If you've ever wanted to learn to kayak, or improve your whitewater paddling, this is the place to do it! Nantahala Outdoor Center is a nationally aclaimed kayak school located in South West North Carolina (border with TN). The week of May 18th, NOC is offering 3 different 4-day clinics: Novice, Level 1 intermediate, and Level 2 intermediate. NOC's cost for each clinic is $755. A friend and I will be going and it would be great to have others join. Regardless of which clinic, we can all hang out in the evening. Check out www.noc.com or email me (Alex) at amb617@hotmail.com.

[ January 05, 2003: Message edited by: athlete30s ]

Wow! I thought I was the only kayaker who posted on this board. Maybe it's an utterly ridiculous & obviously dangerous "sport", but it's what I live for. What rivers do you like to paddle?

I'm a new paddler - this will only be my second year. But I've taken a number of courses with Zoar Outdoor up here in Mass. So far, I've only paddled rivers up here (Class II with some III) - the Deerfield mainly. Need to expand! What about you?

Another whitewater paddler here, Appalachian Mountain Club Cl III solo open boat leader / instructor. Never been to Nantahala, but it's got a sterling reputation among AMC folks.

a30s, I love the Deerfield. It's a classic New England river, a narrow, rocky stream at the bottom of a steep valley, heavily-forested and fairly pristine. I've done the Cl II part a number times -- gives you time to relax and play for a while, then ends with a bang in the Zoar Gap rapid. What a blast. Never done the dryway section, figure it's fit only for the Cl IV boater with finesse and fearlessness, or the recreational non-boater protected by a big, stable, squishy raft and a hundred bucks... not that there's anything wrong with that!

Have a great time at NOC! SYOTR

[ January 06, 2003: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

Hmm, this sounds like fun. I went kayakying/rafting for the first time ever about a year ago on teh New and Gaully rivers in WV. I had a blast doing it, honestly, and want to go more. Is this an addicting sport or what?

Does this event require your own kayak? Maybe we need to find a group of outsports to raft somewhere?

Trevor

I’ve done most of the better known runs in the southeast. I have run the Chattooga more times than anything else—it’s a free-flowing, wilderness river that holds its water year-round. Usually I run the class 4 section, but there are easier sections as well. In Columbia, S.C., we’re lucky to have rapids & a quality play hole right in town, so it is always possible to get on the water after work during the week. During the warm months I sometimes work as a guide for a local outfitter. The southeastern river most comparable to the Deerfield, the Ocoee, is not one of my favorites (because of the crowds & pollution), but when there’s nothing else running, it will do. I’ve also run the Russell Fork Gorge in Virginia & the Tallulah Gorge in Georgia.

Though I love to surf a wave & cartwheel a hole, I feel most at home on steep creeks. Right now my favorites would be Overflow Creek in Georgia, Big Creek in N.C., & the Narrows of the Green in N.C.

Overflow Creek
Big Creek
Green River

I've paddled a few rivers in the northeast & eastern Canada--Upper Yough, Cheat, Bottom Moose, Black, Ottawa, Gatineau, & Kipawa. These I ran during a trip in July 2000. The trek to the Gauley has become a September tradition. I am considering driving up to Washington this spring for the Potomac Whitewater Festival.

[ January 06, 2003: Message edited by: Billy ]

[quote]Originally posted by Trevor:
Hmm, this sounds like fun.
....
Does this event require your own kayak?

---

A) Yes.
No.

The best deal in the DC area for kayak lessons is the introductory class offered by the Canoe Cruisers Association. The classes take both days of a summer weekend. You rent your own kayak, generally at Springriver or equivalent. You meet at the Old Angler's Inn below Great Falls on the Maryland side of the river. Don't be surprised if you meet an Olympian while there.

During the winter, rolling classes are conducted at a few local swimming pools.

[ January 06, 2003: Message edited by: twin58 ]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by redsoxbreath:

a30s, I love the Deerfield.

I learned to paddle with Zoar on the Deerfield and have been out there a number of times. I've done Zoar Gap once - last summer when the water was incredibly high - I think they said 2x the normal volume. So there weren't any playing opportunities.. you were just lucking to run the rapid without flipping (I didn't!). Maybe after NOC I can paddle the dryway! Also love to do more paddling in Maine (Kenebec, Penobscot, Magalloway, etc). Let's stay in touch and maybe get some guys together to paddle NE rivers in the Spring/Summer.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Trevor:
Is this an addicting sport or what?
TOTALLY

Does this event require your own kayak?
NO... The cost of the NOC clinic ($755) includes equipment, lodging, food, and instruction.

I've only gone kayaking a few times, but loved it (prefer it over canoeing, actually). These experiences were in fairly calm Pacific waters off the BC coast, near the Gulf Islands and further north on the Queen Charlotte Islands.

Whitewater rafting is a thrilling experience, and have done this a few times too, most recently on the Kananaskis River near Banff.