Wow, this was so much fun! We had about 27 people recruited to race out at the whitewater park yesterday, and ended up with 7 heats of like 4 people each. Basically what you had to do was paddle through M wave, catch the 2nd eddy on left, touch the flag, then touch flag on right at Shutdown, touch the 3rd on left, then one last one on RR below the rock pile, and race to the end.

There were all kinds of people in the race, a whole bunch of ladies, some youngsters, handpaddlers, new and old. Thanks a ton to Eric C who was a good sport and tried out the handpaddles, he almost won, he was paddling really fast, so fast in fact that he totallly missed a flag. They should have never hid it behind that rock. ugagh!

Thankfully Jim lent me some of his wisdom at the start by telling me to tuck my grab handle inside my boat. Patrick claimed he didnt hear that advice and subsequently another racer noticed his newbie status and immediately pulled his skirt and pushed him into M wave.

There was plenty of addition carnage for the crowd, one heat alone had like 3 swimmers, but I think most of them pulled their own skirts.

During the final some crazy man came sprinting (running) down the middle of the channel at the end and tackled, pull skirt, and flipped like 3 racers. I heard mention of Beans? No one seemed to know his real name, we wondered aloud did he really like Mexican food? Was he related to Jack from the fairy tail? I guess the mystery remains.

At the end we all gathered at the tent and Jason and Sam passed out cool prizes. I got a parrot.

Thanks a ton to Jason and Sam and World Kayak, they take time off from their “real” jobs to do this and they do a great job. I get to design the course next month, so beware.

The next race is July 22nd at 6pm.

edgar

After years of delays, Southwest Park/Randleman Lake has finally opened. The weather was beautiful on Sunday so Ed and I headed out for a bit of paddling and fishing. We had high hopes that since very few people had been fishing here we would have good luck.

Ed has a theory that when you have a new lake or pond and the fish haven’t see artificial lures yet, that they are more likely to bite. He thinks they get gun shy after being caught a few times. Fortunately for the rest of you, we didn’t scare any of the fish by catching them. Sometimes I imagine them at underwater fish bars floating about and laughing and telling stories about me.

Seriously, the real reason most folks aren’t reeling in the numbers probably has to do with the water temperature. Even though it has finally started to warm up, the water is still at a cool 50 degrees (we found a few spots at 55). However, we did hear stories of a 9lb bass caught a few days earlier.

We haven’t caught anything in months, but Ed says it is still practice. I sure hope he is right. We are “practicing” and getting ready for the Get Outdoors fishing tournament on April 10th. Ed won the fly fishing category last year so he has high hopes. I don’t have too much hope, but it sure would be really nice to beat Ed, plus a few prizes never hurts the budget.

Southwest Park Information:
Only non motorized boats
Launch fee-$4
Be aware you will need a “waste” bag (for sale-$5) or 5gallon bucket with a lid

edgar

Here are a few links for the new lake.

http://www.southwestpark.info/

http://www.ptrwa.org/rec.htm

The temperatures are reaching into the mid-60s, maybe even the 70s and your kayak is calling to you. That lake that seemed a little too cold to paddle for much of the winter is quite inviting today. With the onset of spring many folks want to take advantage of the nice weather and enjoy some well-deserved time outdoors, for many this means paddling. Whether you paddle a kayak or canoe, paddle on a lake, a river, or at the coast some simple precautions should be taken when the air temperatures rise but water temperatures are slow to follow. Hypothermia is a real risk; but don’t let the warm air fool you. In this article I will briefly discuss the signs and symptoms of hypothermia but the main focus will be on prevention.
Just because the air is a mild 70 degrees, it can be months before the water reaches a temperature that is safe to immerse ones self in. A couple rules that I follow are the 120-degree rule, which states if the air and water temperatures don’t add up to 120 degrees you need a wetsuit or drysuit. The second is always dress for the water temperature not the air temperature. There are times when these rules conflict, but when in doubt dress for submersion. If the water is 50+ degrees you should probably wear a wetsuit and any colder than 40 degrees, a drysuit. Hypothermia: the lowering of your core body temperature below 98.6 degrees, and can actually occur in any temperature below 98 degrees. Hypothermia is an insidious killer; it can and will sneak up on you when you least expect it. As the body gets colder and your metabolism slows, the victim will go through various stages of the “umbles”: fumbles, grumbles, mumbles, and stumbles. In addition your judgment becomes impaired; you may even deny help, opting to keep moving to try to get warm rather than stopping, taking the time to put on dry clothes and actually getting warm In addition you will fairly quickly lose fine motor skills like the ability to zip up a jacket, followed by gross motor skills such as the ability to walk or paddle. If the victim continues to cool they will eventually lose consciousness and die. Being prepared is your greatest ally when recreating in cold weather.
Wearing the proper clothing and bringing extra clothes, food and water on any trip of any length, may seem like overkill on an hour long paddle; however, if you happen to tip over, for whatever reason, you will be glad you were prepared. Wetsuits, made from varying thicknesses of neoprene are flexible allow for a fairly good range of motion and are relatively inexpensive ranging from $100- $400. Wetsuits, like their name suggests, keeps you warm when wet. This happens by trapping a thin layer of water between you and the neoprene. This warm layer of water acts as an insulator keeping you warm in mild to moderately cold water of approximately 50-70 degrees. Many paddlers use the Farmer John or Jane style wetsuit that cover the torso and legs but is bib style with no arms. This allows for an even greater range of motion and gives you the ability to layer and vent if you get a too warm.

A wetsuit can help you stay warm in cooler water temps

Drysuits, made from a waterproof nylon shell and equipped with a waterproof zippers, latex gaskets at the neck, wrist, and ankle cuffs (or with waterproof booties sewn in) keep the water out and allow you to wear insulating layers underneath. Since you stay dry these layers keep you warm. The first mention of this always made me think of James Bond climbing out of the water after a daring mission, taking off his drysuit all the while wearing a tuxedo underneath. The down side to drysuits is the upkeep of the latex gaskets and their extremely high costs. Drysuits range from $500- $1200+.

Another option is a drysuit

Aside from a wetsuit and their dryer, warmer cousins the drysuit, layering in synthetic clothing is the next best thing. When getting wet and capsizing is not a huge risk (like paddling on a calm day on a local pond or lake) layering for paddling you need to keep in mind a few very important rules. 1) Don’t wear cotton; cotton does not retain any insulating properties when wet. It actually pulls heat from your body (evaporative cooling), which will make you even colder. This is why a cotton t-shirt is best for desert hiking, but lousy as layer when paddling. 2) Wear synthetics in layers: polypro or synthetic long underwear is a great wicking base layer, then add fleece as an insulating layer and, top it off with a shell to keep the wind, rain, splash and spray off and hopefully you dry. Synthetics are designed to maintain insulating properties even when wet. Layers trap heat, repel water and allow you to adjust to rising and falling temperatures. These days there are several lines of fleece/ neoprene blends designed specifically for layering when on the water. 3) Cotton Kills! Don’t wear cotton; it’s a worthless layer when wet! 4) Always carry an extra layer or two with you. If you are hot strip a layer if you get cold add a layer, and if your feet are cold put on a hat. Much of you body heat is lost through your head and neck. As you cool off you body draws the heat from your hands and feet to keep your core warm, stopping this heat loss by putting on a hat is one of the best ways to start to warm yourself back up. 5) Also please keep in mind that layering like mentioned above will do very little if you actually end up swimming in water below 50 degrees, especially if the air is as cold or colder. If fully immersed in cold water wearing anything other than a wetsuit or drysuit means you are now on a mission to immediately get dry and get warm.
Carrying snacks and plenty of water is a good idea as well. Staying hydrated and fueled up with carbohydrates and sugars will give you a quick energy boost and help keep your body warm as well. So in addition to putting on a hat when you are chilled, try having a quick snack and drink, you will be amazed at how fast you warm up. Remember to always prepare for the worst and hope for the best. For more in depth layering and safety techniques stay tuned there is more to come…

Stay hydrated and stay happy,

Will

With the current trends in the paddling industry, Stand-up Paddling (SUP) may be the first recreational sport to cross not only the surf market, but the general paddling market, and also enter the fishing and fitness markets as well.  A new twist on one of the ealiest forms a recreation, stand up paddling takes elements from surfing and kayak and canoeing and blends them into one of the best workouts money can buy.  With the ability to do well in several genres of watersports SUP may be the next big trend from coast to coast.

“Stand up paddle surfing is derived from Polynesian roots. The Hawaiian translation is Ku Hoe He’e Nalu; to stand, to paddle, to surf, a wave.”

The modern form of SUP originated in Hawaii as a means for surf instructors to have a higher vantage point of the surrounding area and their students and SUP was an easier way to get out into surf, it also afforded a great form of exercise to big wave surfers when the surf was down.  The main differences in surfing and SUP is that the later can be done without waves.  With enough stability and buoyancy a SUP board can be used in flatwater as well.  Around 2000, the sport migrated to California. As it caught on, it wound its way into the american surf culture. It didn’t take but a few years for it to jump coasts and is now migrating into inland lakes and rivers.  With its roots firmly planted in the surf culture it is an easy transition from surfing to SUPing; however, with the evergrowing popularity of paddlesports many paddlers are making the transistion to standing while enjoying their sport on both flatwater and, more recently, whitewater.

The equipment needed to enjoy SUPing is fairly basic.  A stand-up paddle board (an old windsurf board with all the foot loops removed works as well), a stand-up paddle and clothes you don’t mind getting wet in (swim trunks and a t-shirt or rash guard).  The size of the board is important depending on the type of paddling you plan on doing and the size of the paddler. The smaller the board the more maneuverable it will be for surfing but it also means it won’t track well on flatwater. The longer the board the straighter it will travel on flatwater like lakes and other inland waterways. It is not uncommon for a inland SUP board to be 12+ feet in length. Longer boards will also typically carry more weight, but you also have to take the thickness and width of the board into consideration. The thicker the board the more weight it can hold. If you are going to be SUPing in the surf a leash (a longer version of the surf leash) is needed to keep the board from getting too far away from the paddler. These boards are typically equiped with either a single large fin or a large fin and two smaller fins on the bottom of the board to aid in the boards tracking (keeping the path of travel in a straighter line). In cooler temps adding layers or a wetsuit, neoprene booties and even gloves can keep one paddling into and through the winter months.  If taking this sport into a whitewater venue interests you, the addition of a good whitewater helmet and possibly even knee and elbow pads may be a good idea.

The paddles used are similar to a canoe paddle except they are 7-9+ feet in length and are often fiberglass or carbon fiber.  Wood paddles are also fairly common, but can be heavier than their composit brethren.  Though not a steadfast rule, adding 8-10 inches to the paddlers height is a good place to start in determining paddle length.  The type of paddling you are doing (flatwater, surf or racing), the distance you plan on traveling, and your personal preference also should come into play. Surf paddles are often a little shorter while flatwater and race paddles often longer.  If traveling many paddles come in 2-3 pieces so they can be broken down for packing.  Some paddles are adjustable in length to accomidate different styles of paddling without having to get a paddle for each style.  My favorite paddle is the Werner Spanker, a super lightweight, stiff, carbonfiber paddle (http://www.wernerpaddles.com/paddles/stand_up/performance_core/spanker/).  It has a larger blade width for a greater purchase on the water.  Others we currently carry at GetOutdoors are the Werner Advantage (an all fiberglass paddle) with a somewhat narrower blade for efficient flatwater SUPing (http://www.wernerpaddles.com/paddles/stand_up/premium/advantage/).  If you like wood paddles the WhiskeyJack Ocho, is a suprisingly lightweight model (http://whiskeyjackpaddles.com/paddles_ocho.asp).

Once equiped, getting started is fairly easy. When begining this process make sure you are in deep enough water to safely fall of your board without hitting anything in the water.  Wearing a PFD (personal floatation device/ lifejacket) is also a great idea and is often required as SUP boards are now categorized by the coast guard as watercraft like a canoe or kayak (http://www.supmagic.com/sup-standup-paddlesurfing-and-bouyancy-aids/). Start by placing the board in about a foot or more of water, making sure to have enough depth to clear the boards fin of the bottom of the lake.  Start out on your knees about shoulder width apart in the middle or the balance point of the board (this is often were the grab handle or hand groove is) and get a feel for the stabilty of the board and how it reacts to your movements in the water.  More stability is gained by forward momentum and once you start to feel more confident in your movements, standing is the next step.  Lean forward on all fours, with the paddle laying perpendicular to the board and under your hands.  From this stance get your feet under your hips (remember to keep your feet shoulder width apart) and stand in one clean motion.  The smoother this is done the easier standing will be, jerky movements will often land you in the drink.  As you become more comfortable balancing on your board and paddling freely about, you can start to work on paddling technique and becoming a more efficent SUP boarder. More on these techniques in later posts.

As I stated previously SUPing has a great fitness aspect not only do you get a great upper body workout from paddling, but by balancing on the board you also incorporate your legs and core into the workout. The is a great was to cross train and make training more enjoyable without having to force yourself to workout in a gym. The core workout is probably the most beneficial aspect SUPing will give the paddler. A strong core enables better balance and coordination, in addition it also make you less prone to back injuries. A good friend who got me started SUPing had back surgery last year and used SUPing as a means of rehabilitation and she is now stronger than she was prior to her surgery.

We are in the process of bringing SUP Boards in the store, we will have a selection of entry-level through high-end boards that range in price from $900- $2300. With the popularity of kayak fishing, Native Watercraft will, hopefully soon, be releasing the Osceola. This 12 foot Kevlar board blends some basic kayak designs with the tradition of the stand-up paddle boards. It has a simple dugout design and a shallow “v” hull which allows for more secondary stability and foot purchase on the deck than a SUP board typically has. Equipped with deck bungees and Scotty rod holder mounts this new board will allow the more adventurous fisherman to take fishing and SUPing and blend them together for a new angling experience (http://www.nativewatercraft.com/media/videos/osceola.cfm).

Be on the lookout at GetOutdoors for new lines of SUP boards to get you started in this great sport later this fall and into next spring. Keep an eye on the local lakes as you will see a lot more of us using them to travel our local waterways and exercising through the winter.

Check out this link for a recent local news story on WXII 12 about this exciting trend in paddlesports as we taught local weather man Austin Caviness to SUP (http://www.wxii12.com/video20730033/index.html).

See you on the water!!!

Will

Check out the following links for more info on SUPing
http://www.supmagic.com/
http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php
http://howtostanduppaddlesurf.com/

Specifications

Features

• Molded in footbraces
• 5″ deck plate
• Fins (optional)
• Comfort carry handles
• Sit-On-Top backband (standard)

Paddler Specs

Height: 6 feet
Weight: 220 lbs

I went on vacation to Wrightsville Beach, NC. with my family and had a chance to take the Dagger Kaos surf boat with me. I am a class 4 whitewater kayaker with little experience with surf kayaking. I had a ball with this boat, it is a little over 10ft long and is similar to a long surf board with fins that you can remove, if you like. The fins definitely make a difference; it is super fast with the fins. Make sure no one is in front of you because this thing is a rocket. You catch a wave and you roll on very fast. It took me a few times to learn how to turn or carve the wave. At first I was trying to place my paddle as a rudder to turn but learned all you need to do is low brace and it is very responsive. The boat tracks very well and it will catch air as you are paddling out through the surf. The thigh straps are a must with this boat; the tighter the better. I could almost roll it. Maybe with a little more practice and adjustments I could have. The dry hatch is dryer than expected. A must have for boaters near the surf. I had some long board surfer drooling over this boat. The only dislike I had about this kayak is that it was a little hard to carry, not quite deep enough to shoulder it, but I did have a killer hike from the car to the water.

Russ Dalton
VA.

Splash! Caught on the first strong eddy line of the day, one of my Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking students is quickly upside down in a low oxygen environment. Almost before they even tip, 2 instructors and another student are charging their way for a bow rescue. The paddler is soon upright and back in the safety of the eddy.

I am always glad we take the time to work on bow rescues prior to getting on the river. Not everyone gets their roll right away, and knowing how to do a bow rescue allows paddlers to push hard to improve their skills without worrying that they will have to swim every time they tip.

Choosing an appropriate river for introducing people to whitewater is also vital. The Tuckasegee River is a fantastic river to learn about whitewater. There are great places to catch eddies, peel out, ferry, and learn about river features. The class II water makes the “Tuck” a great place to learn and explore new skills and features without the pressure of water so difficult it is all you can do to survive.

We have lead river trips over the past 2 weekends and it has been great. Students have learned how to plan their own trips, find and choose paddling partners, begin to understand river features, and build on the skills we have been developing in our flatwater sessions.

Someone recently wrote about the “death” of whitewater kayaking, but I just don’t see it. I see an excited, enthusiastic group of new paddlers ready to get out there any explore and I love it!

Edgar Peck
ACA Whitewater Kayak Instructor

If you wonder if whitewater kayaking is the sport for you, here is your chance.

This lesson will be an introduction to whitewater kayaking. This is not simply being led down the river, this is a lesson focusing on preparing you to safely navigate rivers, and start to organize your own trips.

Summary:
Date: August 2nd (8am-9pm)
Cost: $100 including transportation from Greensboro

Details:
1. To participate in this trip you have to have participated in at least one flatwater lesson with me, or a roll class with me. This can be scheduled for any weekday evening.

2. We will do this lesson on the Natahala River near Bryson City, NC. It is about 3.5 hours away from Greensboro. We can ride together from Kernersville, or meet at the river.

3. Equipment: You need to have your own helmet for this lesson. You can buy a helmet at Get Outdoors, or at the Natahala Outdoor Center when we get to the river. I will provide all other equipment/gear. The NOC has tons of choices in stock. Warm clothes that are not cotton are also important, fleece works well, and/or a wetsuit, dry top, splash jacket, etc. You can get stretchable fleece at an outdoor store, or polyester shirts at Walmart for $14. Stretchable fleece is very nice and warm, but can be expensive.

You can rent a wetsuit at NOC for $15 when we get there if you want. The weather will be warm (about 80), but the river water is cold (40 degrees).

I will provide an ACA Certified Instructor (me) and at least one assistant, kayaks, paddles, lifejackets, float bags, skirts, and probably a few funny pictures!

4. After this trip you will probably know whether you want to do whitewater paddling. The section of river we are doing is about 5 miles. It is mostly class II, with a bigger class III rapid at the end that you can try, or skip if you arent “feeling it”.

5. There will be a max of 6 participants on this trip.

6. Cost: $100

7. Feel free to review my qualifications under “Instruction” at http://www.piedmontlakesnc.com

8. To sign up for this, or to schedule a private lesson for $20 email Edgar at edgar@getoutdoors.us or yespe@aol.com

This is going to be FUN! This trip is a perfect intro, with something for everyone.

Feel free to ask questions.

Edgar Peck
ACA Whitewater Kayak Instructor

Every month Get Outdoors offers a Basic Kayaking class free for anyone buying a kayak.

Over the years there has not been as much interest in canoe classes. I believe that traditionally people who buy canoes have been canoeing for years and already have a good grasp of some of the basic skills necessary to navigate a canoe.

Many canoers have not received formal instruction. I think that learning some basic canoe strokes, or more advanced techniques for those with experience can improve your experience on the water. Over the summer I am offering the chance to take a 2 hour canoe class for FREE.

This class will vary based on the participants experience. Beginners can look forward to tips on how to load the canoe on the car without hurting themselves or their canoe, outfitting the canoe, and basic strokes. We will learn to move the canoe in different directions with a combination of bow draws, sweeps, stern draws, prys, rudders, and forward strokes.

More advanced paddlers can learn more difficult manuevers like the sideslip, boat over boat rescues, backferries, cross bow strokes, and sculling.

People who do not own a canoe can take a lesson for $20.

This class is taught on flat water in Kernersville, NC.

I look forward to seeing you on the water.

Edgar Peck
American Canoe Association Level 4 Instructor
yespe@aol.com

With the amazing amount of rain we have been getting here in NC this spring, creek boaters everywhere are calling in sick, avoiding family obligations, and dissing boy/girlfriends. NOAA weather predictions produce a flurry of discussion on message boards and superstitious boaters will scold others for mentioning “sure” rain and jinxing everyone. Boaters will begin to spend hours analyzing weather patterns and checking online rain and river gauges. Confused teachers and bosses will be trying to figure out the mysterious 24 hour sicknesses that coincide with heavy rains. Creeking season has been EXTENDED!

Creeking is usually thought of as a run with steep drops, epic portages, and slides long enough to make a water park jealous. But creeking is much more than that. So, how do you know if you are a member of this elite subset of whitewater boaters?

You know you are a creekboater if:
1. You can’t tell your mom about most of the rivers you paddle.
2. When staring at Niagra Falls you catch yourself looking for a line.

3. There is brush in your grab handles.
4. You live in an apartment, but own two chainsaws.
5. Going for a swim will later require dental work.
6. You have more experience with pins than Hulk Hogan.

7. If you’ve ever woken up to find your drytop frozen to the clothes line.
8. You spend more time on slides than your 8 year old.
9. Swimming involves serious injury.

10. There is a mouthguard in the pocket of your PFD.
11. You have ever had icicles hanging from your helmet.
12. “It can’t be done” is an acceptable challenge.
13. You enjoy practicing getting “beat down”.
14. You have time to rail grab on your boofs.

15. You have started coming up with new ways to pronounce “portaged”.
16. The hike out is harder than running the river.
17. You need 4 wheel drive to get to the put in of your favorite run.
18. You have used your kayak as a sled.
19. You know how to rig up your kayak as a backpack using one NRS strap.
20. You have pictures of yourself hiking through the snow with your boat.

21. There is a football facemask attached to your helmet.
22. You’ve broken more paddles than the Werner R&D department.
23. There’s something sloshing around in your boat, but it’s too warm to be water.
24. A really good paddling day will involve some bleeding.

25. You encourage friends to try impossible moves then enjoy watching the show.
26. That last rapid had more moves than your cousin Larry on singles night.
27. You can predict rain more accurately than the meteorologist on channel 12.
28. You have ever arrived at the river and found people ice skating.

29. The last river you paddled has dished out more beatings than Brock Lesnar.
30. You know the story behind “Gorilla”.
31. There is climbing equipment in your boat.

Finally, if you drive 4 hours away from all civilization, up on a mountain, down a series of endless dirt roads, and when you get there you still know everyone in the parking lot, you are definitely a creek boater, welcome to the club!

Hope this made you laugh!

edgar

The SWR class this weekend was fantastic!

1. Anyone can benefit from this class. We had a really, really, broad range of paddlers. There were some class V gnar boaters who have had buddies drown right in front of them, and who had themselves swam some of the nastiest sieves/undercuts that we all have nightmares about. There were some people who had never even been on a river, and some who have done class I-II only, along with some in the middle.

We started out with swimming, and quickly moved to work on strainers and other hazards found in rivers. Here we are working on the Strainer Bar Drill.

They all did great. Better than great. We had two people who were under 15 years old, they ended up being some of the strongest swimmers, and did most of the line ferries and set up anchors for the drills.

The group worked together like clockwork, which is pretty hard sometimes as we all know when you just met the person and dont even know their name.

Everyone knew the strengths of each person in the group and people were directing each other and just filling in where they needed too.

The class was even watching out for people that werent in their group dealing with tubers, rafters, kayakers, and rednecks who looked like they were about to drown. We almost did a few “real” rescues in our class.

2. The class learned a lot from experience, I tried not to do too much and the class set up the line ferries, set the anchors, and did all the work to set up the strainer bar, v lowers, live bait, and other drills. It was almost like every drill was a scenario. I have learned that the participants dont learn much from watching me set up the anchors, z drags, and other things that are necessary to make these drills happen quick and safe. It may take a little longer, but not much, and they really learn.

They set up/downstream safety for themselves and made teams and decisions throughout, so it was easy once they got to the scenarios, and got a chance to do more realistic exercises more than in 1 scenario. Of course they were backed up by instructors just in case.

Here we are doing a line crossing technique called zipline.

3. I am getting better and better at setting up scenarios thanks to “friends” who have come out and let me practice and experiement on them in “unofficial” classes this year (thanks Dave, Josh, Eric, Erik, Will, Quay, Brandon, Candace, and everyone else). I hope you all come back out again, I have some new evil ideas that will hopefully challenge you more!

The great thing is that I have to sit home for days trying to think up harder scenarios because the paddlers I have had in class are so good they solve problems quick, simple, and safe.

This time we did a scenario where we had a pinned boat, two paddlers in the water, AND a victim foot entrapped 40 feet out in the river in chest deep moving water. The group rescued the swimmers, and got up a stabilization line in like 2 minutes and had the entrapped victim to shore in like 3 min. WOW!

We didn’t get to practice mechanical advantage as much as I would like, time and the weather are sometimes working against you. I hope everyone goes home and practices a bunch, and teaches the other people they paddle with.

You can never practice enough, I hope everyone out there that has taken SWR will come back and do it again.

I will be scheduling more Advanced SWR classes later this summer with super complex scenarios and more in the water topics that arent covered in most basic classes, like cinches, now that I have found a way to foot entrap a victim in the middle of the river in a relatively safe way.

The next SWR class is July 18-19th. With advanced classes scheduled whenever people want to take it, just email or call me.

More information and pictures are up on the website, with video and tons of photos coming soon.

www.piedmontlakesnc.com