A Parting Salute to NOC Legend Wayne Dickert

This June is the last month our beloved Wayne Dickert (“Wayner”) will be working a NOC. The good news: Wayne’s leaving us to become the Pastor at Bryson City United Methodist Church in town, so he’ll be realizing an important personal goal, and will still be nearby. The bad news: much less Wayner on the water and around the NOC campus.

For those only a little acquainted with Wayne’s tremendous contributions to NOC and Southeastern paddling in general, here’s an abridged version of his vast accomplishments.

Professional:

Wayne began his professional whitewater career thirty years ago on the Ocoee River near his East Tennessee home. In 1981 he started guiding rafts with Sunburst Adventures on the Ocoee River, where he remained for six years until NOC purchased the Ocoee-only outfitter in early 1987. After two additional summers working on the Ocoee Wayne moved to the Nantahala in 1988 to guide NOC paddling and rafting trips.

From the beginning Wayner gravitated to canoe and kayak instruction at NOC. Due to his impressive career as a competitive paddler and his adept teaching methods, Wayner quickly became one of the core instructors in the Paddling School. Originally Wayne spent his non-instruction time from November to February creating custom wooden paddles with Homer King, builder of the legendary Silver Creek paddles. While at Silver Creek, Wayner and Homer designed some of the first curved wooden canoe blades. Less well known was Wayne’s short and fat shallow-river blade Homer nicknamed “the shovel.”

However, in 1993 NOC became one of the primary sponsors of the The Nantahala Racing Club and Wayner found himself immediately involved. Wayne's off season time was consumed by administrative and leadership work for the club. From ’93 to ’96 Wayner maintained his NOC/NRC/competitive paddling lifestyle until he left NOC in ’96 to accept a position at USA Canoe/Kayak as the Development Director—helping the US team field world-class whitewater athletes in international competition.

Wayner returned to NOC full-time in ’99 as the head of the NOC Paddling School, where he remained until 2009. His ten years in this position were immensely effective: his extensive experience in paddling instruction and his notable competitive accomplishments made him a visible and effective leader. Wayner began his slow transition to the church in 2006 when he enrolled at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary to earn a Masters in Divinity. In 2007 he started the River of Life Ministry at NOC, giving paddlers a casual, early-Sunday summer service followed by an optional group river trip. He accepted the role of “NOC Ambassador” in 2009 as he began the transition to church life and finished up school. In this role Wayner helped start the Canoe Club Challenge, worked with the Southeast’s summer camps to get young paddlers on the water and helped the Nantahala area win the 2013 ICF World Freestyle Championships.


During his career in professional paddling Wayner racked up some pretty amazing accomplishments:

• Two “Best Instructional Video Awards” from the National Paddling Film Festival, one for 2005’s River Runner’s Edge—a project Wayne worked on with Kent Ford, John C. Davis and Phil & Mary DeRiemer –and the other for 2006’s The Kayaker’s Toolbox with Joe Holt.
  



• Two National Outdoor Book Awards for the Instructional category for Basic Canoeing (2003) and Basic Kayaking (2005).
  



• He was one of the boat designers for the 1992 gold-medal winning C-2 boat nicknamed “Patriot” along with Horace Holden Jr. and the boats’ paddlers Scott Strausbaugh and Joe Jacobi. This boat remains the only US Olympic championship boat.
  
  


• Wayne collaborated (to varying degrees) on the designs of many production boats including the Dagger GT, Dagger Approach, Dagger Mamber, Dagger Juice, Dagger Rx, LiquidLogic Remix, LiquidLogic Hoss and more.
  
  

Once a group of Wayne's students were reviewing his bio, and after they read about his accomplishments their main comment was “Whoa, you had a moustache?!”

Some people are just hard to impress.

Competitive Paddling:


Wayne started paddling slalom in the spring of 1981 on the Ocoee River in a Perception Mirage at the old Ocoee Double Header race. He enjoyed it so much that he immediately purchased a slalom kayak. In May of the same year, Wayne borrowed a slalom canoe and, as Wayner says, “it just felt more natural to me.” So, the kayak was gone almost as quickly as it arrived, and Wayne became a C1 (decked canoe) racer. “I was young and stupid; it didn’t matter that [canoeing] was harder.” Wayner preferred the leverage and sightlines of the canoe, and all of a sudden he was training and competing for whitewater slalom and downriver (or Wildwater) events.


Though he made the US C-2 Mix team in ’82 and raced in the West German Nationals in ’83, Wayne didn’t began winning consistently until 1984. In ’84 Wayne was the top ranked downriver canoe racer in the US (after winning the Pan-American Cup), and he remained one of the top downriver competitors through ’89 when he “retired” for the first time.

However, retirement didn't last long and it was less than a year before Wayne and Horace began toying with the idea of a forming a slalom C-2 team, a development that resulted from an informal, why-not-try-it whim paddling session. Horace and Wayne’s casual paddling session was surprisingly competitive and ’92 Olympic coach Fritz Haller started encouraging and coaching the new C-2 team.




At the 1996 Olympic Team Trials Wayne and Horace actually defeated their coach Fritz Haller and his brother Lecky, with four solid runs on the Olympic Course at the Upper Ocoee. At the Olympics Wayne’s team placed 11^th after a misjudged maneuver on the first run resulted in a technical penalty and after Wayne dislocated his thumb before the second run. Despite this, Wayne maintains that his biggest disappointment from the Olympics was that the US didn’t get two C-2 boats qualified so he could have competed again with his friends Fritz and Lecky.





Today:

Despite having spent a good part of the past 30 years on the water, Wayne is still one of the NOC employees you’re most likely to see on the river. Many employees split time between the river and nearby hiking or biking trails, and some see the river “plenty” during the work day, and head for the house or to town after hours.

Not so for Wayner. He’s probably the colleague most likely to lobby you into spending a lunch break on the water, or to work through lunch and leave for a 4pm “on the river meeting”. You’re likely to see him working with aspiring athletes at the gates, surfing on the Surf School wave, or scouting the falls with a young paddler.

We asked him two questions to wrap things up:


Q: What’s your favorite part of paddling?

A: Teaching Beginners. I enjoy seeing beginners fall in love with the sport. I even like it better than working with advanced paddlers who know what they’re doing. I’ve always liked the beginners the best.

Q: What’s your favorite river?(It’s got to be the Ocoee right?)

A: Well, yeah the Ocoee would be there because it’s been such a big part of my life: I got married there, started working and paddling there and competed in the Olympics there, but my favorite river is the Tallulah actually. It’s just so beautiful and the rapids are so fun.


So, that about sums this recap up. Note that this story doesn’t really have an ending; Wayne still loves boating, and you’re likely to see him out and about whenever he gets a chance. We expect they’ll be keeping him pretty busy over there at Bryson City United Methodist, but hopefully after things settle in a bit we’ll start seeing Wayne back on the river—though we're not expecting him at any future Sunday releases on the Tallulah.

Thanks Wayner.



Editor's Note: Join us at the first 2011 Canoe Club Challenge (on the Nantahala Saturday June 18th) and thank Wayner for his contributions to paddling. We'll be throwing him a big going away party after the event!

NOC River Leader of the Month - Becca Carter

Every month Olympian and NOC Ambassador Wayne Dickert (aka Wayner) will bring you an interview with extraordinary paddlers and enthusiasts that have given unselfishly to make this sport one that all can enjoy and participate in. We’ve dubbed these generous souls NOC River Leaders. The NOC River Leader is someone that has given back to the paddling world whether in the form of community involvement, educational outreach and/or support. Each month NOC will honor a different leader for their efforts to give the recognition they deserve.

This month I want to honor our veterans in recognition of Memorial Day. The decision was an easy one. I would like to introduce and recognize Becca Carter as May’s NOC River Leader. Becca has given her time to help veterans heal physical, mental and spiritual war wounds. She is the organizer of Asheville’s Team River Runner (TRR). TRR has several chapters around the country and uses paddlesports to help wounded war vets overcome some of their challenges when returning home.
Wayner: How and when did you begin paddling?
Becca: I began paddling whitewater at NOC guide school in March 2006. It was an exciting experience and I learned so much about being in control in a whitewater boat. Although I had been paddling for five years on flat water in the Raleigh area, I felt like I wasn’t a paddler until my first experience on whitewater. Soon, I was whitewater rafting all over the Southeast and had a special fondness for the rivers in West Virginia because of their beauty and challenge. I then discovered whitewater kayaking and completely jumped into the sport.

Wayner: Did you have any struggles early on? How did you overcome those?
Becca: It took a long time to learn to roll because I did not take any formal instruction. After a year of flailing around and learning on my own, I decided to take a clinic. I went with Anna Levesque to Mexico on a women’s only clinic and conquered my roll!

Wayner: If you could offer any new boater a suggestion, what would it be?
Becca: First, get professional instruction. You won’t flail around forever but it makes a significant difference to have a solid foundation to start from. Also, just as important, find several reliable friends to paddle with. They should enjoy paddling the same level of whitewater as you. Shelly and Will Gillis were my first paddling buddies. We had a lot of whitewater kayaking trips together. I was fortunate to have some good friends that helped get me started. They were always ready to go to the river with me.

Wayner: What do you do to improve your paddling skills?
Becca: I enjoy paddling slalom gates. It has helped me refine my skills. Often on the river, I do not have to be in a specific place, or at least that specific place isn’t well defined. With the slalom gates I know exactly where I am supposed to be. I use the water to help me get to that place. Working with the paddlers in the Team River Runner group has been great because it has helped me refine my own skills. I have to think through the skills I am teaching and the alternatives in case what I present doesn’t work very well for that person. By having to think critically while teaching, I found that I learned the techniques better and applied them more accurately on the water.

Working with the wounded vets also taught me about self-forgiveness and not feeling like everything had to be perfect. Working with TRR has been as encouraging and inspirational for me as it has been for the vets…and they love it!
Wayner: What is your favorite river and why?
Becca: Chattooga Section IV. It’s remote and beautiful without being too hard but it is still challenging. My favorite moment is coming around the corner below Woodall Shoals and sensing the remoteness and serenity of the river. Its beauty recharges my soul.

Wayner: What activities are offered through TRR?
Becca: Roll classes in the pool at Warren Wilson College are offered every other week. That is a great place for the vets to work on the basics. They confront any fears in a controlled environment and become comfortable on the water. TRR has several river trips each year too depending on the availability of volunteers to help out. I would say my favorite river to teach on is the Pigeon River on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee.

Team River Runner participants kayak on whitewater rivers with volunteers and the spouses follow along in duckies or rafts. After time on the river, the group gathers for a meal and an opportunity for group bonding. This has quickly become one of the highlights of the trip. Everyone is able to share stories of the challenges and successes from the day on the river. It gives the families a chance to observe the excitement and healing first hand.

Wayner: What is your favorite thing about paddling now?
Becca: Personally, I enjoy the bond of trust with others. Paddling whitewater is one of the places where you have to be “in the moment.” You have to remain focused on what you are doing or the river reminds you to pay attention. This complete and inner focus is very spiritual for me.

My favorite thing about working with TRR is the ability to bond with the participants. Being able to share my passion with them and offer an opportunity for healing mentally, physically and spiritually through paddlesports is most rewarding. It is wonderful to be a part of this and watch them heal. Kayaking connects with their personal challenges and fears. I have this one vet that went down with his helicopter. Consequently, every time he is upside down in a kayak, he has a flashback to being in the helicopter. To see the courage he, and others, exhibit is phenomenal. It is inspiring to watch these veterans overcome their fears.

Wayner: What have been some of the greatest challenges for you and TRR?
Becca: First of all I had never run an organization before. There was a pretty steep learning curve for me but it has worked out well. We have been able to gather several boats for the group even though we usually need more. Once we set up a regular schedule to meet at the pool every other week, things became a little more predictable and easier to manage. Organizing our events and paddling days is always one of the most challenging but certainly the highlight of our programs. It is well worth the effort to see the group and family bonding that goes on during these trips. Everything has fallen perfectly into place for us. It was definitely meant to be!

Personally, it is also a challenge to find the right people to paddle with. Many of my friends either paddle easier rivers or much harder rivers than I enjoy paddling. I like to be challenged on the river without feeling scared. When you can find that group of people it’s very spiritual being out on the river with friends who share the same passion for nature and respect of the river.
Wayner: What are some of your goals for the future?
Becca: For my personal goals, I want to be a better creek boater and continue to challenge myself by working on problem solving techniques on the river. I would also like to develop my courage as I enjoy paddling with good friends that are similar in skill level. More than anything however, I want to “practice being present” in the moment on the water.

My main goal for TRR is to find more volunteers to inspire the TRR paddlers. Our next goal for our group is to paddle on more rivers offering more trips. In order to do so we need more volunteers but I know we can make it happen.

Team River Runner is always looking for volunteers. If you would like a rewarding and fun paddling opportunity check out TRR’s Facebook page and schedule.

Join Wayner again next month to learn more about another honorable NOC River Leader. If you know of someone that is deserving of this recognition, please email Melissa.Pennscott@noc.com with details and contact information.

Civilian to Survivor: Don’t Be Unprepared This Summer

It is hard to imagine that NOC Wilderness Survival School (WSS) began as an idea of Wilderness Medicine Director Jono Bryant’s just over a year ago. I recently sat down with Jono to get the latest scoop on his programming and the new courses and clinics for 2011. WSS will transform you from civilian to survivor this summer!
NOC now offers over a dozen specialty clinics and workshops and a three-stage progression to complete the survival school training. This makes it simple and easy to select the dates and courses that work best for you. WSS takes place at NOC’s private woodland, Hemlock Ridge, located in the remote Nantahala River Gorge surrounded by forest service land. Jono’s team of WSS instructors is comprised of ex-military and wilderness medicine experts.

Level I – Introduction to Survival
The first few days are most critical in surviving solitude in the wilderness. Whether it be due to a crisis or a navigational mishap, WSS Level I prepares you for the first 72 hours focusing on fundamentals, keeping a clear head while under pressure, the necessary basics and getting out alive. The three-day course covers six essential concepts:

• Shelter
• Fire Craft
• Food Finding
• Water Purification
• Off-Trail Navigation
• Rescue Signaling

Upon completion of Level I and three skills workshops, you’ll have acquired the skills necessary to progress onto Level II where these basic skill sets will be further developed and survival techniques refined.

Level II – On the Move
Statistics show that if you are not rescued in the first 72 hours, your likelihood of survival is significantly reduced. If you haven’t made it out alive in that 72 hour window, Level II will teach you the necessary skills for surviving with little chance of rescue for an undetermined period of time. All skills acquired in Level I will be refined and advanced in this two-day course. You will also learn:

• Advanced Natural Shelter Creation
• Making Natural Cordage
• Open Fire Cooking Methods
• Maneuvering Rocky & Steep Terrains
• Navigating Safe River Crossings

In order to progress to WSS Level II, students will need to complete a minimum of six survival skills workshops including Navigation, Plants for Medicine and Bow Drilling.
Level III – Extreme Survival
The final and most challenging course of WSS, this three-day clinic features the most challenging terrain and obstacles with limited food and resources. Level III is a simulation of an outdoor excursion gone terribly wrong. It ties together all of the skills you have learned along the way and pushes you to the limit while navigating through an undefined course. Upon completion of Level III you will be prepared for the toughest situations and will have proven that you are the Ultimate Survivor!
Skills Workshops
New skills workshops and advanced levels have been added to the roster this year. These workshops expand on basic skill sets you will acquire during the Level I and II coursework. You get to select the skills that interest you the most and master those in these hands-on workshops. Basic skills workshops are one-day and advanced skills workshops are two-day clinics. This year the following skills workshops are offered:

• Mastering the Bow Drill
• Advanced Shelter Building
• Primitive Angling and Fish Traps
• Advanced Trapping – Woodlands
• Tracking Intensive – Advanced
• Flint Knapping and Pressure Flaking
• Natural Cordage
• Plants for Medicine and Food – Basic and Advanced
• Map and Compass – Basic and Advanced

Youth WSS Camps
After a large number of youth participated in WSS clinics last year, Jono realized the need for more youth focused programs. This year he created a Father/Son Survival Weekend where the two will progress together through Level I with challenging, hands-on applications of all skills (yes, mothers and daughters are welcome too!). Camping is encouraged with ample lodging options available on site. Another cool program is the week-long Youth Ultimate Survival Camp where students spend 100% of their time outdoors. Campers will learn to navigate on their own using a map and compass, fish and prepare meals and even build a shelter to sleep in. This camp encourages independent thinking and teaches practical hands-on skills.

More Info
For more details about NOC Wilderness Survival School programs visit noc.com or contact Jono Bryant at 888.905.7238 ext 7190.

Summer 2011: The Top Three Southeastern Mountain Vacations

Only sixteen days remain before Memorial Day weekend. So, now’s the time to start planning your family’s summer getaways. To help out, we’ve created a list of NOC-approved destinations that offer the arts, great food, fun activities and, of course, big helpings of outdoor fun!

Asheville, NC

Reputation: The coolest mountain city in the Southeast

Chops: Three-Time Beer City USA, #1 Whitewater Town in the Country, Fantastic Dining

NOC’s Take: This is probably where more NOC staff hang out than any where else. Asheville has wonderful music and nightlife, countless independent restaurants, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the enormous and elaborate Biltmore Estate, excellent canopy tours with our friends Navitat and one of the most famous resorts in the country, The Grove Park Inn. It’s telling that the President has vacationed in Asheville twice in the last four years.

And while this is all good, the best thing about Asheville is whitewater. Not only does the city have four rivers within easy striking distance (the French Broad, Nolichucky, Pigeon and Nantahala), but advanced kayakers can enjoy the gold-standard in Class V paddling, the Narrows of the Green, and there are plenty of smaller rivers and lesser-known creeks to enjoy.

Final say: If you’re an adventurer by day and a cosmopolitan by night, or if you have a significant other that’s a bit more urbane than you, Asheville’s perfect. There’s no better blend of downtown and downriver.

Bryson City & Fontana NC

Reputation: The Quiet Side of the Smokies

Chops: One of the Best Outdoor Towns in the Country, The “#1 Vacation with a Splash”

NOC’s Take: If you go on vacation to get away and relax and recharge this is the place to go. NOC’s Nantahala River headquarters is a big attraction here. You can go whitewater rafting on the Nantahala (or on the nearby Chattooga and Ocoee Rivers), paddle on Lake Fontana, learn to whitewater kayak, brush up on survival skills, take in live music and dinner by the river, mountain bike at Flint Ridge, Tsali or JackRabbit, and much more.

You can also just chill out on a shady porch overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Nantahala National Forest, and take a spin in a jetboat or on the scenic Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.

There’s hiking on the Appalachian Trail, the Bartram Trail and in the Park, and there’s fishing and scenic drives to boot.

Where to stay? We recommend NOC's lodging (of course!), but also check out Fontana Village Resort (NOC guests save 15%; call 828.498.2240 to get the special offer). Fontana Village has great facilities, riding stables, a big, multi-featured outdoor pool, disc golf, and more. For the outdoors purist, the company provides backcountry shuttles to a bivy of creeks: Hazel, Eagle, Forney, Chambers and Pilkey.

Final Word: This is the best place to totally relax or immerse yourself in nature. On the North Carolina side of the Park, you can experience the Smokies without experiencing lots of people.

Gatlinburg, TN

Reputation: One of the South’s Best Family Vacation Destinations

Chops: One of Southern Living’s “Best Family Destinations” (the highest-ranking non-beach destination), the quickest access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most-visited locations

NOC’s Take: Face it, most of the time people want to do different things on vacation—especially kids. Gatlinburg’s wide offering of activities from Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies to the nearby Dollywood amusement park give families plenty of choices on their recreation.

As for the outdoors: Cade’s Cove and the Roaring Fork Motor Trail are very popular driving tours for the uninitiated, and NOC’s Great Outpost can help anyone prepare for a human-powered excursion. A serious enthusiast could spend the whole summer hiking the Park’s 900 miles of trails, exploring the East’s largest concentration of old-growth forest or identifying wildflowers, trees and wildlife in the nation’s most ecologically diverse temperate-climate national park.

The guided trip options are solid: the exciting Pigeon River is a quick drive away, and the French Broad offers a close full-day trip option. You can also book biking, hikes, fly fishing or indoor rock climbing at our activity basecamp.

An easy spot to crash is the Bearskin Lodge. Hardcore outdoor folks will appreciate the quick walk to the Park entrance and NOC’s Great Outpost, and the more attractions-oriented folks will appreciate the pool and the walking access to the city’s main strip.

Final Word: If you’ve got a few kids, or you enjoy a really wide range of activity options, Gatlinburg’s the place for you. If somebody can’t find something fun to do here, you may want to go on vacation with someone else.

Nantahala Outdoor Center Adventures Arrive at The Grove Park Inn

Editor's Note: Below is the official press release announcing our project with The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. It's a bit formal for the NOC blog, but it does give a comprehensive overview of the alliance. The bottom line for Southeastern tourists: you can enjoy the culture, food and entertainment of Asheville alongside a full recreation itinerary on the rivers and streams of the Blue Ridge mountains.

Nantahala Outdoor Center and The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa unveiled plans today for a groundbreaking experiential retail and outdoor activity concept shop called NOC’s Basecamp Asheville, solidifying a strategic relationship between two classic Southern travel destinations. It will be the first LEED-certified retail project in downtown Asheville and one of the first nationally within a historic hotel.

Recognized as “One of the Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure and Good Morning America’s “#1 Vacation with a Splash,” NOC will not only provide an on-site activity concierge for hotel guests, but will also serve as Asheville’s definitive local resource for outdoor trip planning and provide expert advice for exploring the mountains. The shop’s retail offerings will include men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, footwear and accessories from leading outdoor brands such as Patagonia, The North Face and Keen.

“A legendary mountain escape meets authentic outdoor adventure, creating a unique vacation experience,” says J. Craig Madison, President & CEO of The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. “Our guests will enjoy the ultimate in accommodations and service coupled with a family-friendly outdoor experience, resulting in a premier mountain vacation.”

Grove Park Inn guests will be able to book guided outdoor adventures prior to arrival and on site via NOC’s Basecamp Asheville, located immediately off The Grove Park Inn’s Great Hall. Other elements of the alliance also include convenient buttons on all in-room telephones, multi-day adventure packages and numerous on-premise experiences such as workshops, clinics and outdoor activities. Off-site activities will include:

Guided rafting trips on seven Southeastern rivers
• Guided hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains• Guided fly-fishing and kayak fishing
• Ziplines and canopy tours
• Information on local hiking, biking and paddling
• Kayaking lessons and tours
• Mountain bike rentals
• “Do-it-yourself” fun


Sutton Bacon, NOC’s President & CEO, comments, “Asheville’s visitors seek relaxation and recreation in the mountains. Our new relationship unites the area’s experts in both, providing a balanced, surefire vacation option.” Bacon adds, “Sometimes planning a vacation in advance only adds stress to the daily tasks visitors are trying to escape. Now The Grove Park Inn’s guests can let our on-premise experts work out the logistics.”

In keeping with The Grove Park Inn’s sustainability efforts and NOC’s green culture, NOC’s Basecamp Asheville has applied for LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the leading and most comprehensive third-party designation for green building. Upon completion it will become downtown Asheville’s first LEED retail project and one of the nation’s first LEED renovations within a historic hotel.

NOC’s Basecamp Asheville is expected to celebrate its grand opening in early summer 2011. For more information, visit www.noc.com and www.groveparkinn.com.

NOC River Leader of the Month - Wesley Bradley

Every month Olympian and NOC Ambassador Wayne Dickert (aka Wayner) will bring you an interview with extraordinary paddlers and enthusiasts that have given unselfishly to make this sport one that all can enjoy and participate in. We’ve dubbed these generous souls NOC River Leaders. The NOC River Leader is someone that has given back to the paddling world whether in the form of community involvement, educational outreach and/or support. Each month NOC will honor a different leader for their efforts to give the recognition they deserve.

Today I met with friend and fellow paddler Wes Bradley, World Kayak Ambassador and NOC’s River Leader of the month. I first met Wes five years ago as he was becoming involved in the rapidly growing paddlesports industry. Wes was on a mission to provide novice paddlers the knowledge, skills and networking needed to become involved in the paddling community. Wes spends countless hours volunteering time, boats, transportation and direct funding to help others learn to paddle, become involved in the paddlesports community and have “big boomin’ fun” paddling together. Wes has always shown a deep passion and love of the sport. Thanks to his willingness to share his knowledge; Wes Bradley is April’s NOC River Leader.


Wayner: What was the first thing you thought when I mentioned you were going to be our featured River Leader this month?
Wes: I was excited about it after reading the article about Chuck Spornick last month.

Wayner: How and when did you begin paddling?
Wes: When I was 12 years old, I attended Buffalo Mountain Camp near Erwin, TN. They had a great kayaking program led by Randy and Jo Anne Pasqua. I vividly recall seeing Nantahala Falls after the second year of kayaking at summer camp. Niagara Falls didn’t seem much bigger nor any more runnable.

Wayner: Did you have any struggles early on? How did you overcome these?
Wes: I attended summer camps as a teenager where all of the gear was supplied. I was a kayaker at heart, but had no gear outside of summer camp. It wasn’t until I was eighteen that I got my first kayak. I found something cheap and scrounged around to come up with the essentials so I could get out there on my own. I heard about local open roll sessions and started to go. This is where I really began to refine my skills. I was now ready to hit the water! Another problem though was that none of my friends paddled, and they didn’t have the gear to get started either. I was determined to turn my friends into fellow paddlers so I started taking them to the pool too and taught them as much as I could. Those sessions had such a big influence on my entrance to the paddling world that I have hosted and run similar sessions for the past six years.

Wayner: If you could offer any new boater a suggestion it would be?
Wes: Just a few things! Attend local open pool sessions. These offer a great way to network with other paddlers and learn of local paddling trips. Youth camps are also great opportunities for kids and youth to get involved with the sport. Find a good a group of people to paddle with that are at a similar skill and comfort level. Look at the local World Kayak web site; it has various paddling opportunities in most local areas. I also suggest that you check out paddling blogs and forums for more localized information. Technology has definitely made paddling more accessible for everyone.

Wayner: What is your favorite river memory?
Wes: That’s an easy one for me. May 2, 2009; the day I married the love of my life, Jennifer Southerland, on the Nolichucky River. Wayner’s note: this Dynamic Duo paddled one of the first Jackson Dynamic Duos off the assembly line, down the river together after their wedding ceremony. For the full story, check out the Jan-Feb issue of the American Whitewater Journal.

Wayner: What is your favorite river and why?
Wes: The Watauga Gorge is hands down my favorite run, and it’s close to home! It’s hard to beat with the combination of fun, challenge and beauty. If I had to choose a backup, it would be the Green River which is a lot of fun when the Watauga isn’t running.


Wayner: How did you first start helping others get into the sport?
Wes: After talking with EJ [Eric Jackson of Jackson Kayak] at the NOC Guest Appreciation Festival one fall, I shared with him my desire to put together the gear needed for a traveling kayak “road show.” The goal was to get new people interested and started in the sport while offering experienced paddlers the opportunity to try out new boats. After putting our heads together, the Jackson Action Wagon (JAW) was born! I put together a fleet of boats that I could haul to rolling sessions and various events in our area. It has really made a difference for the local paddling community and boosted interest in Hometown Throwdowns.

Wayner: What is your favorite thing about paddling now and how did you get involved with the Hometown Throwdowns?
Wes: I still enjoy getting beginning paddlers started and seeing the smiles on their faces as they experience how much fun kayaking is. I also enjoy using my organizational skills to put on these kayaking events. Now I spend a lot of time setting up and running the Hometown Throwdowns across the Southeast. After meeting Colin Kemp, who has been the “point man” for World Kayak, he got me interested in hosting these Hometown Throwdown events. The first year, I ran five of them at the Charlotte Whitewater Center. They were a huge success and the last event had 40 people participating! In 2009 some friends in Charlotte offered to host the Charlotte based Hometown Throwdowns and I was able to stay closer to home hosting events on the Nolichucky. This year I will host several Hometown Throwdowns on the Nolichucky and also at the Nantahala, the site of the 2013 World Championships. My goal is to have 100 people participating in the NOC Guest Appreciation Festival Hometown Throwdown event and I know we can do it!

Wayner: What do you think the future holds for Wes Bradley River Leader?
Wes: It’s funny that I have been so involved with the Hometown Throwdowns. Everyone thinks of me as a playboater, but I’m really a creeker at heart. My personal paddling goal is to develop the confidence needed to participate in the Green Race one day. There are also a couple of rivers on my paddling “bucket list” such as the South Silver in California and the Little White Salmon in Oregon. In addition to my personal paddling goals, I hope to continue to find new and fun ways to get people in the sport and help them have fun for many years to come.

Join Wayner again next month to learn more about another honorable NOC River Leader. If you know of someone that is deserving of this recognition, please email Melissa.Pennscott@noc.com with details and contact information.

Ecotourism and Kayaking in Belize

From Laura Farrell, Trip Coordinator and Expedition Leader of the NOC Adventure Travel College Program. For more than 30 years, NOC's Adventure Travel program has delivered unforgettable expeditions around the globe. Our trips blend exciting activities and beautiful settings with a respect for local culture to form one memorable package.

Last month NOC guided a group of Wofford College students to the tropical country of Belize, escaping the winter of the Southeast as part of a course the students were taking focusing on ecotourism. The students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture while also experiencing the many eco-friendly adventure opportunities in the country. This was the second year that NOC Adventure Travel College Programs guided Wofford College through Belize, and I’ve been fortunate to be the expedition leader for both trips.

Sea Kayaking

Due to a huge snowstorm in the Southeast, the students’ flight down to Belize was delayed by two days. Myself and other NOC guides were already in Belize preparing the final trip details, and were quick to react in changing the itinerary. Despite losing two days all of the key activities and highlights of the trip were still worked into the schedule.

The first phase of this year’s Belize adventure began on the mainland near the town of San Ignancio, an area well known for rich Mayan history. Staying in an eco-lodge, the students spent their first days gaining insight into the Mayan culture by way of eco-tour adventures. Students enjoyed Tikal National Park in Guatemala, one of the largest known Mayan archeological sites, as well as the ATM (Actun Tunichil Muknal) tour, involving an excursion deep into an old Mayan cave to experience untouched artifacts.

Mayan Temples

We then headed south toward the Toledo state region of Belize, where you find a high density of Belizean people still living by way of old Mayan traditions. Surrounded with thatched roofs and where farm animals abound, the students became intrigued with the lifestyle of the native people. It was especially interesting to visit this area after a few days of learning about ancient Mayan culture. It allowed the students the opportunity to compare and contrast the Mayan traditions from thousands of years past to the Mayan traditions of today.

In this area we visited the traditional Mayan village of San Felipe and were taken on a tour of one of the villager’s cocoa farms, where the fruit is harvested to make chocolate. After exploring the farm and learning about sustainable agricultural practices, we went back to the villager’s house and actually learned how to turn the fruit into chocolate! That evening the students split into groups and were given the opportunity to have dinner with various host families within the community, experiencing firsthand how they live. It was an amazing cultural experience not easily forgotten.

Grinding Cacao

The second phase of the trip is what we refer to as the “islands phase” because we take a boat out to remote islands in the world’s second largest barrier reef. We stayed in tents on the small and beautiful Pompion Caye. Our days were spent rotating through a variety of activities including sea kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing and snorkeling. One day we took an excursion to Laughing Bird Caye, a National Marine Park, allowing us to see the benefit conservation can have on an area. Fishing is always one of the highlights of the trip. The students were excited about the chance to catch an infamous bonefish, which live in large numbers around the island of Pompion.

NOC Instructor Will Norris teaching the basics of Stand Up Paddlebaording (SUP)

After a few days on Pompion, we hopped on the boat and headed toward Tarpon Caye, the next stop on our island adventure. Tarpon Caye’s rustic cabanas hang out over the water with hammocks on each porch. After having spent many nights in tents and without showers on Pompion, staying in the cabanas was a great surprise to the students. Here we all continued to rotate through the various water-based activities including sea kayaking to a nearby island and attempting hand-line fishing (no poles, no reel, just some fishing line and a hook!).

Traditional Cabana

Needless to say the students were not happy when we told them it was time to get back on the boat to head to the mainland. We all would have loved another week on “island time” enjoying the sun, sand and sea. With one final night, we celebrated a successful expedition over a farewell dinner in the coast town of Placenia.

The next morning we hopped back in the vans and made our way to Belize City. After one last stop at the Belize Zoo to check out the illusive jaguar and harpy eagle, we made it to the airport and said our goodbyes. I am already looking forward to the opportunity of guiding the next group of Wofford College students on their Belize Adventure in 2012!