Project WwSUP: Cross-Stepping for Whitewater

Footwork Foundations

The most brilliant thing about whitewater SUP is the freedom of movement. With all other whitewater craft - canoes, kayaks, rafts - paddlers generally brace or strap themselves into a stationary position. The paddler "wears" the boat for maximum control. But leaning the boat's hull forward, backward, left and right can only happen with great effort. Unattached and standing on a paddleboard we can focus our weight anywhere on the board at any moment to carve on a rail, pivot into an eddy, accelerate down a wave, and perform other maneuvers. This "unattached" freedom completely changes your paddle's effective range of motion as well as your control of the board.

Event: Beginning Whitewater SUP Weekend Clinic

Mountain River Guides visionary, Matt Moses

Intro to WWSUP: Weekend Immersion

Labor Day Weekend 2017
September 2-3, 2017

I've teamed up with Mountain River Guides (MRG) on the banks of the Nolichucky River to offer a special weekend workshop for beginning whitewater paddleboarders. All equipment is provided or bring your own (same price). If you're on Facebook check out the event for the latest info.

With 2 days to immerse yourself in the river and the arts of whitewater SUP you will be amazed at the change in your perspective as you move from “riding” the river to “dancing with” the river. As an instructor I am always excited to have a 2 day workshop which allows the time for new habits to germinate and sprout.

Arrive in good health with moderate fitness and expect to be on the water at least 4 hours each day. We will begin with fundamentals on quiet water and quickly progress to louder conditions on various local rivers with up to class 2 whitewater. In addition to basic paddle technique and stances you’ll learn a bit about river-reading, board control, and safety considerations. And - of course - if there's anything I've written about in this blog that you'd like to spend time on ... let me know and we'll work it in to the itinerary.

Take advantage of MRG's lodging and meal options and get to know your fellow students and instructors around the table and campfire. Fellowship like this is often just as important as time spent practicing on the water.

And on top of all of this ... drum roll ... admission to a special music event that Sunday evening at the outpost.

This is going to be fun.

Do it!

Call 1-800-872-7238 or go to Mountain River Guides to sign up ... and tell them Dale sent ya.

TUITION: $125

LODGING OPTIONS

• Camping: $5pp per night
• Private Room: $95 per night (sleeps 3)
• Private Bungalow: $115 per night (sleeps 4)

MEAL OPTIONS

• Breakfast: $10 each (Saturday & Sunday)
• Dinner: $15 each (Saturday)

Project WwSUP: Fear of Falling

Last year on a perfect summer Sunday afternoon I accepted an invitation to a small pond party near Stuart, VA. "And bring a paddleboard or two if you can!"

And so I did bringing two heavy but incredibly stable Jackson Kayak SUPs designed for navigating rivers... which I don't think I actually paddled at all because both my friends and their kids kept them occupied almost constantly on the 2 acre spring-fed pond. Instead, I got to paddle a couple beautiful and lightweight but less stable boards brought by other guests. While my middle-aged peers had been paddling with cautious, rigid bodies taking great care to remain upright and dry I was dancing around and falling off the more nimble boards more than anyone other than the kids. The kids got it. And eventually a couple of my older friends got it too. The effect of all this falling in the water? More relaxed paddlers experimenting with movement when on their feet and both risking and accepting falls into the cool safety of the deep pond water ... all without any "instruction" other than a little playful modeling from me.