Parent Jennifer Kelleher hugs David Hughes after her son Conor graduated.

David Hughes, the founder of Huge Experiences and the New River Academy, continues to lead programs and administrative duties. This year David will be a speaker at the Whitewater Symposium on: "How to Develop Your Teen Leadership Kayak Program" and "Developing a Professional Staff as Ambassadors." David is a practitioner of a positive reinforcement educational model.

"Welcome to my blog. Here I want to offer educators and the whitewater community a resource of information including: kayak adventure travel tips, kayak instruction and lessons, working educational tools for teen development, and my own personal thoughts." -David Hughes

I could not have imagined all the benefits of an international parent trip when Wilderness Tours and Ottawa Kayak School owner Joe Kowalski first suggested the ideal. after a highly successful China Parent Trip it was an easy decision to offer a Chile parent week. Joe stated referring to his and wife Sue Kowalski’s China experience, “David seeing our kids pitch in daily, play the rivers, value their education, and explore China is.. well its just priceless.”


Beth and Matt West:  It is easy to see where Matt gets his looks.

Below is a list of articles composed by both our parents and myself regarding the parent adventure in Southern Chile’s region known as “Los Lagos.”

Beth Ruhle, "One Parent's Perspective"

Horace Holden, "Parent Trip Review"

Steve Ruhle, "Parent Trip to Chile"
 
Jackson Kayak Article on Parent Horace Holden


By David Hughes
The Chile Parent Trip was packed full of adventure with parents Beth and Steve Ruhle of New Jersey (David’s parents, note Steve was a former US National Slalom Team member), Beth West of South Carolina (Matt’s mother), Paul Johnson of California (Sean’s father), and former slalom C-2 Olympian Horace Holden of Georgia (Isaac’s father).  

Febrero 2
The trip began with a short drive from the Temuco airport direct to the northern reaches of Patagonia’s region known as Los Lagos.  Our first lake was Lago Panguipulli in the lake and volcano town of Choshuenco.  Parents had a private dinner with their children prior to bedding down in their lakeside cabana.

Febrero 3
Huife Huife Laguna and the Lower Fuy
The second day included the students showing their parents around Choshuenco prior to leaving for the Huife Huife Saltos and Lagunas.  Paul Johnson stated, “Those are the most spectacular swimming holes I have experienced.”  Most visitors gaze at the gorgeous aqua velva colors of the multiple waterfalls.  Our group instead pointed out class V lines of the 70- 80-foot waterfalls and where they would video if they had a friend run the drops.  

The Lagunas below Salto La Puma, a 70’ cascade, offered a series of swimming holes with boulders and cliffs to jump off.  The water is crystal clear and blue with a backdrop of La Puma.  At the bottom of one pool we enjoyed beating the heat by sliding down a 4’ waterfall into the pool below.  The Lagunas were a perfect way to beat the summer 90 degree heat and experience the surreal feeling of “something straight out of Fantasy Island.”


Steve Ruhle (father of David) is not outdone by the students as he jumps from over 20' into the laguna below cascada La Puma.

After swimming Paul and Steve joined the students for a paddle down the Lower Fuy.  The Lower Fuy is a class III-IV mellow section highlighted with a view of snowcapped mountains, warm majestic water, a play wave, and a gorgeous kilometer paddle across the lake.

Febero 4
The parents third day commenced with coffee and a drive to the remote establishment of Enco.  It was a gorgeous and bumpy ride through Patagonia’s countryside. Beth and Beth enjoyed taking photos of a nearby ski slope and oxen.  This drive was particularly interesting to Beth West.  Beth’s husband Howard had visited New River Academy last year with parent Parken Hunter.  They had drove 4 hours from the southern port of Puerto Montt to the road on the other side of Enco.  This road is only a shortline on the map indicating less than 20 kilometers from Choshuenco.  Howard and Parken still tell stories of how close they were before an unfinished road forced them on a 4-hour drive around the lake.  Now, Beth can share with Howard what is on the other side of what could not be more than a 2 km unfinished stretch of road.

After our drive we departed for the highly anticipated Upper Fuy.
As I drove the parents to the put-in Paul stated, “I don’t think I am going to run the Upper today.”  I replied, “OK, if you don’t want to then that is fine.  But if you do choose then you can walk every drop.  If nothing else it is worth it to see something that only kayakers have the luxury of experiencing.  And if you don’t want to run the hard rapids then we have plenty of time to walk them.”  Later, that day Paul would state with a crocodile smile and a red sun baked face, “That was the most awesome river I have ever ran.”

The Upper Fuy is one of the most prestigious waterfall runs in Chile.  Unlike most rivers it drains from a lake versus feeding the lake.  This uniquely creates warm clear water below the towering snow covered peaks.  There is a 2km section of continuing busy boogie water with a couple of quality play spots we found prior to arriving to Las Leonas.

Las Leonas- a Series of Perfectly Clean Waterfalls
Las Leonas is the beginning of remarkable waterfalls ranging from 6’ to 30’ in height.  It is rare to find such perfectly clean waterfalls, warm clear water, a lack of normal creek dangers, and quality of drops.  The students illustrated their techniques off of each drop.  Then it was Paul and Steve’s turn.  

Paul Johnson and Steve Ruhle Run Las Leonas


Unfortunately, I cut Paul Johnson's (Sean's father) head off, but you can see he had a great boof here on the Upper Rio Fuy.

Paul and Steve both used a “tuck and huck” technique.  This method protects the paddler well and offers the highest percentage for a perfect line.  First Steve graced the 30’ waterfall with a picture perfect line.  Paul ran next and after an equally great line experienced several seconds of down time. Each paddler popped up to loud cheers from our students and teachers.  Immediately after the 30’ drop was a sequel 12’ drop, then an 8’ cascade, and lastly there was another 18’ salto.  Beth and Beth were stationed at the 30 footer-taking photos of their children leading the group.

We finished the run in perfect form.  And as always the Upper Fuy offered that fabulous natural high and an exciting afternoon of stories.  After loading our gear Beth and Beth led the parents to La Magica Montana.

Beth Ruhle and Beth West Lead Us to La Magica Montana
La Magica Montana is an eco-hotel that words simply can not describe, I will do my best.  The hotel is naturally cooled with large walkways through a series of buildings.  The main hotel building is a wood structure that has a spiral walk-way to the top of its 8 to 10 stories.  The round structure has views out of each side.  The best view is of the towering snow-capped snowboard park.  

Everywhere we looked some intricate part of the hotel had been handcrafted with detail and precision.  There were numerous walkways to ongoing construction projects.  One of the most notable complete projects was a restaurant within a volcano shaped structure.  Out of the top of the volcanic building flowed water utilized to naturally cool the restaurant.  Beth and Beth illustrated each detail they had noticed during their previous private tour with teacher Eleanor Perry.

Febrero 5
Rio San Pedro
The previous night after our tour of La Magica Montana the parents and I would drive to Hosteria Rinihue based at the put-in of the Rio San Pedro.  En route we picked up 1996 C-2 Olympian Horace Holden in Panguipulli.  The lodging in Chile is something to note and Hosteria Rinihue exemplifies this.  Rinihue is a gorgeous property based at the point where Lago Rinihue drains into the Rio San Pedro.  The courtyard like the rooms and restaurant are well kept and relaxing.

After breakfast and coffee the students would arrive in their 17 passenger Mercedes Sprinter and the school’s kayak trailer.  I had driven the night prior to rent a raft for Beth, Beth, and myself.  We had a lunch and a group meeting sitting on the courtyard while Paul and Steve ran shuttle.

The Rio San Pedro begins with 2-3 kilometers of calm class I-II moving water.  Tyson Rowley’s shoulder was sore so he was paddling raft with the Beth’s and I.  The San Pedro like the Fuy is the lake’s drain.  Again, the water is of the clearest blue quality to be found.  We were all amazed to look 3, 8, and 15 feet below and see the rocks, cliffs, logs, and every structure.  The deep blue sections indicated parts that were possibly 50’ or more in depth.

Eventually, our four-person Aire raft would arrive to rapids.  Horace was joining the students in a kayak for the first time.  There are two significant play waves the students enjoy.  At the second play wave our raft stopped for photos and I fell asleep on the rocks to wake to a nice sunburn.

Beth Ruhle and Beth West Get Dumped into the Drink
Prior to leaving the play spot Beth, Beth, Tyson, and I decide to surf our raft.  I was unsure if we could catch or even surf the seemingly small wave.  The girls were stronger than expected and charged the raft into the hole.  After a couple of moments of straight surfing we turned sideways and both Beth’s went into the drink.  Beth West popped up quickly while Beth Ruhle stayed out of sight.

I soon realized Beth Ruhle was under the raft.  I looked over to the bank and saw husband and son Steve and David and thought, “hmm, they don’t seem too concerned.”  Soon she popped up next to the raft and held on as we drifted downstream I tried to pull her in.  She said, “I am ok I can hang out.”  I responded, “No, get in the raft there is a rock coming up right behind you!”  Beth hopped in the raft and downstream we went.

Our next series of rapids were the two biggest on the river.  The first rapid seemed smaller than the first and the girls were anxious to paddle.  I lined the raft in order to best take the blow of the third and largest 6-foot wave downstream.  As we drifted with a slight angle into what seemed like a small wave I was not concerned with I realized it’s power as I climbed and watched one by one Beth Ruhle sucked out the low side, Beth West thrown out of the high side, and Tyson and I climb the raft to be tossed further away from the raft as it flipped.

Instructors Eleanor, Kyle Dinnel, and Andrew Hiss had set safety in their kayaks and were quickly towing the girls to the bank.  Meanwhile, I was climbing the raft and flipping it.  It was a long swim and unlike the more playful surf swim this rapid had worn us out.  The Beth’s would opt to walk the second and even bigger rapid while Tyson and I paddled the raft.  The day ended with a drive from the San Pedro to our new lodging at Hotel Metrenihue based on the Rio Trancura outside of Pucon.  

Febrero 6
Pucon:  Volcanos, Hotsprings, Lakes, Shopping and Rivers
Our long day on the San Pedro and the extra drive gave us a deep sleep in our new cabanas.  The Metrenihue is German owned and worth mention because of its location and the fact that I have been negotiating buying a school base with owners Peter and Ursula.

The parent cabanas are strategically located at the takeout for the Upper Trancura and the put-in for the Lower Trancura.  Upstream there are slalom gates and adjoining the property is a play hole.

Olympian Horace Holden Teaches Students Strokes Drills


Everyone enjoyed Horace Holden's (father of Isaac) videos of each adventure.

Horace had offered to instruct the students and help with any Chile logistics prior to the parent trip.  I was excited to have Horace join the group, but I had little ideal of his travel knowledge and Spanish expertise he would extend.  The parents, students, teachers, and I enjoyed Horace’s presence.  

Horace spoke to the students regarding the value of posture and power potential, blade placement, rotation, and planting.  The lesson will be utilized for years to come.  After the instruction students and parents were excited to practice their forward strokes in the Rio Trancura Bridge Hole.  Horace hit a loop while his son Isaac would hang with the school’s big boys hitting loops and cartwheels.

Febrero 7
Hiking Volcan Villiarrica
We chose to immediately hike the volcano in the case later days of the trip might be overcast.  Horace, Paul, and Steve would wake at 6:00 am with students to drive to the base of Volcan Villiarrica that towers over nearby mountain ranges and speckled cities below.  Beth, Beth, and I would spend the day relaxing, emailing, and shopping in Pucon.  The group would return from the volcano gabbing with stories and exhausted from the 2,800 m hike.  Once again the group had reason to sleep well.

Febrero 8
Parents Evaluate Teachers, Address Students, and Run the Upper Trancura
I asked the parents if they would sit in on classes and complete an evaluation form of the teachers.  I was impressed by how eager they were to both observe the classes and offer their expertise that would ultimately benefit the school.
 
We drove to our nearby Pucon school base on the Rio Liucura.  Casa Blanca is a giant old Chilean farmhouse based on the Liucura.  Each student has plenty of space, each teacher has a variety of tables and rooms to choose class locations, there are chickens, a large garden, dogs, cows, and horses.  The rooms stay cool during what is described as a dry hot southern Chile year.

Each parent would sit in on two periods of classes and observe:  Eleanor Perry (AP Biology and Spanish IV), Kyle Dinnel (World Literature), Andrew Hiss (Student Leadership), Ian Buckley (Pre-calculus), and Tino Specht (Video Media).  Later, parents would meet with me to describe what they had observed, offer constructive feedback, and praise strong instructional qualities.  

After lunch the parents met in a group circle with students.  They asked the students about their concerns with the school, listened to their views and goals, and led an important discussion offering attentive ears to a vocal student body.  The parents would express why they and other parents had chose New River Academy and the values they had to see within a program in order to first send their child.  The parent’s leadership of this discussion proved to be an asset to the group moral and further offered feedback to both teachers and students.

Upper Trancura
The Upper Trancura is the bread and butter rafting and kayaking run of the area.  There are two class IV+- V rapids we would walk.  This included a 14-foot cascade rapid known as Merimon.  We watched rafting customers walk Merimon while their guides solely drifted the rafts over a side sneak route.  

There are several play spots on this 12 km run.  One highlight is a section of river with a class IV rapid with Volcan Villiarrica towering above the river.  This photogenic spot is seen throughout Chilean tourism publications.  We would paddle the parent’s cabana base property and takeout while the kids took turns playing in the bridge hole.

Febrero 9
Canopy Tour and Upper Palguin


Beth Ruhle on the canopy tour five minutes near Pucon, Chile

Our last day of trip began with a late morning canopy tour.  The canopy tour was a series of 11 cable line rides from tree top to tree top.  I was most impressed with how fast and smoothly the guides kept our group zip-lining from tree to tree.  
We requested that the school finish an hour early in order that we had enough time for the Upper Palguin and a parent/teacher trip to what I explained as an hour and a half drive to “Las Termas Geometricas.”  I had built up Las Termas Geometricas as some of the best hot springs in the world as they were described to me by parents John Miller and Dede Christopher two years ago.

After lunch we departed for the Upper Palguin.  The Upper Palguin like the Fuy is one of Chile’s most renowned and a world famous waterfall creek runs.  The Upper Palguin’s put-in makes my top 5 put-in list.  After hiking and handing boats down a steep bank we first notice a cascading 70’ waterfall upstream.  Then students took out their cameras to shoot each other walking across a land bridge.  Across the land bridge students seal launch 12’ into a clear and deep cold pool.  While, the air just ten minutes earlier might have been 93 degrees we are now seeing our breath in our new temperature zone.

The Upper Palguin was full of wood, but locals previously assured me the dangers had been cleared.  Our first drop was an excellent practice line for those wanting to learn and run class V in the future.  I would rank this rapid class IV based on its continuous yet non consequential nature.  The water swiftly flows and banks from side to side through a series of three drops.  The second drop has a hole at the bottom with a slick high and dry ride to be had for the experts on a tight left line.  

Whether you take surf in the hole or catch the butter line on the left you have an 8’ waterfall awaiting just 20’ downstream.  Again it is the high left line that offers the pros the high and dry boof.  We saw the full range of runs from pencil in, to surf the hole, to high and dry.

Downstream there are three significant drops including a 20’ clean waterfall, a 12’ clean waterfall, and a unique 14’ crack in the rock drop.  Horace would shoot video of the group of each drop.  And Steve would use his past US National Slalom Team skills to glide him through each challenge of a waterfall.

After an afternoon of waterfalls the parents took the school’s Mercedes Sprinter and the teachers to a treat of Las Termas de Geometricas.  Unfortunately, I had miscalculated needed time and the hot springs were closing upon their arrival.  Each parent and teacher expressed it was a remarkable drive and enjoyable bonding experience.  A great group of people had successfully alleviated what could have been stressful and made the trip productive.

Febrero 10
Leaving on a Jet Plane (Chile Time)
Parents would sleep in after a previous day of meetings, paddling, and late night of driving.  During breakfast parents returned kayaks, said their goodbyes, and prepped for their flights.  Before we knew it everyone was on their planes and the trip in Chile was complete.  I drove back to Pucon with a proud feeling that was possibly best exuded as a remarkable bonding experience.

Thank you parents for allowing me the opportunity to share with you a country I have grown to love.

“And that has made all the difference.”

David Hughes
The New River Academy is now accepting applications for the 2008-09 school year.

Some of the great shots from our Huge Experiendes in China!

New River Academy Students explore Shanghai as they arrive in China

 

Matt West captures photos of his classmates on the Salween River

 

Tyson Rowley catches a Tut-tut taxi to “Fortune Cookie” on the Salween River.

New River Academy students practice their Spanish skills with a game of Scrabble Espanol on the banks of the Mekong River

 

Kier Samuelson shoots for his video media course 30’ above Fortune Cookie wave on the Salween river

 

Katie Kowalski prepares at the put-in of the Mekong River

Sam Fulbright times a 3’ launch perfectly as he accelerates to the giant wave’s trough 

Tino Specht, Team Dagger, is caught on the early hop just prior to a blunt after shooting perfectly to the trough of this Salween dream wave

 

More pictures to come after the students and parents spend an exhiliarating week on the Yangtze ! 

 

Gonshang, China 

It took the New River Academy two days on our private bus to arrive to the Salween River near the Nu Jang Valley town of Gonshang.  We drove five hours roadside to the Salween peering our windows prior to arriving to our Gonshang base.

Students woke up each day for morning workouts, completed an accredited structured schedule of classes, and ran to after school shuttles. Our shuttles were packed into the backs of small trucks with bench seating. We were on the road for an hour, and then we put on the Salween. 

The Burning Time Wave

Students were most excited to paddle the wave featured in Scott Lindgren Productions’ “Burning Time.”  We found it and took turns surfing the monster.  Students raved, “It must be the best wave in the world” as it had so much potential to toss.  Unfortunately, its tosses were hard to control, and there was a pro-level eddy catch and potential trashing post-surf.  Shredders took their turns attempting to catch big air as video and photo classes organized themselves to both shoot and surf.

The Salween Run

We chose a section of river approximately 12 miles above the Burning Time wave to paddle; about an hour down river of Gonshang.  The Salween has a friendly nature to its giant waves that uniformly create glassy waves.  We guestimated the flow to be around 16,000 cfs.  Each rapid was large and had squirrelly eddies.  Thus, the rapids provided challenges for all of us.  For Sean Johnson, Katie Kowalski, and Morgan Tidd they would work on their kickflips.  Michelle Yates gained confidence as she paddled the biggest water of her life.  Daniel Stewart, Cael Jones, Sam Fulbright, Matt West, and Brian Boyle had an endless selection of waves to hit macho moves and pistol flips.

Daniel Stewart accelerates four feet off of Fortune Cookies’ right curl on the Salween River

A Fortune Cookie Departing the Salween

New River Academy teen kayak students woke early on our last day with the goal of arriving in Duqin that night.  After two and a half hours of curvy roads, abrupt breaking, continual honking, and the thinning of my coffee students yelled, “LOOK AT THAT WAVE!”  Kyle Dinnel asked, “Could we stop here?” I quickly advanced to the driver and made him stop the bus with an arsenal of three Chinese words.

Shane Groves and I ran back to the wave to assess if it was good.  The wave was 12’ high, had a perfect and rare eddy access, had a giant foamy pile, was steep, a nearby bank for shooting, and the sun was shining. 
“Wow!  The perfect wave.”  I thought.  “Levin Brown had planned for us to drive to Duqin and we were on a schedule.  Hmm, we came from the otherside of the world for this wave.  When do you ever find a wave this good?  I hope Levin is as excited as we are once we tell him we have to surf.”

Michelle Yates enjoys the biggest surf of her life on this 12’ high Salween wave

Before we knew it, we were unloading kayaks and enjoying a 3-hour surf session on the biggest and best wave we had experienced.  Is it as good as Minibuseater, Nile Special, the New River Dries?  On this day, everyone in our group argued with giant smiles on their face, “it’s the best wave in the world.”

Eli Spiegel illustrates the power of the Salween’s Fortune Cookie wave 

Students later discussed what to name the wave, because we have never seen it in videos.  Morgan liked, “El Duche”, someone else pushed for the Flying Dragon in Chinese “Fei Long”, but it was when we began naming rapids after Chinese dishes that we came up with the most popular name.  “Fortune Cookie” just felt appropriate.

Fortune Cookie was the perfect end to a productive week of school, fabulous river running, and huge wave surfing.

Mekong Expedition

Describing the Mekong would not be right without first detailing the drive. The drive from Lijiang first required a layover in the town of Jadien. Jadien is a town resting on the slopes of the Tibetan region of Shangri La. Much of the road was high above the Yangtze and we saw the famous “First Bend of the Yangtze.” Students would dance with Tibetans after dinner, and return to our cold mountainside hostel.

The next day we would cross a 15,000’ pass en route to Duqin. The drive was remarkable. Students would hang their heads out of the windows taking photos; we enjoyed a snowball fight, lost our breath running, and rave about the sunny weather. Duqin rests at 10,000’ sitting on a slope surrounded by peaks. The town is nothing less than gorgeous. We would buy some last supplies and eat a Chinese style dinner we had grown accustomed to.

New River Academy students played king of the hill on this sand bank at the Mekong Base Camp 2

Mekong Day 1

Everyone was excited after breakfast in Duqin. We drove from a chilly 10,000’ to around 7,000’. En route to China’s Mekong River we stopped at a monastery over a thousand feet above the desert like river canyon. The drive winded around the mountainside much like the now familiar goat and yak trails. Everyone took photos while Cael, Daniel, and Tino caught audio of a monk chanting as he engraved a bracelet he would certainly sell. As we drove the tight road students would often yell around turns as we stared a cliff edge leading our eyes hundreds of feet below.

Charlotte Hardie finds a space on the Mekong Base Camp 2 for her guitar class practice.

Mekong Put-in

Jed Weingarten escorted our group of 20 to our first China run in the Tibetan region known as Shangri La. Levin Brown, Will, and Tashi would work 12 miles down river to rig raft support and setup Mekong Base Camp 1. After lunch and a safety talk we put on the Mekong. Michelle was feeling sick and Charlotte opted to not make the first day on the Mekong.

The first section would be the most challenging and packed full of glassy surf waves and large holes. After our normal paddle warm up routine we paddled into a large class IV rapid. The river left provided both a scout and portage option. The left bank also formed two giant holes. The right line was fast, pushy, and ran parallel to the right wall. Photographers and videographers captured good lines by all.

Teen Chowder

At an estimated 15,000 cfs even the flat water moves fast. Soon we arrived at what I immediately named “Teen Chowder.” Teen Chowder is a fast steep rapid beginning with a wave train that has two six foot crashing waves. Both of which could easily flip even the best boaters. In this Grand Canyon style water the crashing waves would not be a problem, as they would only flip a boat. The problem was one of the largest crashing waves I have experienced. The wave must have been 15’ from crest to trough, was steep, and at least 30’ wide. Anyone who hit the wave would surely be tossed prior to being released. It was obvious this was not a keeper due to its wave nature. It was equally apparent someone was going to hit it and take the ride of their life.

Everyone decided to attempt to cross current and punch the right corner. Daniel Stewart, Kyle Dinnel, and Brian Boyle were the only ones to narrowly hit the right corner and escape the waves vortex. Sam Fulbright and Matt West both hit the wave and were tossed for air prior to surfing out. While, Eli Spiegel and myself were both knocked upside down by the wave above. We opted to not roll just prior to the wave and punch it upside down. This worked but we were both upside down in the difficult to roll in current for what must have been over 30 seconds.

Daniel Steward paddles up an eddy to initiate stern squirts on Mekong Day 2

Sunny Waves in Tibet
We paddled the remaining section passing waterfalls and surfing giant glassy waves. I was impressed by the quality of play. Soon we paddled around a corner to a monastery with prayer flags flying everywhere. Our rafts and camp were waiting. The excitement did not cease until we went to sleep after dinner.

Mekong Day 2
GPS coordinates: 28 degree N 18m 08.1s 98 degree E 52 m 22.9s

Day two began with a surf session on one of the best waves I have surfed. The left shoulder was a perfect piece of steep glass with a shoulder. The right shoulder had a foamy pile that even at times formed a pocket and a curl. We split into two groups: One would shoot photos or videos while the other group surfed.

The sun was out again, and another 12 miles of river provided even more impressive play. Students took turns hopping on waves and throwing tricks. We arrived at Base Camp 2, had lunch, and began school. Again, we were amazed by the remarkable play this section offered.

Brian Boyle, Matt West an MOrgan Tidd listen during Kyle Dinnel's World Lit. course in the region known as Shangri La

Day 3, Day 4, and Mekong Base Camp 3
GPS coordinates: 28 h 07 m 56.3 degree N 098 degree E 53m 17.3s

On day 3 we paddled a longer section of river, and continued to play in sunny weather. The waves continued, and Jed had us stop at a photogenic spot. We arrived at our base camp just downstream of a nearby village.

Students and faculty would walk into the village to take shots of the surrounding 23,000’ Shangri La Mountains of Tibet. Many of the shots with this article are from this layover. We ended up having a layover day here, enjoying a day of school on the beach, and just relaxing. For afternoon workout I introduced a fun beach version of human tug-o-war that everyone asked if we could play again in the future.

Mekong Day 5

We paddled out of the Mekong for 7 km. We spent the morning de-rigging, and then drove to Lijiang. It was a long ride and we were all excited to return to familiar beds in Lijiang.

What a Huge Experience the Mekong was.

What is the Whitewater Symposium?

“What is the Whitewater Symposium?” asked directors Bob Campbell and Bruce Lessels this past weekend at the 2007 Whitewater Symposium’s final panel discussion, “The Future of the Whitewater Symposium.” The kayak industry’s top leaders brainstormed the question with the goal of trying to encompass the question into one all-telling sentence.

(c) Chris Port, NOC

Above: Bruce Lessels (Zoar Outdoor) moderates a panel discussion

The Whitewater Symposium is a collection of the kayak industry leaders assembled in a series of three-day events. Kayak schools, manufacturers, magazines, safety instructors, athletes, whitewater park developers, video producers, and service project leaders all collaborated information.

For each attendee, the symposium offers something unique. For example, Woody Calloway stated that Liquid Logic’s new impressive river runner “the Remix” was a direct result of instructor input he gained from his attendance during the 2005 symposium. Kayak schools and manufacturers plan their business around a positive and fun image that industry leaders have researched as productive, exciting, and inspirational to everyone from families to extremists.

A Profound Impression

 

Charlie Walbridge teaches one of many symposium sessions, "New Foot Entrapment Rescue."

This symposium blew my mind as I looked around a room full of kayak industry owners with their top instructors and employees. They were there to improve their instruction, plan for the future of kayaking, improve their business models, and to share their wealth of knowledge.

Where else could you gain so much instruction and information about the sport within even a period of a month, and this was all happening in three days. I thought, “Wow! Now I understand why these companies are so successful.” Their presence alone was motivational.

Why does the public view kayaking as death-defying?

Months ago, I was interviewed by Outside Magazine regarding an experience where I was trapped in my kayak underwater for over a minute. I rarely share that story, as it was an isolated incident. While the experience caused me to move to a more conservative safety model that aspires to teach how to avoid and escape this situation, I am often left preoccupied with the imagery that the magazine is likely to publish.

Kent Ford described it best with the symposium’s opening discussion regarding changing the public’s image of kayaking. Kent’s video entertained and clearly illustrated an image of a scary and dangerous sport to those who are not familiar with kayaking. And while the sport is extraordinarily fun and user-friendly there is a continual presentation of this type of story that has consistently branded a dangerous, extreme image to the public. Kent went on to illustrate a recent change in the “kayak image.” A growing television presence has kayak companies opting to advertise ease of use and fun adventure, while manufacturers are marketing quality of life to contribute to a more positive image for kayakers.

Kent then moderated a panel discussion with panel members Mark Singleton of American Whitewater, Eugene Buchanon of Paddling Life, Anna Levesque of Girls at Play, and myself, David Hughes of the New River Academy. We each spoke on our own perspective regarding the future of kayaking. Finally, the audience took turns asking directed questions.

Which session do I attend?

The symposium began each day at 9:00 am with a series of four 90 minute time slots. Moderators and speakers addressed the kayak industry with topics such as: “Use of the Internet”, a variety of kayak skills courses, instructor updates, safety and rescue courses, youth and teen development roundtables, American Whitewater presentations, “Mental Components of Kayaking”, expedition planning, and more.

The instructor list of presenters is the who’s who of kayaking. So, just making a decision between two or three topics/instructors became tough. But it did not matter when I missed Heather Herbek’s (Wetplanet) “Mental Side of Kayaking” or Janet Cowie’s (Zoar) “Game On” topic. I just asked them at dinner to brief me with their discussion and for a copy of their presentation.

The symposium made it easy to see why kayak schools like NOC, Zoar, DeRemier Adventure Kayak, NE PA Kayak School, Wetplanet, Liquid Adventures, Potomac Paddlesports, Girls at Play, and many others are the remarkable kayak school leaders. They invest in their instructional development, the quality of life of their employees, and hire and maintain fabulous instructors.

Are Kayakers Attention Deficit?

With hours of stimulating sessions, it was easy for a gathering of avid kayakers to lose their attention. Bob Campbell, Kent Ford, and Bruce Lessels strategically planned this symposium with the Adventure Sports Center International. We could actually attend a session and walk 30 seconds and put on great whitewater. I would play on the wave where the Freestyle National Championships were held just a month prior with other instructors while kayak instructors and pro-athletes would use the course to present instructional courses to learning instructors.

The Highlight of the Symposium

(c) Fergus Coffey/Janet Cowie (Zoar Outdoor)

Above: Anna Levesque (Girls at Play), David Hughes (Huge Experiences), and Mike Porter (Zoar) team surf.

The symposium was all but over as leaders began to depart for airports and extended drives to their homes. I was lucky enough to paddle with NOC, Zoar, and US National Whitewater Center instructors one last time before our departures. Anna Levesque, “Bluejay,” was there and it was not long before I was reminded of her playful mischievous nature. Anna instigated a wave war that soon evolved into a more positive team trying to keep each other on the wave.

The surf was thirty minutes of ten paddlers from different parts of the world smiling, hooting, and helping each other stay on the wave. Owners and spectators snapped photos of us laughing, surfing, flipping, and enjoying our passion.

The surf had embodied everything Kent during his original and Joe Pulliam in his keynote presentation expressed that the kayak image should be.

Why not “kayak just for fun?”

Families often ask, “How does the New River Academy fly with their kayaks?” “We fly with them.” Flying with your kayak may be intimidating at first but it is only slightly more difficult than flying with normal luggage.

The goal with this whitewater kayak school travel segment is to teach you how to fly internationally with your kayak gear at an economical rate.

Lets break it down into steps:

1. Choose a kayak friendly airline. Airlines post their oversize baggage specifications whether they allow or “blacklist” kayaks. Stay away from airlines that do not allow kayaks as oversize luggage. If you use the rules in this article you may still be able to fly with a blacklist company but don’t count on it.

I most often use US Airways and United Airlines.

Know weight and size allowance: Bags are free under 50 pounds, but will be classified as oversize based on dimensions. Your max limit maybe around 115” (l+w+h) and typically = $80 fee. Freestyle kayaks are around 74” hl+ 13” h + 25” w. Check the oversize baggage allowance for your airline.

 

(c) Morgan Tidd

Daniel Stewart measures boat dimensions. 

1. Packing your kayak you will need: packing tape, sharpie, strap, boat bag or alternative kayak wrap.
   1. Label each piece of gear.
   2. Stuff lite weight items like fleece, dry tops, skirts, booties into foot and stern compartments. Do not exceed 50 pounds unless you are fine with a possible second oversize fee for dimension and weight.
   3. Brace your paddle(s). Use sleeping bags, sleeping pads, pfds, sandals, and any bulky items to provide support between your kayak and paddle. Tape and wrap the paddle well to the cockpit rim. I have observed non-braced paddles break.
   4. Wrap to protect. You can use a kayak bag, but they are hard to find and end up being an additional awkward piece of gear.

 

(c) Morgan Tidd

A disposble tarp can also serve as a ground cloth.  Plus, it is not an awkward piece of gear you will have to carry.

E. Make a handle for the skycaps. Imagine that skycaps hate heavy awkward to carry luggage. So, make it easy to carry.

a. Cut a hole in your wrapping system at the cockpit rim allowing for a handle.

b. Or make a shoulder strap that you previously built prior to wrapping. The shoulder strap can be a piece of webbing that ties around the bow and stern and protrudes out of two holes from the tarp.

F. Label, Label, Label- Where will you be, where are you going, which flight number is it?

1. Checking in:
   1. Show up 3 hours early. You have large luggage and if the plane is nearly full the counter person is more likely to turn you down. If you are one of the earliest then there is less stress related to an over packed plane belly. Plus, you will want the extra time to carry your heavy gear.
   2. What to say. Avoid the word “Kayak.” The word “Kayak” is an expensive word that is often charged twice as much as other similar sized items. I always call my craft a “surf ski.” What is a “surf ski?”

“A surf ski is something you sit on top of and surf in the ocean. It is like a surf board because of its design and you surf it in the ocean.” If the person behind the counter says to you, “that looks a lot like a kayak.” Smile at her and say, “Has anyone told you have a wonderful smile today? Yes, I agree. We do sit on these and surf them in the ocean.”

I keep relating it to a surf board because I want the surf board rate. If they charge you $80 be happy, pay your fee, and leave the desk person with a smile.

4. What if airline will not accept the kayak? I have traveled internationally with a kayak for 12 years now and always have been able to nicely convince the desk person to allow the kayak. Allow them to be in charge from the start, ask them how you can help move the kayak to where they need it so they will not have extra work, be excited about your “surf ski” adventure, and smile.

If they turn you down and say they don’t accept kayaks then you are going to have to ask them for their help. Going over the top to management is a bad ideal unless worded correct.

EG- “Can I speak to your manager?” is a bad ideal.

Try this instead. “Thank you for your help. Obviously, you realize how important this piece of equipment is to my vacation. Is there anything you can do within your power or someone you can ask or lead me to speak with that can approve this? My apologies for not packing this well, being here earlier… Any help you can offer would make me most appreciative and have a strong positive impact on my vacation.”

Now, you have asked them for genuine help. It is hard to deny wanting to help someone who has been nothing but kind.

You may have to be persistent. Keep your eye on being the world champion of gratitude and letting the officials know how much it would benefit your trip. I have stuck out several “no you can not travel with your kayak.” Only to later be allowed based on barraging them with kindness and sticking out the situation.

Go Huge Kayaking in your international destination.

It was late afternoon and my friend Kathy Zerkle invited me to be a safety boater with another Kathy on the Lower New River.  As we were paddling below the Lower Keenies the Kathies called my attention back up stream.  Something was moving just beneath the surface of a slow moving current.

I paddled upstream rapidly.  As I approached I could see something small swimming.  It was a squirrel swimming for its life, caught in the current, over 100 feet from each bank.

A Basic Instinct:  The Will to Live

Squirrel with its head barely above the water and at times submerging paddled with all its might.  We looked and wanted to help it onto our kayaks, but were afraid of being bit.  The squirrel at times would try to climb our slick kayaks with no luck and then continue to paddle its feet.

Soon I tried to push squirrel along with my paddle speeding the process and helping the navigation.  But I sometimes inadvertly was pushing squirrel further under water and feared I would drown her.  Next, I figured out to run my blade below squirrel and push upward and forward.  Squirrel would take two or three running steps and jump.  She was now moving faster and getting breaks.

It took ten minutes of this process to get her to the bank.  Once she arrived she climbed onto the nearest rock and sat.  She sat coughing and choking water.  I drifted away backwards in the current as I watched her not move and simply cough and sputter.  I thought, “Hmm, one of the most basic instincts must be the will to live.  The fight she made to live was an instinct.  I think she came from the other side of the river.  But she lived.  Despite the consumed water, the exhaustion, and the rapids she kept the will to live.  I am glad she lived.”

Recently, I returned from the Ottawa River to my office in WV. Our teen kayak school has grown and developed into something that was a goal of mine since I founded Huge Experiences in 2001. In a strange way it is sad reaching this goal. What do I mean sad? And what goal am I speaking of?