2015 ICF Junior Wildwater Canoeing World Championships Come to NOC

Thanks to the success of the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships, the Nantahala Gorge has won another bid to host an international championship, this time the 2015 ICF Junior Wildwater Canoeing World Championships.

Winning the event keeps world-class athletes training in the Nantahala Gorge for the next two years. It also changes the spotlight to a new discipline after years of focusing on freestyle. Wildwater racing, one of nine officially-recognized disciplines,  is paddling's equivalent of downhill skiing; it's just a straight ahead race. There aren't any gates like in slalom paddling, and no style points like in freestyle.

Wildwater races feature two different race courses. The "sprint" course is usually 500 to 750 meters. This exciting race usually takes less than two minutes. These results from last year's junior worlds race in Lofer, Austria show times as low as 1:11 in the finals.

Video of a sprint run from the 2011 Wildwater World Championships in Augsburg. 

These close finishes point to exciting spectator events. The entire length of the course will likely be visible from the Founder's Bridge at NOC, and the finish at the 2013 Wave will be very intense, with some racers separated by only tenths of seconds.

The "classic" course is the long-distance counterpart to the sprint. This course is usually around five miles. Last year competitors finished the course in about 10 to 13 minutes in the individual race, and the finishes in the men's finals was still only separated by four seconds. The classic also features an interesting team event where three boats have to paddle together; the best time of the three boat teams wins.

So 2015 is going to be a another really interesting world championship year. But, you don't have to wait until 2015 to get into the wildwater scene. Two early-season Nantahala Racing Club events, the Glacier Breaker and the Bank of America US Open, will have wildwater components. The ACA Open Canoe Downriver Nationals will have a similar format--and this is an open competition (no pun intended--sign up and compete).  If you're interested in participating in a wildwater race for fun this year, come to one of NOC's Canoe Club Challenge races. And finally, the Junior Olympics, a multi-discipline paddling event that returns to the Nantahala River this August, will have several different wildwater competitions for aspiring athletes.

And for those just looking to get involved, the Nantahala Racing Club will be offering wildwater focused programming for youth and casual paddling sessions on the Nantahala. Stay tuned to the NRC website for more information on wildwater racing, as well as freestyle and slalom events.

Santa Returns to NOC Gatlinburg

Mark your calendars! Santa Claus returns to NOC Gatlinburg this December; children everywhere should seize this opportunity for some face time before the big day. Mr. Claus will be in town and available for photo opportunities on the following dates from 3pm to 5pm: November 30, December 7, December 14, and December 21.

NOC Gatlinburg has emerged as one of Santa's preferred meeting locations over the past few years. He admires the the old-fashioned sleigh and the magnificent Christmas tree provided by NOC, and in return he dons his special Dickensian-style uniform for the occasion. Check out this photo from last year's visit and start making your lists!

Santa Claus and his sleigh at NOC Gatlinburg. A perfect holiday photo opportunity!

Four Reasons To Spend Thanksgiving in the Mountains

We always have so much to be thankful for at NOC, and this November there are even more reasons to give thanks. Here's why NOC is a great place to be this November and over the Thanksgiving holiday:

1. Water all month long! Unlike in years past, the Nantahala will continue to have water releases through the month of November, making Thanksgiving an ideal time to go paddling. We're still offering rafting trips too, but we have to be flexible to catch the release times, which are only finalized three days ahead of time. If you want to add rafting to your November plans, give our reservations office a call (800.232.7238), and we'll work out the details with you. Boaters, plan your own trip using  Duke Energy's release schedule.

2. Fall offers new views for zip lining. As the leaves start disappearing from the trees, the Mountaintop Zip Line Tour takes on a whole new look. From any one of our ten zip lines you will be able to see for miles. Visit our website to book your tour.

Click here for a full-color photo album of zipping fun!

3. Relax and take in the cool mountain air. Kick back with your feet up by a fire and eat some s’mores! What better way to enjoy the holiday than under the stars by a fire in the mountains? For lodging recommendations, check out these options near our Nantahala campus.

4. Get all your outdoor gear for less! Coming to the mountains, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the Black Friday bargains. Catch NOC's Pre-Holiday Sale throughout November, and stop into any of our retail locations for major Black Friday and holiday promotions. On Black Friday shoppers will save as much as 50% off boats and paddling accessories at the Outfitter's Store, so it's certainly worth a trip to the mountains if you're shopping for a paddler.

Gear Up for Fall: Harvest Fest 2013

NOC Retail is gearing up for one of the biggest sales of the year.  From October 10th to the 27th,  save up to 30% off the latest fall styles as well as up to 50% off summer clearance at all three NOC retail stores.

 If  you are visiting Gatlinburg, Asheville, or Bryson City don't miss out on this great chance to gear up for Fall in some of the hottest styles from these highly-respected outdoor brands:

Patagonia
The North Face
Mountain Hardwear
PrAna
Columbia
and more!

To take advantage of the Harvest Fest, visit all of the NOC Retail Stores:

NOC Outfitter's Store - Bryson City, NC

NOC Asheville - Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC

NOC Gatlinburg - Gatlinburg, TN

Four Reasons to Zip Right Now

Fall is one of the most beautiful times to go zip lining in the Nantahala Gorge.  NOC's Mountaintop Zip Line Tour takes you high above the tree tops, offering unique and spectacular views of the Smoky Mountains in any season, but especially in the fall!



Check out the Top Four Reasons to Zip Right Now:

1. Fall Colors - The leaves are just beginning to burst into color in the Nantahala Gorge! NOC's Mountain Top Zip Line Tour offers the best view in the forest - above the treetops and between the ridges!
2. Cooler Temperatures - Since you are on top of a mountain for your tour, temperatures in the summer may get a little warm.  Try the Mountaintop Zip Line Tour this fall for perfect, cooler temperatures.
3. Smaller Crowds - Summer crowds are back in school, but that doesn't stop the fun at NOC.  Gather your group of friends and plan your getaway without having to worry about crowds, lines, or traffic!
4. Breathtaking Views - Autumn in the Southeast is one of the more beautiful seasons to see.  From NOC Mountaintop Zip Line Tour you will see views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Clingman's Dome and many other spectacular destinations from high above the leaves.  Capture these breathtaking views from a unique perspective that you can't see from anywhere else!

Click here for more information about zip lining in the Nantahala Gorge.

GAF 2013: What to Expect

NOC's wildly popular Guest Appreciation Festival will finally be here next weekend (September 27-29), and will be significantly improved thanks to some changes based on feedback from the past few events.  Here is the list of some of the biggest changes you should look out for:

A scene from the GAF Used Gear Marketplace on River Left.

• The Used Gear Marketplace is Moving Back to River Left. GAF's popular used gear marketplace moves back to the middle of the festival ground, ensuring that all of the 5,000 GAF attendees will browse the marketplace.  So, grab some friends and pitch in for a booth at GAF to sell your gear fast! Marketplace applications are still available for $75 for the weekend.  Apply here.
  

• New "Gear Swap" Area will be Available - This area is for guests who just have one or two items to sell at GAF.  Instead of buying a full booth, you will be able to take advantage of a designated gear swap area for your items. While this area won't have premiere placement like the used gear marketplace, it does give individuals a venue to sell their boats. Click here for the Gear Swap guidelines.

• New "Buy-It-Now" Option - Many guests come out especially for sweet deals from the Paddling School's instructional fleet and the Outfitter's Store's demo fleet. These buyers usually have to wait until the Saturday morning sell begins, hoping that other guests don't snag their boat before they can buy it. This year, we're offering a "Buy-It-Now" option where guests can purchase one of these instruction or demo boats on Friday for an extra $99.  This gives you the security of knowing that you can get the exact boat you want without having to camp out overnight. 

• This year, every boat purchase from the Outfitter's Store Gear Sale comes with a 15% off voucher for a clinic or private instruction session with NOC's Paddling School.  This gives buyers the opportunity to enjoy improve their paddling skills while upgrading their boat.

NOC Outfitter's Store Gear Sale

So that's what's new at this year's Guest Appreciation Festival. Be sure to learn more about the deals and entertainment we have planned by clicking here. We have more than 100 boats we want to move, so expect great deals on great boats all weekend long!

Where to Park: GAF 2013

To make your visit as enjoyable as possible, please read the following information about parking before traveling to NOC for the Guest Appreciation Festival on September 27-29.  This is the official event parking plan: 

• We expect most guests will be able to park on-site on Friday and Sunday. When you arrive at NOC, drive across the bridge and let our friendly parking staff direct you to an open spot. Please take their advice, and park efficiently so everyone can park on-property.

• If on-property parking is full--as we expect for Saturday morning and afternoon--we will have convenient satellite lots open within one or two miles of the event site. We'll also provide easy, dependable shuttles to the event for all visitors parking in these lots. 
• If coming from the east (Asheville, Charlotte, etc.) you will see "Event Parking" signs directing you to the open lot at the Gem Mine which is visible from the main highway. 
• If coming from the west (Chattanooga, Knoxville, etc.) you will drive past NOC where a parking attendant will direct you to the Gem Mine by following the signs. 
• From here you will have shuttles available for the duration of the event.   Event shuttles will drop off and pick up at the NOC General Store on a continuous schedule until 7pm. The Gem Mine is just up the street, so riding a shuttle is often easier and more convenient than searching every nook and cranny of NOC for a space.
  
  As a reminder, please don't park alongside Silvermine road. We've seen too many festival attendees get tickets on this road over the years, even though it looks like there are pullouts. 

NOC is also offering free shuttles to the Wayah Forest Service Put-In for those who choose to leave their cars off-property while they are on the river. We usually do this as a thank you to guests helping us avoid a parking crunch during Saturday at GAF. In other words, if you paddle into GAF we'd be glad to drive you back to your car when you're finished. (Just make sure you catch the last rafting bus headed to the put in around 3:30. With all the extra traffic on the river, it should be pretty easy to thumb a ride to the top with another boater this weekend anyway.)

Finally, NOC, in partnership with Endless River Adventures, is offering free shuttles for paddlers running the Upper Nantahala and Cascades section of the Nantahala River on Saturday and Sunday.  Upper shuttles will run from 10am to 4pm. Please "RSVP" for a shuttle by going to the event's Facebook page and letting our staff know your plans. We're just trying to get a good idea of demand; we don't need specific times,

Please note that all GAF remote parking lots close at 7pm. We’d love for you to stay to enjoy the free live music and dancing, so please make your way up to the lots as the afternoon progresses to move your car back down to the center. It’ll make life easier for you when it’s time to go home.

Thanks for planning ahead!

Live Music lined up well into the evening on Friday and Saturday

Check Out What's Happening: GAF 2013

Every year, NOC celebrates another great season of outdoor recreation by offering unbeatable deals on gear and apparel and by providing a weekend full of free, fun outdoor lifestyle events. This is our famous Guest Appreciation Festival, or simply "GAF."

Here are the top 6 things to look forward to during GAF weekend, September 27-29, at NOC:

1. Family-Friendly Activities - With a variety of kid's activities, GAF is a perfect time to bring the family to NOC for a beautiful fall weekend! This year we will have a bounce house, face painting, button making, coloring, games and much more for the whole family to enjoy.  Last year, the kids activities were on the tennis courts, but this year they will be closer to the festival, making it easier for parents to play too!
2. Snakes, Stories and Survival - Join Steve Longenecker for a hands-on lesson about snakes living in our region and around the world, Tim Hall for exciting, humorous mountain-themed stories and Appalachian folktales or sit in for a lesson on how to survive in the wilderness, courtesy of NOC's Survival School.
3. Discount on NOC Activities - As a thank you for your support and loyalty to NOC, we invite you to go whitewater rafting down the Nantahala River, take a ride on the Mountaintop Zip Line Tour or challenge yourself in the Zip Line Adventure Park for 15% off! Reserve your trip for GAF weekend, September 27-29, and use code "GAF15" to redeem this special discount.
4. Upper Nantahala and Cascade Releases - If you are a class IV-V kayaker, this weekend is perfect for you! The Upper Nantahala and Cascades Section of the Nantahala River will be running on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5 pm.  We are offering free shuttles for this release in partnership with Endless River Adventures.  Sign up here to give us an idea of how many people to expect for the shuttles!
5. Of Course, the Gear Sales - Get your outdoor gear from NOC's Used Gear Sale or the Guest Gear Marketplace at some of the lowest prices you will find.  From paddling and rafting gear to clothing and accessories, these marketplaces will have something for everyone! To sign up for a booth to sell your own gear, click here.
6. U.S. Slalom National Championships - Watch the nation's best racers carve up the exciting Nantahala Falls course on Saturday and Sunday morning. The winners will be crowned the national champions for 2013, so the competition will be fierce. Find out more from the Nantahala Racing Club. 

Soar above the tree tops on the Mountaintop Zip Line Tour

Thanks for another great season! We look forward to seeing you at GAF.

For more information and a full schedule for GAF 2013, click here.

GAF 2013: Live Music Line Up

NOC's Guest Appreciation Festival is not only packed with deals and activities, but also with free live music. Check out the lineup below and plan your schedule accordingly:

Friday
2 PM - The Night Trotters
From Asheville, The Night Trotters offer "Thoroughbred Bluegrass Music" that's 100% traditional and true to the "old sound." 


5:30 PM - Common Foundation
"Playing a blend of downtempo reggae, chugging Jamaican rocksteady and upbeat ska, Common Foundation fills the air with infectious danceable rhythms and an easygoing atmosphere" This show promises to be a perfect after-work start to GAF weekend. 

9 PM - Lefty Williams Band
A one-armed guitarist playing traditional southern rock and blues, Lefty Williams brings an Allman Brothers sound to the GAF stage.

Saturday
2 PM - Buncombe Turnpike
Out of Asheville, Buncombe Turnpike brings traditional and contemporary bluegrass to the stage. PLaying songs from their fifth album "Forever it Will Be" these accomplished musicians are a can't-miss show on Saturday afternoon.

5:30 PM - Packway Handle Band
An NOC guest favorite,  Packway Handle Band is a bluegrass quintet from Athens, GA that mixes bluegrass with unique covers and high energy beats presenting the audience with a dynamic and upbeat performance. PHB has played some of the biggest shows NOC has ever hosted.

9 PM - Antique Firearms
At the top of the music scene in Asheville, Antique Firearms brings a unique repertoire of experimental, rock and alternative music reminiscent of Radiohead and My Morning Jacket. Perfect music for a Saturday evening party.

We hope to see you out on the dance floor this year!

Click here for a full GAF schedule.

What to Expect: Six Days of Free Live Music

Need another reason to attend the biggest whitewater paddling event in years? How about free live music from some of the Asheville area's best bands? Come for the competition, do your own outdoor activities and stick around to celebrate the day alongside 200 paddling athletes from all over the planet.

See the official live music schedule below to find out who we've got lined up for your visit.

Live Music Schedule. All Shows on Main Event Stage at NOC Competition Venue:

Tuesday, September 3rd
5 PM - 8 PM The Broadcast - Rock/Neo-soul/Classic

Wednesday, September 4th
5 PM - 8 PM Chalwa - Reggae

Thursday, September 5th
5 PM - 8 PM The Fritz - Electronic Funk Rock

Friday, September 6th
4 PM - 7 PM Playing on the Planet - Contemporary Bluegrass
8 PM - 11 PM The Freight Hoppers - Bluegrass/Strings 

Saturday, September 7th
4 PM - 7 PM Buncombe Turnpike - Traditional/Contemporary Bluegrass/Gospel 
8 PM - 11 PM The Mad Tea - Rock

Sunday, Septebmer 8th
4 PM - 7 PM Unspoken Tradition - Bluegrass
8 PM - 11 PM Dirty Bourbon River Show - Folk/Rock/Blues/Jazz/Latin/Gypsy/Traditional New Orleans Styles

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Please note this is a tentative Music Schedule.  These bands will play on specified days of the week, but times may vary. Check here for a final Music Schedule for the week of the event.

2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships: Parking and Lodging Information

With thousands of spectators anticipated for the 2013 Freestyle Worlds, it's a good idea to know your parking and lodging plans before you arrive. So here's the official scoop on what to expect:

Parking
Event spectators have three options:

1) Park in the Gorge and ride a very short shuttle into the event. There are approximately 500 parking spaces with two miles of the event site. All these spaces are East (downstream) of NOC. Drive to NOC and follow directions to the nearest open spaces. Shuttles start at 9am every day and run until the end of the day's official festivities.

During the weekend and at peak times NOC will open 250 more parking space on the West (upstream) side of the Gorge. These lots are approximately five miles from NOC. When open these lots will have a flagger waving event traffic into the open lots.

There is a $5 per-vehicle per-day fee for all parking in the Nantahala Gorge. Click here for the Gorge shuttle schedule.

2) Enjoy free parking in Bryson City and take advantage of hourly shuttles to the event. Take Exit 67 off US 19/74 and head downhill into Bryson City. Follow signs to the free shuttle parking lot at the Ingles supermarket.

If the Ingles supermarket lot fills, signs and flaggers will lead you a short distance to additional parking areas.Click here for the Bryson City shuttle schedule. 

3) The coolest option: the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is offering one-way shuttle tickets to the Gorge for only $10. Guests riding the scenic railroad will park at GSMR's Bryson City parking lot, and ride the hourly NOC shuttle bus back to town when they're ready to go home.

Click here for the Bryson City shuttle schedule.

Lodging:

The World Championships has a host of official lodging sponsors offering a variety of accommodations at a full range of price points.  Click here to view your lodging options and reserve the best spots before you arrive for the event. 

Nantahala Bridge Dedication Honors NOC Staff Member's Heroism

Earlier this summer, members of the Nantahala River community gathered to honor NOC's Vice President of Operations, Rob Kelly, for his heroic rescue on the Upper Nantahala last September. In a ceremony held at the Mystic River development, representatives from the Mystic Lands community dedicated their bridge over the Nantahala to commemorate Rob's selfless act and his quick action.

On behalf of the Mystic Lands homeowners Ami Shinitzky made the following remarks:

"Heroes in literature and mythology have always had roles that go farther and deeper than surface plots would suggest. Acts of heroism are acts of transcendence. These are moments in which we exceed our normal or habitual capacity, reaching heights that set new standards for ourselves, and even for all mankind.

Though mostly isolated acts, these heroic acts are important nonetheless, for they reassure us of our hidden reservoirs of strength, even if we do not often tap into them. When we cheer for heroes, we cheer for ourselves, for heroes are the harbingers of the greatness within mankind that is in our collective future to come.

Heroic acts may be as private as holding the hand of a dying friend, or as spectacular as jumping into the rushing whitewater river to rescue a drowning fellow human being. With hardly a thought that both might perish, on that last Saturday of September 2012, that moment of singular supreme courage is what Rob Kelly displayed to the wonderment and admiration of us all.

While we gratefully acknowledge the contributions of others to this memorable rescue, it is your singular yet modest display of heroism, Rob, that hereby shall be memorialized so as to inspire the countless, nay millions, who will raft or kayak down our beloved Nantahala under this Mystic River bridge. A bridge that from this time on shall be known as the Rob Kelly Bridge, underscoring an act of human triumph that you selflessly and heroically displayed: COURAGE!

And who better to dedicate the Rob Kelly Bridge than Sue Martin, for whom what was going to be but another adventurous run down the Upper Nantahala, transformed from a near certain death, to a life where joys, small and large, and not the least the joys of motherhood of her two children, are hers to savor again.

It is our honor to know and celebrate you, Rob."

The ceremony took place on June 30 led by Sue Martin, the rescued paddler. The bridge is located between Patton's Run and Ferebee Park. Look for it next time you paddle the Nantahala, and use it as a reminder to be alert and aware of the other paddlers on the river.