Kayaking (Whitewater)
Bonnycastle Circle
Topton, NC
If you haven’t heard, there’s a whitewater kayaking festival next weekend that’s by-women, for-women, offering women-only clinics taught by women, river trips guided by women… It’s what kayaking would have been on mythical island of Lesbos. This trip is going there. Here’s what they say about the festival on their website:
“The Boater Chick™ Festival (“BCF”) is a grass-roots, not-for-profit event that began in 2008 to give women in paddle sports the opportunity to paddle together, learn from one another and gather in a friendly and supportive environment.
BCF features clinics and guided river trips on Class II – V whitewater for kayakers and canoeists as well as friendly and fun freestyle competitions and races, including the “famous” BCF Boater Cross on the Cheoah River. Saturday evening is filled camaraderie, delicious food, local music, awards, gear raffle, bonfire, friends…and the annual Boater Chick™ of the Year Award. ”
In order to attend, you must not only sign up for this trip, but must also *REGISTER* on the website. It’s $20 and the fee includes your clinics and river trips. When you register, DON’T pay for food, we’ll cook on our own, unless there’s group desire to eat at the festival and be sociable 🙂
Boaterchick main page:
http://www.boaterchickfestival.info/
Registration:
http://www.boaterchickfestival.info/registration.html
Boaterchick Facebook Page (join the group!):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/44651539257/
I will NOT be leading any river trips. I will be safety boating for their Cheoah trip on Saturday, and trying to find something to do on Sunday, hopefully the Green Narrows. Guys are not allowed to participate in their trips and clinics. So, I’m intending that you all will go on their river trips and we will be doing different things than me during the days. They haven’t yet posted the selection, but I’ve been told there will be the following clinics/trips:
– A roll clinic on a lake at 6pm on Friday afternoon.
– A trip down the Nantahala (Class II-III) (http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/1101/)
– A trip down the Tuckaseegee (Class I-III) (http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/3392/)
– A trip and a boatercross event down the Cheoah (Class IV-V) (http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/3146/)
– A trip down the Green River Narrows (Class IV-V+) (http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/1080/)
There may also be:
– A creeking clinic on the Nantahala Cascades (Class IV-V) (http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/1100/)
And I’m sure there will be more trips than those.
AGENDA:
Friday: Depart. There’s a roll clinic at 6pm on Friday, so if we want to make that, we need to leave by probably 9:00am. It’s a 7 hour drive.
Saturday: Paddle!
Sunday: Paddle! And return to Charlottesville. We’ll probably be back late.
PREREQUISITES:
– Have taken an introductory class with Dave Clark, Mike Kalanick, or myself AND have been down at least one river with some whitewater on it. So, know how to wet exit and t-rescue, have run a few rapids, and can swim.
YOU PROVIDE:
– Money for registration!
– Any kayaking gear you have (including appropriate non-cotton clothes)
– Any camping gear you have (tent, sleeping bag, etc)
Club Provides:
– Any kayaking gear you don’t have
– Any camping gear you don’t have
– Food
– Camping fees
– Transportation for the immobile, gas money for drivers
I’m waitlisting everyone to screen for prerequisites 🙂 Online registration closes at some point – I think it’s the 14th, so don’t wait too long! You can register at the festival but it’s $5 more.
Get psyched!