2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships: Schedule of Events

Athletes from Japan, Slovakia and Britain are already in the Nantahala Gorge training for the 2013 ICF Freestyle Canoe World Championships.  This event is gearing up to be the biggest paddling event in the US since the 1996 Olympic; you definitely don't want to miss the action!

For a preview of what's to come in the competition, watch the official 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championship Trailer here:

Competition week will be filled with live music, spectator games and mini-events. The official craft marketplace will be packed with local vendors selling authentic, handmade mountain crafts and distributing information about their products. And the Adidas Outdoor Gear Zone will feature representative from the hottest brands in paddlesports and outdoor industries like Adidas, Confluence, North Face, Columbia and more!

Below is a tentative schedule for the week of competition; go ahead and choose the dates for your visit! An official list of 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championship Lodging Partners is available here if you're looking for a place to crash.

Event Schedule - Subject to change at Organizer's discretion

Monday, September 2

6 pm: Athlete Parade & Opening Ceremonies in Bryson City

6:45 pm: Warriors of AniKituhwa, presented by Duke Energy

7:30 - 10 pm: Live Music in Bryson City

8 pm: Big Air Show - Everett Street Bridge, Bryson City

Tuesday, September 3

11 am - 12:30 pm: Competition: Heats (K1 Men Junior)

12:30 pm: NOC Mini-Me Rodeo

2:30 - 4:30 pm: Competition: Heats (K1 Men Junior, OC1 Men)

5 - 8 pm: Live Music with The Broadcast

Wednesday, September 4

11 am - 1 pm: Competition: Heats (Squirt Women & Men)

1 pm: Wave Sport Wesser Falls Extreme Race

3 - 4:30 pm: Competition: Heats (Squirt Men, K1 Women Junior)

5 - 8 pm: Live Music with Chalwa

Thursday, September 5

11 am - 1 pm: Competition: Heats (K1 Men)

1 pm: Bomber Gear SUP Head-to-Head Race

3 - 5 pm: Competition: Heats (K1 Men)

5 pm: Dagger Dash Attainment Race

5 - 8 pm: Live Music with The Fritz

Friday, September 6

11 am - 12 pm: US Wildwater Nationals Classic Race

12 - 2 pm: Competition: Heats (C1 Men, K1 Women)

2 pm: Bomber Gear Dress for Success Challenge

3 - 4 pm: Competition: Heats (K1 Women)

4 - 7 pm: Live Music with Playing on the Planet

5 pm: Rubber Duckie Race to benefit Swain & Robbinsville High School athletic programs

6 - 7 pm: Competition: Quarterfinals (K1 Men)

7 pm: Dagger presents 8-Ball Competition thru 2013 Wave

8 - 11 pm: Live Music with The Freight Hoppers

9 - 10 pm: Competition: Quarterfinals (K1 Men)

Saturday, September 7

11 am - 12 pm: US Wildwater Nationals Sprint Race

11 am- 2 pm: Wilderness Systems Lake Demos

12 - 3:20 pm: Competition: Semifinals (Squirt Men & Women, K1 Men Junior, C1 Men)

2 pm: Wilderness Systems Challenge

3:45 pm: VIP Raft Race

5 pm: Rubber Duckie Race to benefit PAWS No-Kill Animal Shelter

4 - 7 pm: Live Music with Buncombe Turnpike

7:20 - 8 pm: Competition: Semifinals (K1 Women)

8 pm: AT Canoe Ball

8 - 11 pm: Live Music with The Mad Tea

9 - 10 pm: Competition: Semifinals (K1 Men)

Sunday, September 8

11 am - 1 pm: Competition: Finals (Squirt Women & Men, OC1 Men, K1 Women Junior)

11 am - 3 pm: Wilderness Systems Lake Demos

1 pm: Awards Ceremony

1:30 pm: Dagger presents: The RPM Stern Squirt Session

2:30 pm: Rubber Duckie Race to Benefit the Nantahala Racing Club

3 - 5 pm: Competition: Finals (K1 Men Junior, C1 Men, K1 Women, K1 Men)

4-7 pm: Live Music with Unspoken Tradition

5 pm: Awards Ceremony

5:15 pm: Closing Ceremonies

8 pm - Live Music with Dirty Bourbon River Show

For full event descriptions and event information click here. 
We hope to see you in the Nantahala Gorge for the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships from September 2 - 8. 

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.

River Leader of the Month – September 2011: The Other Side of Pat Keller

I do realize a lot of you already know Pat Keller or at least heard of him.  You probably know him as a big name in the paddling community, may have read prior interviews with Pat or seen footage of him on the internet, maybe met him in person or even had the opportunity to paddle with him.  Pat’s well known for his many paddling accomplishments including multiple first descents, Green River Race wins, World Kayak Freestyle Championships, river expeditions and the list goes on.  You can read about all of this in his other interviews.  But I’d heard there was much more to him than just all of these wins and accomplishments.  My mission: Meet the other side of Pat, the one that’s having fun while getting others involved in paddling.

Recalling the first time I met him, I didn’t think much of it.  Simply a really nice guy at the Dagger tent one demo day.  After that I continued to see Pat come up in cool videos and articles online and hear his name around town amongst my paddling buddies.  Even one of my friends that has been showing me the ropes (as I am just beginning to paddle) was stoked about having paddled the Green River Narrows with Pat for the first time a couple months back.  I didn’t think much about it and then realized, huh, this guy’s really trying to get others out there and into paddling, opening up, sharing his knowledge and leading the way as a role model for a younger generation of paddlers. 

It all began for Pat with his first experience on the water at age 3 when his father took him down the Nantahala River.  As a youth he continued to return to the Nantahala and progressed over the years to inflatable kayaks eventually getting his first boat, a Dagger Blast.  NOC is a home to Pat having grown up visiting the gorge frequently as if it were chapel.  But Pat was an active child involved in paddling, gymnastics, karate and skiing.  At age 9, when he tore his ACL all else ceased and he turned only to kayaking.  He began attending NOC Paddling School Youth Camps where he learned to steer, ferry and turn.  This made kayaking easier and allowed him to focus his attention on fewer things at once having the basic skills coming to him naturally.  “Learning to kayak is such a fun progression. A fun dance!” as Pat likes to put it.  “It builds self-confidence and awareness even with all of the real consequences.”  He pushes himself now by blending the skills he has gained from years of paddling across disciplines, combining freestyle, slalom and creeking to create new challenges.

 A Few Fun Lines on the Green River Narrows with Pat

Good role models are hard to come by in athletes these days.  We hear it almost everyday on the news and in the media about scandals: baseball player Mike Jacobs testing positive for HGH, Tiger Woods’ infidelity, Michael Vick’s dog fighting fiasco, and many more.  Pat desired to not only further himself and his paddling career meeting personal goals but also wanted to help others get into the sport and be a role model for paddling.   In 2001, he became an American Canoe Association certified instructor and began teaching at NOC’s Paddling School.   “To not spread the love seems bad. Everyone’s welcome.”  He continues to get friends and beginners out on the water even offering his own gear for use, showing the way and giving pointers.  “The life experiences paddling has brought me and the fun of it is satisfying.  Bring others in and you see it click.”

Pat is now living his life as a chameleon: working in the “real” world and continuing to progress his involvement in the paddling world.  He is a “suit and tie” at Merrill Lynch a few days a week working toward his professional career goals.  But he has “a foot in both worlds” and feels comfortable.  His passion for paddling continues to consume his free time.  “I haven’t lost who I am.”  Pat is a Dagger Team member, an Ambassador for American Whitewater and is working on his latest venture: a creek boating safety video.  “Your level of knowledge influences perception.”  Pat has plenty of paddling experience he has gained over the years and now he’s sharing it.  This year he’s looking forward to accomplishing a few personal goals as well and continuing his “Grand Adventure” with paddling in Mexico, getting back to the Green Race and skiing throughout the winter.  “My life is good!”  So, be on the lookout as Pat’s making waves and paving the way as a role model in the paddling community. 

Outside Magazine Picks NOC as the "Best Whitewater Kayaking School"

Thanks to Greg Melville at Outside magazine for selecting NOC's Paddling School as the "hands-down best whitewater school in the country." Melville was writing for the "Adventure Adviser" feature and answering the question "What is the best Whitewater Kayaking School?"

Previously the magazine has noted NOC as a "Top School"and a "Best Place to Learn" in its "Zero to Hero" feature that runs early in the calendar year. This feature encourages outdoor enthusiasts to pick up a new pursuit as part of their new year resolutions.

Upon hearing the news Jon Clark, Director of NOC's Paddling School, commented "It's great to be recognized by an authority like Outside. Our instructors are always refining their techniques, developing new programming and simply working hard to help their students improve. I'm proud that we're contributing to the tradition of excellence this school has built over decades."

For a list of NOC Paddling School programs, including a brand new Stand Up Paddleboard program, click here.

Congratulations to Jon and all the NOC instructors!

NOC Staff Dispatch: Paddling for a Cause in the Eddy Flower Vertical Challenge

from NOC Nolichucky River Guide Jeff Clewell

On May 15, the 2010 Eddy Flower Vertical Challenge began. For 32 days, 50 teams from the East and the West will compete to descend as many vertical feet as possible on whitewater rivers, all while raising money for young cancer patients. This is the fourth year in a row that Eddy Flower has teamed up with First Descents—an organization that provides kayak instruction and adventure for young adults who have recently been diagnosed with cancer—to put on the competition.

Myself and fellow NOC staffer Drew Austell are competing in the open division and hope to lead in both "vertical feet" and "donations" through the end of the competition. Our team (The Off the Cowch Team) jumped to an early lead in both categories and has managed to maintain that lead half-way through the competition. With the final days of the competition upon us, we will have to keep a watchful eye on the teams behind us.

Curt Joyce, Drew Austell, and Jeff Clewell, of The Off the Cowch Team, head downstream alongside fellow competitor Susan Hollingsworth, of the Femme 45 team. Photo by Melissa Wilder

Last year's competition came down to the final days, with three teams all vying for the top spot. This year promises to be just as competitive. You can check out the progress of The Off the Cowch Team at the Standings page.

The Miracle Mile stretch on Oregon's Willamette River has numerous lines and countless boofs like the one seen here. Photo by: Curt Joyce

Jeff winds up on a boof stroke to clear one of the many hydraulics in the Miracle Mile. Photo by: Curt Joyce

For more on First Descents, their history, mission, and testimonials click here. If you feel inspired, feel free to make a secure, tax deductible donation to First Descents by clicking here (you can make a donation on Jeff or Drew's behalf or donate independently).

Drew makes "the move" in Lower Zig Zag rapid on the Green Truss. Photo by: Curt Joyce