The REAL "Wildlife" at the USNWC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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.