120 Kids, 2 Whitewater Events, and Tons of FUN

The Camp Cup Challenge 2011 was a huge success! Young people from across the U.S. and a few international youth attend summer camp in North Carolina every year. We invite camps to bring their whitewater-loving youth to a two day event on the Nantahala River. Day one is a training day, followed by delicious ice cream (Thank You Endless River Adventures). Day two, campers participate in two events, a downriver and slalom race, in their craft(s) of choice.

There were lots of big smiles, clean lines, and really impressive paddling. For many campers this was their first time at the Camp Cup, and I think they had a blast. We had a few participants who have attended the event four years in a row.

I interviewed a number of participants about their favorite part of the event, and the most common response was, "It's really fun to meet so many people my age who love to paddle." This is really what the event is about. Sure, the race day is a ton of fun, they get to challenge their skills and eat pizza (thank you Nantahala Outdoor Center), but really its a great way for young people to realize that there are a whole slew of people out there just like them who love to play outside, in whitewater.

A BIG thank you to all the camps and companies who made this event happen. Camps included: Falling Creek, Wayfarer, Merrie Woode, High Rocks, Illahee, Chosatonga/Kahdalea, Green Cove, and Mondamin. Thank you to the American Canoe Association for sponsoring the event, the NOC for hosting and pizza, ERA for providing coaching, volunteers, and support. WRSI provided a helmet for the raffle, and World Kayak for swag.

For more on this year's event, check out:

• Facebook photos: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150237162742623.313111.41092297622&l=241be89e27
• Endless River Adventures Blog: http://www.endlessriveradventures.com/kidskayakingblog/?p=442
• NOC Blog: http://nantahalaoutdoorcenter.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post.html

We want you downstream for safety

“Alright, rafters, you guys are going first. We want you downstream for safety.” The order was coming from the very top: our leaders of the day. Sitting in this eddy on the Cabarton Section of the NF Payette, I couldn’t help but feel a touch nervous. Forty yards downstream was a horizon line where the river dropped completely out of sight into Howard’s Plunge. A small crowd of spectators were picnicking on the rocks overlooking this class III drop, reminding us that the day before dozens of rafts had dropped the plunge with only half coming through upright.

“But what about us?” I thought. What if we flip? Who would be our safety? I guess somebody had to go first and we were the ones. My challenge here wasn’t to lead us through a successful line, but to put years of commercial guiding experience away. I had to act as a paddler and do exactly what Sam Nelson, Alzar student and raft guide-in-training, asked of me. And we peeled out of the eddy.

“All forward!” yelled Sam and the paddle crew cranked into action. From above, we couldn’t see anything of the rapid except the pool 15 feet below us. We had scouted the drop from the road six hours before-hand and knew that running the right side of the river would be a guaranteed flip and likely an introduction to whatever lies on the bottom of the river. Too far to the left and we might end up in a surging eddy along the left bank with no easy way out.

As we crept to the lip, the whole rapid opened up before our eyes. Sam gave a loud “Ohhhh yeahhh!” and confirmed what I thought: we were right on line. The next seconds were a whirlwind as we accelerated down a ramp and the entire raft disappeared beneath crashing waves. A diagonal wave nearly swept several paddlers overboard, but everyone held on. The raft resurfaced further left than planned, and we started drifting towards a cliff wall.

I knew the boat would flip off the wall if we didn’t do something about it, and I couldn’t hold back any longer. “High Side!!!! Get Left!!!! came belting out of my mouth and everyone responded immediately. All five warm bodies in the boat bolted to hold the downstream tube down and keep the boat upright. Moments later, we bounced around the corner into the pool below. It was all smiles in the raft as we watched each kayaker drop in behind us and assisted as needed. Many private rafts came through with more crowd-pleasing runs: swimmers, lost gear and flips. I guess the students have learned a thing or two on this trip. Everyone’s whitewater skills truly showed that day on the beautiful Payette River.

by Dan Thurber, Alzar School instructor