Boat Angle Management: Gates vs. Whitewater
Presetting angles relative to where you are going next is a concept that does not seem to sink in for the whitewater kayaker immediately. Initially it may have something to do with the “paddle! Paddle Paddle!” mentality which trains a beginner paddler to just take...
What is “Directional Rolling”
Directional Rolling has become a tag line among the ERA instruction staff. But directional rolling is a technique that every paddler should embrace. And execute. It comes in handy in big water like surfing down along the Pillow at Pillow Rapid, or on tight,...
Women’s C-1 to be an Olympic Event
Women's C-1 will be a future event in the Olympics. As many times as we've said that women were "too smart" to paddle on their knees, a chance to compete in the Olympics might just make it happen. I sat one afternoon at the takeout on the Nantahala watching a C-1...
Going for the Gold in C-1
I sat one afternoon at the takeout on the Nantahala watching a C-1 boater attain upstream. It broke two of my rules: #1 Going Upstream and #2 Paddling on your knees with just half a paddle! But hey-women are smarter and don't paddle C-1s. But as the C-1 boater headed...
The Pros’ Perspective on Slalom Gates/Running Whitewater
The benefit of whitewater for slalom boaters? The benefit of slalom training for whitewater boaters? As a follow up to the article Spending time paddling slalom gates can make you a better boater, we asked the pros what they think about it about the benefits of...
May we all stay forever young…
or at least as young at heart as our friend John Judy! After joining in on the celebration of John's 85th birthday, I have had to revise my long term goals: Just to make it to 85 To run the Nantahala River on my 85h birthday Forget "flawless", just to make it through...
The Little Girl That Goes Kayak Fast
Sixteen year old Haley Popp is no typical southern girl. While her friends spent the Chattanooga summer shopping at Target and Forever 21, Haley was either throwing down at Hell Hole on the Ocoee River in her play boat or bombing down the Nantahala River with her...
Chick Boat for Creek’n-Testing out the Fluid Solo for Size
Testing out the small FLUID Solo for size -brought to us by Maria Noakes So there I was with no boat and its raining, what to do? Indebted to Juliet forever she loans me the Fluid Solo. It happens to be orange, my favorite color. It looks great but how...
The Eagle Scouts of Troop 779
Troop 779 is one of oldest Boy Scout troops in the state of North Carolina. They hold the longest continuing charter in the state. Spending a day with us whitewater rafting, we had a chance to get to know this outstanding group of boys. What stood out the most was...
Why there is room for slalom and whitewater to coexist on the river! And what they can teach each other.
Slalom boaters and whitewater paddlers always seem to coexist but not really connect. That should not be as the two can really learn from each other. In running slalom gates there is intense focus on setting specific boat angles and planning moves ahead of time....