats to use when you are first getting into the sport. There is also plenty to choose from. As we unwrap our new instruction products, I thought I'd share which products we use in USNWC Instruction programs and why we chose these items.

Let's start with helmets. Shred Ready's Super Scrappy helmet has some sweet details that make it easy to use in instruction programs. The size inserts are easy to put in and take out while the HOG (Hands Of God) Retention system rocks! One helmet can fit a huge range of different size heads with very little effort.

This year we have chosen to go with Astral Tempo 200 PFD's and IR Zephyr splash jackets. Astral is "what's hot" in personal floatation. They are stylish, comfortable and with the front zip, easy to fit different body types. Immersion Research is another company that is hip, stylish and functional all at the same time. Although the Zephyr jacket is somewhat simple in design, the 2 layer waterproof material and antimicrobrial mesh liner make it great to use day after day with back to back clinics.

Snap Dragon skirts are great for instructional programs for a number of reasons. They are easy to put on a lot of different sized cockpits so we can put our guests in Dagger boats, Pyranha boats, Liquid Logic and so on all with the same skirt that is easy for the guest to put on themselves. Also, you can order them with an additional implosion bar which gives beginners an extra ejection bar to wet exit from the boat. The biggest plus is that their grab loops are color coded to size. Makes it a no brainer when you're teaching a bunch of people each day.

Personally, I've never paddled anything other than Werner paddles. The diversity of their line makes me question if I will ever need to paddle anything different. Bent shaft, small shaft, different lengths, different blades, different feathers, so many options to play with and try. Later, we'll post some thoughts about differences in paddles. The zero degree topic is one that we play with a lot. Our fleet of paddles this year consist of 194 and 197 Werner Desperados with both 45 degree and 0 degree offset.

Within our five year plan, we hope to be one of the largest kid's whitewater instructional programs in the nation. To kick start this notion we've started to aquire kid specific gear. We've purchased a full line of smaller Jackson Fun series. This enables us to accomodate younger paddlers with a fun and comfortable experience.

Then there is the whole issue of boats. I'm not even going to venture into the discussion of what boats are better for instruction (if all comes down to what fits, what's comfortable, what works for the individual) but I will say that a long stack of pretty, new, shiny boats sure does make me giddy. New toys!

Speaking of new toys, the camera I've been using for all of these blog posts was purchased because of its waterproof quality. The Pentax Optio WP 7 megapixel set up has been fantastic for underwater stills and video. Last week I went to the Botanical Garden and found out just how great this new toy is for everyday, above water shots as well. Here's a few examples.

Paddle Like A Girl!!!

2007-04-02T07:26:00.000-05:00

Hurray for our first women's weekend. What a great turn out with twenty four women attending our whitewater kayaking clinics with Anna Levesque and myself. It was such a priviledge to have Anna here sharing her passion for the sport and her approach to women's learning styles. Anna's business, Girls At Play, is an entrepreneurial inspiration because by creating emotionally safe environments in clinics they then become avenues for more female participation in the sport as a whole, thereby ensuring new users in the industry and making the sport broader and more assesible to a larger population. Girls At Play is brilliant in its simplicity as well as within the big picture. Anna has started a new forum as a resource for women paddlers. This forum is an opportunity to post reviews of gear, trips, and instruction. Also, you can post your ideas and comments in the general forum or ask an expert female boater how to improve your technique. Check it out at http://www.watergirlsatplay.com/forums/
Here are some photos from the intro, playboating and rolling clinics.

It is finally spring! Don't forget to go outside.

Women's Weekend

2007-03-25T20:16:00.000-05:00

Our first Women's Weekend is just around the corner. We will be hosting climbing and kayaking clinics specifically for women. There is no better time than now to sign up yourself, your wife, girlfriend, etc. This is an unbelievable opportunity (big names in the industry and ridiculously cheap) to learn a new sport. Sign up for kayaking or climbing or both. Plenty of time slots to choose from. There are also mountian biking clinics and trail riding clinics for FREE! Call to book your spot now.

Emily Taylor - #1 ranked intermediate adult female in USA Climbing, will be at the US National
Whitewater Center, Sunday April 1st, teaching climbing fundamentals, women on rock, and
efficiency of movement clinics. Climbing clinics will also be offered on Saturday by USNWC staff.

Anna Levesque - World Freestyle Medalist, Anna will be teaching kayaking clinics throughout
the weekend. Saturday, Anna will focus on Intro to Whitewater Kayaking and Sunday she will
focus on Intro to Freestyle Kayaking. Check out more about her here www.watergirlsatplay.com.

Mountain Biking will be taught by members of the Dirt Divas, Charlotte's Women only biking and
trail maintenance club.
Trail Running will be taught by Tracy Sproule of Sproule Fitness. You do
not need to pre-register for Trail Running or Mountain Biking Clinics, meet at the USNWC
trailhead at the appointed time.

REI Certified Bike Technicians will be offering free bike maintenance clinics to women on
Saturday March 3rd at Noon and 3pm. Bring your bike to get it tuned by the techs as well as learn
how to do basic improvements like changing a flat, fixing a chain, adjusting a derailleur and
tightening your brakes.

Saturday, March 31
9am Clinics Price
Intro to Whitewater Kayaking w/ Anna Levesque $55
Mt. Biking w/ Dirt Divas Free
Trial Running w/ Tracy Sproule (Sproule Fitness) Free

12pm Clinics
Intro to Whitewater Kayaking w/ Anna Levesque $55
Rock Climbing Sampler w/ USNWC Staff $13
Bike Maintenance Clinic Free

3pm Clinics
Intro to Whitewater Kayaking w/ Anna Levesque $55
Rock Climbing - Belay Class w/ USNWC Staff $20
Bike Maintenance Clinic Free
Mt. Biking w/ Linda Hudson Free

Sunday, April 1
10:30am- 12:30pm Clinic
Women on the Rock w/ Emily Taylor $30

12pm Clinic
Intro to Freestyle Kayaking w/ Anna Levesque $60

1:30pm- 3:30pm Clinic
Fundamentals of Climbing w/ Emily Taylor $30

3pm Clinic
Mt. Biking w/ Linda Hudson Free
Intro to Freestyle Kayaking w/ Anna Levesque $60

4pm- 6pm Clinic
Efficiency and Movement w/ Emily Taylor $35

Register for a clinic by calling the USNWC at 704-391-3900.

Stay tuned for details on our 2nd women’s weekend July 14th and 15th.

Eighty degrees

2007-03-25T07:30:00.000-05:00

That's right. It was eighty degrees on Saturday. And it's March. I couldn't think of anywhere else I would want to be on an eighty degree March Saturday but the whitewater center. I was not the only one with this notion.

There were over ninty five private boaters on the water and lots of folks enjoying the channels in rafts. Here is a shot of a group on the conveyor belt getting ready for another run.
Rafting is such an enjoyable way to experience whitewater. It is an activity you can share with your friends and family, it's exciting and different, and the raft guides know plenty of corny jokes to keep you thoroughly entertained.

Even with so many hard boaters, the channels didn't feel that crowded. It's amazing how much room there is to spread out. The only part that seemed busy was the ramp to put in. It was lined up with boats all day.

Starbuck hosted their World Water Day Walk for Water at the USNWC

Starbucks & WaterAid held a free three mile walk around the whitewater channels to raise awareness for improved sanitation, hygiene, and water access in third world countries. Everyone's participation helped raise money for WaterAid through Starbucks Make Your Mark giving program. Check out www.starbuck.com to learn more about Starbucks social conscious initiatives like this one. Lots of people were walking for this great cause.

Even On A Slow Day

2007-03-22T18:28:00.000-05:00

Even on a slow day there's a lot happening on the water at the US National Whitewater Center.

Raft guide training has been going on for the last couple of weeks. If you're thinking about a cool summer job, sign up for one of our guide schools and learn to be a raft guide. Here's a picture of one of our training boats on the water.

We had a group out paddling on the Catawba this afternoon. Our flatwater program is slowly getting off the ground. These guided trips are an awesome way to get outside and enjoy a nice day. Also, being able to explore the island and creeks in the area is pretty sweet. We'll post pictures soon.

There were a few folks out on the channels today. These days you essentially have the place to yourself when you paddle here. Who knows what it will look like with raft traffic and tons of boaters. With that in mind I'm loving the luxury of no lines and no rafts. I don't know how much longer that will last so get out here and take advantage of it while you can.

A lot of the US Canoe and Kayak team just got back from a big race in Brasil. Here's a picture of Zusanna who came in first at the PanAm and placed 15th in the world. She's freakin awesome. US Team Trials are being hosted here in April. There will be tons of slalom boaters from all over training here in the next few weeks. It will be cool to watch their workouts on the Comp channel

Even on a slow day there is a ton of stuff going on at the US National Whitewater Center.

Dagger

2007-03-19T08:57:00.000-05:00

The folks from Dagger showed up in full force this weekend. Snowy and Chris brought out the full line of 2007 boats before the race on Friday. Their new playboat "The Agent" is fantastic. I loved the prototype of it so much that I bought one for myself. They had free demos of the boats all weekend and all of the USNWC Instruction staff got to take them out on the water. So much fun!

Friday nights race was a good time. Eight competitors came to duke it out on the comp channel. A huge thank you to each of you who raced. The race ended with a head to head of all eight of them. No major carnage but some great photos.

The Eddy restaurant is almost open. Here's a picture of our executive chef, Michael Rosen, at the new bar. I got a sneak peak at the beer and wine selection along with a food tasting. This place is going to be awesome!

Pat Keller's creek clinic on Sunday was a great success. This group was boofing, catching eddies, picking good lines and having a ball.

We are thrilled to host such talented young paddlers like Pat and offer these unique learning opportunities to the public.

Races, Baddles and Boofin', oh my!

2007-03-16T07:44:00.000-05:00

Friday Night... Dagger is hosting a Head to Head Downriver Race down the competition channel from 7 to 9 pm. Great prizes, good fun and gargantuan carnage. $5 entry fee to participate. Registration is between 5 and 7 pm and the Kayak Check-In building.

Saturday... Jerry's Baddle is on! An extreme kayak and road bike race to benefit ALS research and the Green River Access Fund. Check out their website www.jerrysbaddle.org. LiquidLogic is hosting the party afterwards.
ALSO, Dagger will be having free boat demos at the USNWC all day.

Sunday... We'll be recouperating from St. Patty's day by joining Pat Keller and his "boofs and barley" clinic. Learn how to boat scout, catch micro-eddies and take better boof strokes. Call our reservations to book your spot. (704) 391-3900. 10% of proceeds are donated to American Whitewater.

AND... the Cheoah is releasing, the Cascades are coming up, the Ocoee is on...choices, choices, choices.

Everybody have a great weekend, stay safe, paddle hard.

I like Fridays!

2007-03-09T21:45:00.000-05:00

Fridays are good days to reply to phone messages. Fridays are also good days to paddle at the USNWC. I found myself doing both on this Friday. I called Chris Renyolds who is helping put together this years Jerry's Baddle, a bi-athlon of road riding and Green narrows paddling. This great event is next Saturday. If you aren't entered, get a buddy and get signed up now. It's one of the most challenging races around and there's a kickin' party afterwards hosted by LiquidLogic. Late in the afternoon I took a break to go paddling. It was nice to see some familiar faces out there. The water is getting warmer and the new playspot feature on the big water channel is super bouncy.

Lots of MRP folks on the water this afternoon. The MRP is the Mecklenberg Regional Paddlers, a social club for paddlers of all backgrounds. Jeff Wise, USNWC Exec. Director, sat down with a bunch of the MRP crowd this evening for a question and answer session. It was a nice glimpse of what it will be like this summer; Good food, good drinks, and a relaxed setting. I can't wait.

Also, our friend Spencer Cooke made another great video of the center. I hope this link works okay. Spencer is one of my favorite people in the whitewater industry. He is a phenominal paddler, a great sales rep, an all around nice guy and likes both skateboarding and punk rock music. Whats not to like. He is such a great ambassador for the sport of kayaking. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy the video.

And remember...NEXT FRIDAY IS OUR FIRST HEAD TO HEAD RACE HOSTED BY DAGGER AND SURE TO BE A GREAT TIME!!! Hurray for Fridays!

Instructor Training

2007-03-05T18:55:00.000-05:00

Another great weekend at the Center. It's great to see more familiar faces paddling here each week. This was the second weekend of instructor training. We have a fantastic pool of instructors training here to not only better their own skills but also figure out innovative ways to share their passion with others. The sun was out but it was still pretty darn cold. My favorite part of the day was the group paddle at the end. Why is it that paddling together really builds such a cool sense of team? I don't know of that many other activities where everyone is smiling, having fun, doing something different, challenging themselves all the while looking after each other at the same time. Kayaking rocks!

The Season Is Upon Us!!!

2007-03-01T17:05:00.000-05:00

The kayaking season is already a go. It's the first day of March and it's raining! Life doesn't get better than that in the realm of whitewater. I've been smiling all day thinking of the local creeks coming up. In just two weeks Pat Keller is going to be here teaching a creeking clinic. Pat, after winning the coveted IronMan at last fall's Green Race (he smoked the competition in both the long boat and short boat divisions down some really gnarlly class V rapids) and helping design the ultimate creek race boat, is coming to the US National Whitewater Center to share his knowledge with the rest of us. Check out his bio from the Team Dagger website http://www.teamdagger.com/ssp/bios?bio=12 . Sign up for this one of kind clinic now. An opportunity like this doesn't come along all that frequently. It's $75 for a two hour clinic. Ten percent of the proceeds go to American Whitewater. Also, don't forget the big race. Friday, March 16th, Dagger is kicking off the season with the first Head To Head Downriver race of the year. It is guaranteed to be a great time for all. See you there. Take It Outside.