2014 Paddling School Season Outlook

The Paddling School's 2014 calendar is set. Changes have been made, courses have been added and updated, the instructors are excited and paddlesports popularity is continuing to grow! Here's the rundown on what to expect:

Time For a Change

The most obvious change Paddling School guests will notice this season is the check-in location. Instead of meeting on the Adventure Deck as in previous summers, guests will meet instructors in the new Padddlesports Center, located upstairs in the Outfitter’s Store. Here guests can easily find their instructors, discuss program goals and ask questions about gear and equipment before beginning the day. This change will provide guests a more comfortable and private start to the day.

The Start of Something New

•              New for 2014 is a two-day ACA Update Course.  Any paddling instructor needing to update a Level Four ACA kayaking certification can attend one of several courses we have scheduled during the season. This is the quickest and easiest way to update and maintain a level four certification. To see level four ACA qualifications click here.

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•       Also new is the five-day all-inclusive Women’s Adventure Getaway, which is scheduled for fall of 2014. “The Women’s Adventure Getaway is a new concept for NOC,” commented Jae Jackson, Paddling School Assistant Manager. “The program will center primarily on kayaking and stand-up-paddle boarding but will also include mountain biking, hiking and other outdoor adventures. The program gives adventure-loving women an opportunity have a good time doing what they love, but also to encourage not-so-adventurous women to get out and try something new.” Click here for more information on women’s paddling courses.

Growing Popularity

Our youth programs continue to grow each season as more and more kids discover the excitement of paddling. To accommodate the most kids possible, we have developed a few different options that appeal to youth paddlers of all levels. These include the following:

•            For youth strictly interested in paddling, we offer all-inclusive and multi-day campkayak instruction options.
•            For youth interested in outdoor leadership, we have a seven-day all-inclusive YouthLeadership Camp, which includes swiftwater training and Wilderness First Aid Certification. 
•            And for those who enjoy camping out, we offer two traveling freestyle camps for intermediate youth paddlers. For five days students travel to our river outposts to learn and refine freestyle skills on some of the best freestyle features in the Southeast. 

Additionally, the Nantahala Racing Club (NRC) and NOC have renewed their relationship with a shared commitment in youth leadership development. Together we will be hosting a series of youth-focused events throughout the 2014 season. For more information on these events, keep an eye on the NRC event page and the NOC event page.

The 2014 Paddling School season is going to be great! Be sure to keep up with us via the website for information about all the courses offered at NOC. We look forward to seeing you out on the water!

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!

NOC Paddling School: July Highlights

Named the "Best Kayaking School in the Country" by Outside Magazine NOC's Paddling School is dedicated to sharing a passion for whitewater paddling with as many people as possible. Every summer NOC Instructors teach a wide range of guests the joy of whitewater paddling and the skills to succeed at it.

And while the Paddling School instructors value every one of their students, sharing the sport with kids is extra-special, since the kids represent the future of the sport, and have a lifetime to take advantage of the beauties and thrills of whitewater paddling. These two programs made this summer great for our instructors:

NOC Kids Week Kayak Camp - Five times this summer the NOC Paddling School hosted children from 9 to 17 years old in a week-long camp, teaching the basics of kayaking, building kids' confidence and encouraging the creation of life-long paddling friendships and acquaintances.

The highlight of the kids' camp is always the last day where all parents are invited to come see the progress their children have made throughout the camp.  Group parents and children paddle together, with "uninitiated" parents paddling the Nantahala River in "duckies" (inflatable kayaks).

Group shot of parents, children and instructors at Ferebee Park before padding the Nantahala River

Cherokee Choices Program - This summer NOC also worked with Cherokee Choices, an organization that teaches local Cherokee residents how to lead an active lifestyle and take advantage of area outdoor recreation opportunities. In one three hour session, NOC Paddling School Instructor, Bailey O'Sullivan, taught fifteen teenagers the basics of stand up paddle boarding.  Most of the students had never been on a paddle board before this program, but now they have the experience to get back out on their own to paddle board on their local lakes and rivers.

The group SUPing and swimming in Lake Fontana

To get a child you know the skills he/she needs to enjoy a lifetime of paddling, click here to read about NOC course offerings, or call NOC Paddling School directly at 828.488.7288. NOC can tailor instruction for all ages and skill levels.

Best Play Spots on the Nantahala River

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With the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships coming to the Nantahala Gorge in September, the 2013 Wave has become one of the most popular playspots on the Nantahala (and in the country).

But, where should paddlers go when they don't want an audience, are just learning to playboat or just want to explore new features on the Nantahala River?

NOC Paddling School Manager, Tosh Arwood, gives the inside scoop on the "other" top play spots on the Nantahala, where they are and what tricks paddlers can perform at these features. Here's what he has to say:

Location: Surfing Rapid

How to get there: Park at the pull-off just upstream of Pizza by the River.
Best for: Front surfing, back surfing and flat spins. (An aptly-named feature.) Look for "Surfers" to get even better as water levels increase. At high water it can be the best all-around play spot on the river.  

NOC's Paddling School Manager Tosh Arwood and Information Technology Specialist Raymond Brugger
at Surfing Rapid.

Location: Bridge Wave

How to get there: Under the Founder's Bridge at NOC. Park in the main river-left parking lot. 

Best for: Front Surfing, back surfing and flat spins. This wave appears and disappears with different water levels, but when it's there it's as good a place as any for beginner paddlers to log some surfing time. 

Raymond Brugger getting his surf on

Location: Whirlpool Rapid

How to get there: Two rapids below the rock quarry (no easy park and play access). 

Best for: Squirt Boating, front surfing and stern squirts. This rapid has pretty strong eddy lines, so it's easy to practice stern squirts here. Bring an old RPM for maximum fun. The surfing wave is stable too, but watch out for downriver traffic: the swirling eddy lines will eventually push someone into you.  

Tosh Arwood doing a huge stern squirt

Location: Nantahala Falls

How to get there: The last rapid on the Nantahala rafting trip. A well-marked pull-off directly above the Falls provides good access; it's the first pull off upstream of River's End Restaurant.

Best for: Downriver freestyle moves, loops, stern squirts and enders.

Trey Lawson pulling off a huge ender at the bottom hole of the Falls.

Location: Camel Hump

How to get there: Park at The Ledges rapid and walk the short trail upstream until you see a rock in the center of the river resembling a camel's hump.

Best for: Side surfing, spins and low-angle cartwheels. 

Jon Clark mid-cartwheel at Camel Hump.

So, next time you're paddling down the Nantahala keep an eye out for these opportunities. If you have any questions about playboating or if you're looking for some advice feel free to give NOC's instructors a call at at 800.232.7287.

Spend Your Fourth of July Weekend with NOC

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From adventurous raft and zip packages to entertaining bands and brews, NOC is the place to have fun this Independence Day! We are gearing up for a great week of festivities and adventures with these highlights:

Raft and Zip Packages
Enjoy a full day of fun with the family and save some money by booking our new-for-2013 raft and zip packages:

• River to Ridge - Save $13 per person
  Nantahala Fully Guided Rafting + Mountaintop Zip Line Tour
• Float'N'Tarry - Save $13 per person
  Nantahala Fully Guided Rafting + Zip Line Adventure Park
• All Day Air - Save $25 per person

  Mountaintop Zip Line Tour + Zip Line Adventure Park

See all of NOC's Raft and Zip Packages.

NOC Outfitter's Store Independence Day Sale
Shop till you drop at NOC's Outfitter's Store! Save up to 40% on select brands from July 1st to July 7th.  Featured brands include leading manufacturers like The North Face, Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Keen, Chaco and others.

Also included in the sale, are some amazing deals for whitewater enthusiasts. The sale includes the following discounts:

• $200 in store credit with the purchase of a fully-priced boat
• 30% off on 2012 Jackson Rockstars
• 15% off on Esquif L'edge canoes
• Up to 20% off other select boat models

Kayaking Lessons and Mountain Bike Rentals
Looking for to expand your outdoor skill set? NOC's Paddling School is staffed with the top whitewater paddling instructors in the nation. If you've ever wanted to paddle a whitewater kayak there's no better place to start than NOC. Try an Intro to Kayaking lesson this summer.

NOC also rents high-end mountain bikes so you can enjoy one of the mountains best thrills. Tsali, Flint Ridge and Jackrabbit trail systems provide exceptional riding for riders of all skill levels. Stop by the NOC Bike Shop, and NOC guides will fit you with the right bike for your day on the trail.

Dining and Dancing for All
Big Wesser BBQ + Brew is hosting three great bands for Fourth of July Weekend! Be sure to hang around in the evening to dance the night away and unwind with some delicious food.


    •    July 4th - 8 to 11pm - Rick Rushing and the Blues Strangers
    •    July 5th - 7 to 10pm - Jean Ellison and the Treatment
    •    July 6th - 7 to 10 pm - The Broadcast

For more information about NOC festivals and events, click here.

So that's the plan for the 4th at NOC. We hope to see you on the river, but no matter what you do, we hope you have a wonderful holiday!

NOC Paddling School: Spring Special

Dust off your gear or put away your dry suits, springtime is here and NOC Paddling School is ready to get you back on the water.  To add to the warm weather, new fleet of boats and top instructors at NOC Paddling School, we are offering you a "Spring Special" to motivate you to get back out, or in, to the paddling world:

• Reserve select 2013 multiday paddling clinic or full day private instruction clinics for two or more people by the end of April and save 15% off your reservation! Same courses, great instructors, top of the line gear, just at a special Spring price. Click here for details. 

NOC Paddling Instructor teaches student the basics on Fontana Lake

 So why should you learn from NOC Paddling School?

1. Top instructors in the nation -  NOC Instructors are trained to recognize different learning habits in paddling students to help them excel in paddlesports, and we have a core group of instructors who thrive on seeing someone "hit their first roll" or paddle their first class III rapid. Since our instructors are teaching professionals as well as great kayakers, you will be learning from someone who was once in your shoes and understands the ups and downs of learning and excelling in the paddling world.
2. Gear and paddling resources - NOC Paddling School stocks our guests with the best and newest gear on the market, and we just got in our 2013 fleet of boats.  Our huge inventory of demo boats gives you the opportunity to really figure out what fits and best suites your paddling goals.
3. Location, Location, Location - NOC's Nantahala Campus is an epicenter of paddling in the southeast.  With everything from beginner rivers to advanced creeks within miles of campus, you'll have access to premier whitewater that suits your ability levels.  From sweet play spots to classic southeastern rivers, you can run it all with NOC's Paddling School.

Paddling School's 2013 Dagger Mamba Fleet is ready to hit the water

 For more information about NOC Paddling School click here.

View the 2013 NOC Paddling School Course Book here.