the vision behind our I Ain’t Skerd program is differentiating between “fear” and “anxiety.”

Fear is what keeps us from doing something that is way out of our ability, or just really stupid.

Anxiety is what keeps us from doing something that we can do, but just have not worked up the grit to do.  Anxiety is the butterflies in the stomach, the “accidently” missing that last stroke that would have sent us into the hole, the not giving a move 100% and scurrying back to the line we feel super comfortable with.

We celebrated another awesome “I Ain’t Skerd” Ocoee day this week.  Moves were tried, different eddies caught, limits pushed, confidence built, and lessons learned.  We all came away better boaters from the day.

All of the above is at the heart of good instruction, but sometimes it is valuable–and fun, to just have a good ol’ southern I Aint Skerd day and put it all out on the table.

There are more I Ain’t Skerds coming up this summer for the Ocoee and for transitioning from a flat water roll to whitewater.  Check the dates out, or make a date for your own day….

Wave Sport Crossoverboat: the Ethos

by Sam Ovett

“Hey Chris! Hey Bryan! What boat is that on the truck? It looks new.”

“This is the newest Wave Sport design.  We just came out with it; actually we are planning on doing a little teaser video about it. Want to help? You’d get to paddle it.”

“Yeah Chris, I would love to paddle it, but here we are at the Nantahala, how are we going to fully test out a new creek boat on the Nantahala?”

“Ah, well you see Sam it is not the new creek boat we are taking out, but our new crossover boat!”

This was my initial conversation with WS team members Bryan Kirk and Chris Wing. And it certainly peaked my interest! I let Chris and Bryan take over to the camera so that I could paddle Wavesport’s new crossover boat.  After a few laps through Nantahala Falls, a few laps on Big Wesser and a nice lake paddle. I finished up more than impressed!

Boofing the Ethos

Here are my initial thoughts on the new Wavesport Ethos:

Imagine a boat that has technology of any one of Wavesport’s full-on whitewater boats–including a bulk head, drastically increasing your ability to comfortably and safely run whitewater compared to most crossover boats which may sport only movable foot pegs.  Then throw in a skeg neatly and securely tucked away yet ready to drop at a moment’s notice to increase your ability to track in a straight line when you’re out paddling on the lake or on a flatwater river.

The hull is truly unique for a crossover boat because it tracks nicely with good speed on flatwater allowing you to actually have fun on a lake or a flatwater river instead of just tooling around in a poorly designed hunk of plastic like many crossover boats.

For the whitewater side of things I was actually amazed at the ability of the boat to handle itself when coming through eddy lines and punching holes.  What really blew my mind was the stability of the boat. Previously, when someone said “crossover” I would think either an unstable boat for whitewater, or a slow boat on the lake. Not so with the Ethos!

Michael and Hans, the Wave Sport designers, decided to use the whitewater outfitting in the new boat, so I felt like I was in a “real boat.” Rivers like the Nantahala might just be the perfect type river for the Ethos.  It surfed decently well, it river ran amazingly well and it was so fun to be in. (I happened to also like the color red of the boat I was in!) Once on the lake I found it fun and fast.

I would have said that this boat is best suited for Class I-III rivers, but from what I heard from Chris and Bryan, it is no stranger to big rapids like Oceana in the Tallulah Gorge.  A crossover that paddles nicely on the lake and in the right hands is able to comfortable handle Class IV whitewater? I can honestly say I am very excited to paddle the Ethos again.  Oh did I mention that there is a giant dry storage area in the stern of the boat, because there is and that is pretty sweet as well!

Best Crossover Boat Yet! The Wave Sport Ethos

“My design intent is to create a boat that will get paddlers down the river safely while performing at the highest levels of creeking, river trekking and Class IV-V+ boating. It is my desire to advance the sport of creek boating by enhancing paddler confidence and skill sets, making boundary pushing a safer, more exciting experience in a reliable boat. This is a boat intended to make a good paddler better.”

Wondering what the new boat has to offer?  David share a little beta on the new design:

1. Look for design changes in looks and a performance that differs from the Habitat

2. Brand new design
Deck lines
Hull shape
Volume distribution

3. Offering three sizes

What are the features that are going to make this boat rock?

• Continuous rocker for greater speed & better boofing
• Increased bow volume for faster resurfacing, blasting through holes, increasing side wall flare and better stability.
• In addition, anticipate less loading of water–particularly on stern, a lower secondary chine, and a better carving edge for control.

Question: Why do we think that onside should be called the righty roll, and offside a lefty roll?

How about this for an answer: The baggage that an “offside” roll carries is almost so weighty that many do not even try using their “offside roll”-sometimes let alone even learning their “offside” roll.  The irony is that typically the second roll you learn is often the better roll. Why?

• there is not the left over “learning curve” of figuring out what in the world it is to set up, sweep, hip snap, finish
• it takes a bit to realize it is just switching from one set of muscle memory to the other
• more importantly–there is not the realization that the roll happens after going upside down!

Question:  So why directional rolling/switching when you roll?

Answer: our friend Todd had a great answer: “So you asked for a report on the progress on the offside. After a week and practicing it [switching]  Tuesday & Thursday night and then again today I am happy to report we have only switched to the onside 4 times out of about 40 or so offside rolls. All practice has been on the river. Thank you again.”

Clarification; Todd now does not really have an “on side” or an “off side.” He is now rolling in the direction he happens to fall (directional rolling) AND if he misses on one side, he switches to the other (switching).

Way to go Todd!!

Read more on directional rolling…

14-year old Alyssa nailing the line at Bull's Sluice, Chattooga

Looking out over the rocks and seeing Bull’s Sluice, knowing that in a few moments I’d be riding down that far right tongue was a nail-biting experience for me. What was even more thrilling was the rush I got as I entered the eddy right before the Bull. Having made it in by a hair, I was already a little shaken. When my group leader (my dad) exited the eddy, I followed with sweaty palms. Paddling over that rushing current and feeling my whole boat take off through the air and land, a smile of victory swept across my face. I’d finally done it. I’d just run the Bull. My name’s Alyssa Taylor, I’m fourteen, and this is my story.  Read more about this inspiring 14-year old….

Doug Worful styl'n on the Nantahala, April 2012

In the Fall of 2010, our friend Doug Worful proved all naysayers wrong by getting back on the river. It was inspirational to write about his journey back to the river after a paralyzing accident.

He has an an amazing attitude – matched only by the amazing group of friends.  With the help of Dennis Huntley and the fine folks at NRS – Doug now has his own rig. And seeing him out on the Nantahala River this week, it was easy to see how much fun he was having by the smile on his face.

Thank you so much Dennis for what you have done. And thank you NRS for helping out a good friend!

Mary Mills is a slalom boater.  She did not get into slalom because she aspired to go to the Olympics.  In fact, there was more than a little reluctance when the suggestion was made that she try paddling the slalom gates. Just a little…

Thoughts on “Slalom”
When Juliet brought me to the gates for the first time, I wasn’t sold on the idea. It just didn’t seem practical to me; it was something only Olympic people did. I thought doing a slalom course would be super easy, but it actually turned out to be incredibly difficult.The first time she took me out on the Nanty gates, I just couldn’t do them. I was so frustrated. I was determined to get the hang of it. It turned out to be the best thing to develop my skills and confidence.

So What Changed

This past weekend was a dual slalom weekend: with Olympic hopefuls racing at the Nantahala River’s U.S. Open, while a whole separate crowd of enthusiasts participated in the final leg of the 3-part Alabama Race series on the Locust Fork River.

After an awesome weekend on the Locust Fork, Mary shares a little perspective on where slalom has taken her:

Why Slalom Makes you a More Proficient Paddler
I have to use the water features effectively to make ferries, eddies, and gates. Presetting your boat angle and planning at least 2 or 3 moves ahead is crucial, you just can’t make the gates unless you plan way ahead. I used to be awful on creeks, now they are my favorite thing to kayak, one giant slalom course. Doing slalom all the time makes a technical creek move much easier since now I am not thinking of just the move I am on, but the next few moves. Just like a slalom course. I certainly wasn’t sold on the idea of slalom gates the first time I did it, but I am sure that the reason I have improved and can now catch just about every eddy anywhere is because of all the slalom practice and the races I do.

And Then There are the Races
Plus the races are so much fun. You sit in the staging eddy with someone holding your boat, your name and number are announced over the speakers,the countdown begins, your friends are cheering at you from the banks, your are so excited, your adrenalin races, you hear the go signal and everything vanishes but the gates as you take off. 20 to 25 gates later You come to the end exhausted and everyone is cheering for you! You make the last upstream gates cleanly without stopping your momentum or touching the gates, You sprint to the finish line and realize you made a clean run, no touches or missed gates, everyone is cheering for you. It is the just the best feeling. I have gone from touching almost every gate and missing quite a few when I started last year, to almost a clean run every time.You can really see your improvement each time you go out and race.

That’s the winning attitude!

Team ERA Celebrating after a great race on the Locust Fork

Nantahala Falls with gates ready for the 2012 U.S. Open

The Nantahala River is hosting a good number of Olympic hopefuls March 23, 24 and 25 as whitewater slalom kayakers and canoers from all over the country participate in the Bank of America U.S. Open race.

Sponsored by the Nantahala Race Club (NRC), the U.S. Open is not an Olympic qualifying event, but with the US Team Trials just one month away–and London (site of the 2012 Summer Olympics) fast approaching, the US Open is strategically an important race this year.

One of the advantages to the US Open is its location on the Nantahala River. The US Canoe & Kayak Team (USCKT) trains at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. Switching venues from a familiar course that athletes use to train day in and day out,  to one less-familiar helps the athletes keep on their toes on the river.  A big component to winning a race is the ability to read water. If a racer paddles neck-and-neck with their closest opponent as far as strokes go, the tie breaker might be who uses the current and/or particular features on the river to shave off an extra second—or tenth of a second, to the finish line.

The US Open also gives the athletes an opportunity to fine tune their training strategy. They can identify their weaknesses and come away from the weekend with a more focused approach to their training needs.

“Any chance to get in the start gate and experience real time race simulation is extremely valuable,” is how Horace Holden Jr., former Olympic athlete and familiar face at many US Opens, sees the role of the US Open for the athletes. “It’s critical to have a race day plan and routine to get the most from the hours and days and years of training. Practicing that routine helps eliminate nervousness and anxiety and sharpen focus. That’s the best way channel energy in the right direction, achieving the best performance possible. Even if the Open is not a qualifier, it is an additional opportunity to hear 3, 2 ,1…… and execute the race day plan.”

Looking beyond this weekend’s event, the next step will be team trials. Held in April at the Charlotte Whitewater Center, shaving that “extra second” off their time might mean the difference between making the team and sitting this year out. There are only three boats that qualify to be on the team from each category/division: K1 (kayak – individual) Mens, K1-womens, C-1(canoe – individual) Mens, C-1 women, and C-2 (canoe-tandem) Mens.

From team trials, the competition will become even fiercer leading up to the summer Olympics. Only four of the fifteen team members will ultimately compete in the 2012 Olympics because there will be only one boat represented from four of the five divisions: K1-Mens, K1-Womens, C1-Mens and C2-Mens. C1-womens division was only sanctioned two years ago, and will not be an Olympic event in 2012.

Slalom boating is about speed, but also grace, finesse and precision—a combination made so much more challenging when adding whitewater/current into the equation. This weekend is a great time to come out and watch the event at the Nantahala Falls. It is also an opportunity to show your support for athletes who have put their heart and soul into training for a chance to represent the USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Check out the NRC website for a schedule of the event.

And for how you can use slalom to improve your own paddling check out our slalom articles.

15-year Ecuador guide Craig finished up a day on the Quijos this year exclaiming that “this is hands-down the best surfing and boofing year we have ever had here!”

This year was a good balance between high water and knowing limits, choosing the right rivers given the conditions and having a great time wherever we were. That is where the smiles came in.  There is a complete lineup of photos for all the trips.  And following are some of our favorite shots:

We have a whole collection of photos for each trip of the season!  Check them out….

Desfile dia del Oriente en Borja

The Quijos Valley is celebrating “Dia del Oriente.” The celebration is in recognition of the day that Francisco Orellana embarked on a journey that eventually sent him down the Amazon River, February 12, 1541.

Orellana was part of a group of conquistadors headed up by Gonzalo Pizarro. The mission of the group was to find canella (cinnamon) and el dorado (the legend of a kingdom so rich in gold that the king would have himself painted in powdered gold and then swim and wash it off). The Spanish embarked on their grand adventure out of Quito, coming through the Quijos Valley following the Quijos River past San Rafael Falls, and continuing downstream to the Napo River. When Orellana broke from the group and headed down the Napo River he never intended to continue all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.  He was on a 12-day mission to find food for the starving conquistadors.  The problem was once he got going, there was no turning back.

In late June of 1542, Pizarro returned to Quito in rags after his failed expedition.  In August of 1542, Orellana successfully reached the Atlanta Ocean, becoming the first European to navigate and descend the Amazon River. For a short time after his journey, the Amazon was actually called the Orellana River.

For the entire story of this, River of Darkness by Levy Buddy. We are adding this to our trip reading list!!