What's SUP at NOC?

Originally from Hawaii, Stand Up Paddle boardingis increasing its popularity in the Southeast, and NOC now offers classes on this new river and lake-based activity. When I [Michelle, a returning NOC staff member] came to NOC this summer, I had no idea how popular it had become.  I immediately wanted to try it and learn what all the hype was about, so I signed up for a paddle board instruction course.

Instructor Andrew Koch testing his balance on Lake Fontana

Because I can be very clumsy, I was expecting the experience to be challenging for me, but very entertaining for the instructor and my classmates. True to my expectations, I did not stay dry for very long, falling as soon as I leaped on my board (without waiting for guidance from the instructor). After this failed attempt,  I decided to let my NOC Paddling School instructor, Andrew Koch, do his job.

NOC's Kids Camp enjoying their SUP session

With much patience Andrew walked me threw all of the necessary skills needed to advance from the lake to a river.  I learned how to safely get on and off the board, use correct stroke technique and learn when the different actions are appropriate. I also gained information about the equipment and gear that is available and what would be best for my interests and progression.

Variety of Shubu SUP Boards at NOC

So, after working for a few hours on the lake, we went to the Little Tennessee for my first river experience.  This river consists of class I and II rapids, which was the perfect amount of whitewater for my first time out there.  It had the perfect balance of current and obstacles.  Andrew taught me how to read the water, what obstacles to avoid and how to get where I needed to go.  I followed closely behind him trying to hit all of the same lines and catch the same currents at the beginning.

When we got into the harder class II rapids, I was pretty nervous.  Andrew reassured me if I didn’t feel comfortable I could just get on my knees to obtain a lower center of balance.  It made things much easier and lifted my confidence after getting "skegged" on some "not even class I" rapids.  (Skegged - when the fin catches a rock, and your board stops).  After a few miles on the Little Tennessee I was hooked on SUPing. The sensation of gliding on water is amazing, and the connection you feel with the river and your surroundings is different than it is in a kayak or a canoe.

Our group going down the Little Tennessee

Looking back on the day, I only fell on the river once, and I took some swims in the lake when first beginning.  But, I learned correct technique along with terms and knowledge about SUPing.  I was instantly hooked and could not wait to get back out on a board after the day was over. If you are looking to learn a new sport that can be enjoyed on a various bodies of water, this could be the one for you! Check out SUP options at NOC to get out there and have some fun.

Sizzling Summer in the Southeast

This is the hottest summer in years, so you know you need to get on the water and have fun.  Luckily, NOC is offering great trips to cool off with! Here are some new/discounted trips available to our eNews subscribers willing to take some early or late-day trip times on our most popular days:

1.) Save $10 off Sunday Section III Chattooga Trips - A full day of family fun. This section of the classic Southern legend has class II and III rapids with one optional class IV grand finale.  Our guides will fill the day with smiles, laughs and memories and maybe show off some fun river and raft games along the way.

Chattooga Section III - Troll Bridge Game

2.) Ocoee Discount Trips - The Ocoee River is offering discount trips as low as $24.99  this July.  The river's continuous class III and IV rapids are the most popular in the country, so don't miss this great bargain. Take note, the Ocoee is more advanced than section III of the Chattooga; everyone must be over the age of 12 to participate.

Some splashing on the Middle Ocoee

3.) Pigeon River Discount Trips - For you readers closer to the Gatlinburg area, the Pigeon River is also offering some discount trips as low as $24.99!  The Upper Pigeon has mostly class III and IV rapids.  If you haven't been rafting in a long time, this is a great crash course.  It gives you a taste of what white water rafting is all about in a 5 mile stretch of river.

Great trip for kids as young as 8 years old!

Trips to Consider

1.) Nolichucky Adventure Ducks - With the water levels being just right, now is the perfect time to take out an adventure duck on the Nolichucky!  If you want more of a challenge than being in a raft, or want to feel what it's like to kayak, try out an inflatable kayak.  Our guides will lead you down the Nolichucky's class III - IV rapids.  You will learn the proper way to maneuver through white water while sitting right on top of it. Enjoy drinks and snacks provided along the way to keep you in top paddling form.

Staying calm, cool, and collected while taking on these rapids

2.) Paddle and Saddle at the French Broad - If you visit the Asheville area and want a multi-activity itinerary, consider the French Broad's new Paddle and Saddle Trip!  Spend half of the day rafting down the French Broad River outside of Asheville.  The French Broad has class II and III rapids (a great beginner-friendly river). Lunch is served riverside during your rafting trip, so you are fueled for the next half of your day: horseback riding.  This trip is one of the best full-day options for gung-ho, adventure loving familes. 

What's in a Name? NOC's New "Adventure Center"

If you're checking in for a rafting trip at the Nantahala River anytime soon you'll notice some changes to the Rafting Center. In fact, you'll notice the facility has been renamed the "Adventure Center" and is now home to all NOC activities including: the brand new Zip Line Adventure Park, Bike Shop, mountain bike rentals, lake tour programs, the lake boat rental fleet, stand-up-paddle board programs and more. We're hoping that visitors will find it more convenient than ever to find information on all the activities that NOC's Nantahala River campus has to offer.

The Adventure Center Deck

Previously only rafting guests and rental river trips checked in at the Rafting Center, but now most activities check in at the Adventure Center. The biggest change for long-time NOC guests will be the new location for NOC's Bike Shop.

Big Changes: Bike Shop, Paddling Instruction, and Zip Lines

For the past 40 years, NOC Bike Shop was an extension to the Outfitter store.  This year it has moved over to river left, where we hope to encourage more guests to mountain bike the area's excellent trails. With Flint Ridge Trail on property and Tsali National Recreation Area just 10 miles away, early morning and late afternoon rafting guests now have the option to enjoy these classics.

New NOC Bike Shop

Another big change is in the Paddling School check in-process.  NOC has one of the best paddling schools in the nation, but there are always more ways to improve.  Moving check-in from the General Store to the Adventure Center, increases the efficiency of checking in, and guests no longer have to brave Hwy 74 for gear set up either.  Now instructors meet guests on the Adventure Center Deck prior to the course, and the day ends on the same deck.  Much more personable and organized!

Lake Tours/Lake Rentals Start at the Adventure Center Too!

The newest addition to NOC is the Zip Line Adventure Park, which adds another popular activity to the Nantahala River experience.  "ZLAP" guests check in at the Adventure Center, sign waivers, receive an official day pass and are guided down to the course. Very quick and easy!

All non-rafting guests check in at this window

So, that's the new drill. The Adventure Center provides a single starting point for all NOC's Nantahala River Outpost activities. If you've only gone rafting at the Nantahala River location, hopefully you'll be glad to see all the other ways to have fun at NOC.  So drop by, check things out and  start having more fun, in more ways at NOC!

10 Ways to Cool Off at NOC

It's hot now, and it's only going to get hotter: Atlanta, Charlotte, Greensboro, Columbia and Knoxville are all preparing for four 100° days spanning this weekend.

So, we created a top-ten list of ways to cool down here at NOC. Whitewater rafting always offers refreshing summer fun, but we tried to focus on some other options to mix things up a bit. So, here it goes:

1. Paddling the Nantahala: Whether you kayak, canoe, stand-up-paddleboard or raft the Nantahala, the river's famously cold temperatures are going to feel great this weekend. Sure, sometimes "the Nanty" is a bit chilly, but not now. The beautiful, shaded river will be the best place in the entire Southeast to cool off this weekend.





2. Get a Chilly Pad: A Chilly Pad? These cooling towels are amazing. Just wet one, and it starts to cool to the touch immediately. Technically there's nothing unusual going on (it's just evaporation), but you'll swear there's more to it. We've got this high-demand item stocked up at the Outfitter's Store and at NOC Gatlinburg, so pick one up before you go hiking or biking, and you'll be much more comfortable.


3. Lake Paddling on Fontana Lake: NOC offers guided tours and rentals of the Nantahala channel of Lake Fontana. Starting below Big Wesser rapid--the Nantahala's last hurrah--paddlers enjoy a two-hour round trip out to spectacular Bird Falls.

4. Catch the Breeze: NOC's new Zip Line Adventure Park uses wind, not water, for its cooling effect. After soaring down an almost-600' zip, climbers take on a series of high-altitude, high-exposure challenges. These include additional zips, wobbling obstacles and fun climbing puzzles. Located at the Nantahala, the Zip Line Adventure Park compliments Nantahala River trips with an additional two hours of excitement.

5. Surf School: Yes, you can surf in a river. And, just like surfing at the beach, it's a blast. Join NOC Paddling School instructors at NOC's Nantahala River campus for a free surfing session almost every summer Saturday. They've got kayaks and stand up paddleboards available for casual demos. Guests can just paddle around in a calm, flat eddy, or they can venture into the small, but exciting Surf School Wave. Either way NOC instructors are only steps away with encouragement and support.

6. High Altitude Hiking: Temperatures tend to drop 3-5° for every 1,000' of elevation you gain. So, Clingman's Dome in the Smokies, which is 5,895' higher than downtown Charlotte should be around twenty degrees cooler. Good, cool, high-elevation hikes include Andrews Bald and most hikes starting from the parking area at Newfound Gap (if your goal is staying cool, drive up to the 5,046' gap and start there). Our guides at NOC Gatlinburg know the best hike for any situation. Stop by and ask for some free advice.

7. The Famous Cool Jewel: The signature dessert at River's End Restaurant. This tasty, cool snack requires smothering a scoop of vanilla ice cream in granola, chocolate and caramel syrup. Easy to make. Easier to enjoy!

8. Rapid Transit: If you really can't enjoy the sizzling outdoors, then you can compromise. Ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in a comfortable, climate-controlled car, or enjoy an open air car with the breeze blowing through. You'll be able to see great Smokies scenery without baking in the sun. And after the train ride you'll enjoy lunch and a rafting trip on the refreshing Nantahala River.


9. Treat the Heat: If you're serious about outdoor recreation eventually you'll need to learn about thermoregulation both in hot and cold environments. SOLO Wilderness Medicine classes, like the basic Wilderness First Aid certification, show you how to manage these medical issues and others while having fun outside. The next course starts July 14th.

10. Frosty Brews and Riverside Tunes: Weekly microbrewery tastings at The Pourover make great opportunities to relax after a day of playing in the summer sun. Upcoming events feature the Nantahala Brewing Company and Lonerider Brewery. Cool drinks are on tap every night at The Pourover, and the shady riverside atmosphere always provides an ideal place to chill out. The tastings and the live music schedule just make a good thing even better.

NOC's Exciting June Rafting Specials

It's June, and we're about to hit peak season on the South's whitewater rivers. But that doesn't mean there aren't any specials or discounts out there for savvy shoppers. In fact, we went ahead and collected these for our blog readers, enews subscribers and and Facebook friends so you could see them all in one place.

Here's a list of the top NOC specials going right now:

1) Ocoee River rafting trips for only $20. Yes, you read that correctly; the 3pm, 4pm and 5pm trips on Sunday the 24th are only $20. That's 60% off peak day rates on the most popular river in the world! Don't worry there's no catch: the rafts are still inflated, there's a great NOC guide in the boat, and you're running the same awesome rapids. This will be NOC's best Ocoee deal of the season. Take advantage of it!

Big splashy fun on the Ocoee River. You can see why it's many rafters favorite run!

2) Nantahala Rafting and Zip Line Adventure Park Combo: NOC opens its new Zip Line Adventure Park this Friday at the Nantahala. It's the perfect compliment to the very popular half-day Nantahala trip: a 550' zip line into a 16-obstacle aerial adventure park 40' above the ground. The entire raft and zip experience only costs $89.99—the normal price for most zip line tours.  

NOC's new Zip Line and Adventure Park features exciting zip lines and complex aerial obstacles testing  concentration, focus and mettle!

3) Save $20 per person on 7am Chattooga River Section IV trips on June 16, 17 and 24. Yes, 7am seems early, but consider these factors:

Perhaps my personal favorite summer experience: approaching the drop
at Seven Foot Falls on the Chattooga. 

a) Scarcity: weekend Chattooga trips tend to sell out throughout the summer—the outfitters only have a very limited amount of availability on the Chattooga, which contributes to the river's wilderness feel.

b) Quality: the morning trips are the guides' favorites due to more plentiful wildlife, moderate temperatures and the early-morning river ambiance.

c) Convenience: yes, it doesn't seem convenient to be at the Chattooga River at 7am, but you'll be finished in the middle of the day, and you'll be able to make it back home or to the cabin for more time with family and friends.

And, to boot, you save $20 per person. Just book as normal, and we'll apply the discount at the end of the transaction.


4) Nolichucky High Adventure Ducky Trips. These are the most exclusive rafting trips NOC offers. When water levels get just right NOC offers exciting guided duck trips through the Noli's Class III and IV rapids. Non-kayakers, will experience the rush that's hooked the hard boaters. If you've enjoyed a duck trip on the Nantahala, this is the big next step. These trips are for paddlers 16+ and include a very high guide-to-guest ratio to ensure guests are appropriately supported. Don't miss this opportunity.

NOC guide demonstrating the line through a large rapid on the Nolichucky
High Adventure Ducky Trip.

5) Pigeon River rafting. So, if you are really flexible you can still grab spring pricing (30% off) on Pigeon trips through Friday. If you can't just drop everything and go rafting, that's ok (get your priorities straight for Pete's sake!). NOC offers standard late-day discount trips for $29.99 and $24.99. Just to put this in context: if you live in Knoxville, and you can get off work a bit early, your group can go rafting on select 5pm trips and save money. Think of that as adding a bit of weekend right into the middle of your workweek—always a good thing.

Family fun on the Pigeon River. These happy rafters will remember this trip forever.

Five Reasons to Raft this Spring

Every paddler understands the huge difference between paddling a whitewater river in July and in January. And most folks intuitively get how fall color adds to the atmosphere of an October outing. However, there’s not much recognition for the unique benefits of the spring. Here’s a primer on why the spring is possibly the best time to hit the water, and why spring 2012 could be the best spring yet.

1 . It doesn’t even feel like spring. Let’s face it, this is strange weather. We’ve got temperatures in the 70s for the entire 10-day forecast. You could bemoan it as an ominous sign about a hot summer, or you could interpret it as the beginning of drastic climate change—or you could just get out and enjoy the rare March treat!

High spring flow on the Wild and Scenic Chattooga

2. Spring water. Our free flowing rivers—the Chattooga, French Broad and Nolichucky—rely on rainfall for their flows. Unlike our dam-controlled rivers that have steady, reliable levels, these rivers go through drastic changes in character and experience as water levels fluctuate. (Kind of like how the ocean surf gets pushier as a storm approaches.) Just because you rafted one of these rivers when things were “normal” or moderate doesn’t mean you’ve experienced these rivers at higher spring flows. A high-water trip on one of these rivers is one of the best adrenaline rushes you can get out of the Southeastern outdoors. Keep your eyes peeled for rain and try to book on the back end of a soggy day or two. If you miss perfect timing it’s not a big deal; all the rivers have strong spring base flows anyway.

Classic rapids on the Nolichucky

3. Flower power. So flowers aren’t as powerful as a boat-rocking wave, but they can have just as much impact on a trip. Imagine paddling down a beautiful river gorge as dogwoods, redbuds, pear trees and beds of wildflowers line the bank. It’s actually pretty amazing. Add some warm sunshine on your still-a-bit-white-from-winter skin and some camaraderie from your group and raft guides, and you’ve got a perfect spring day.

Blue wildflowers along the French Broad

4. It’s all for you. Sometimes rivers get busy in the summer. That makes sense. Everyone loves cooling off in July and August. But if you go in the spring, you’re going to get wide-open vistas, and you’re likely going to be one of the only groups you see on the river. It’s a bit more intimate, and it’s easier to get the enviable “Too bad for everyone stuck in the office today” feeling when you’ve got the river to yourself. You’ll feel pretty lucky to have it all to yourself.

Big, splashy waves of the Middle Ocoee

5. Save some money. It’s a strange world where we can offer premium trips at lower cost, but due to the demand curve that’s just how the rafting business works. Who wins in this situation? Rafters. So take advantage of this quirk and book a spring rafting trip. You’ll be able to see the available savings here, and you’ll help “green up the mountains” by keeping some of that cash in your own back pocket.

To plan a spring rafting trip on a whitewater river go to:

• Chattooga River
• French Broad River
• Nolichucky River
• Nantahala River
• Ocoee River
• Pigeon River
• Cheoah River

NOC to Host First Youth Paddling Rendezvous this Spring

Last fall NOC's Paddling School Director Jon Clark received hundreds of applications from youth across the Southeast to join the 2012 Youth Paddling Team. Now in its second season, Jon has officially announced the members of the 2012 YPT and he has developed a calendar packed full of fun and engaging events, training sessions, and the first bi-annual Youth Paddling Rendezvous.

The 2011 Youth Paddling Team

New for the 2012 YPT season, NOC will host its first Whitewater Youth Rendezvous, bringing together young paddlers and providing them with the skills and awareness needed to become responsible and safe paddlers. This fun and free event is set for April 28th and 29th.

There will be two rendezvous each season, in the Spring and the Fall. The Spring Rendezvous will help provide youth paddlers the opportunity to freshen up their skills and meet new friends as the paddling season begins. The Fall Rendezvous session gives the team the chance to reunite and share all the great experiences had over the summer.

Hosted by NOC Paddling School instructors, participants will work one-on-one with some of the world's top paddlers. In just one weekend paddlers may: get their first kayak roll with Jon Clark, learn the basics of freestyle from Andrew Koch, perfect their boofs with Andrew Holcombe - and all while meeting lots of other paddlers!

Each day begins with classroom training sessions followed by two instruction sessions. Participants will have the option of choosing from different topics and concentrations to participate in. The weekend rendezvous includes activities for YPT parents too. Saturday evening is highlighted with the keynote speaker and Sunday everyone will participate in the closing ceremony.

Rendezvous team members, parents and family members are all encouraged to participate. Register early for the best availability in accommodations. NOC's Nantahala River location offers cabin, bunkhouse and inn-style lodging as well as a variety of dining options serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at River's End Restaurant and some quick bites and sandwiches from Slow Joe's Cafe. Don't forget, all YPT members receive a discount so don't forget to ask when making your reservation.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a member of the Youth Paddling Team, check out the YPT webpages. Although the application process has closed for the 2012 Elite YPT, Jon is continuing to accept applications for the 2012 Junior Team. Apply here.

Click to view the 2012 YPT Junior Team Calendar and YPT Elite Team Calendar.

For more information on the YPT Spring Rendezvous and to RSVP please contact Jon Clark at Jon.Clark@noc.com.