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.