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Come Paddle With Us!
Here Are The Summer Classes Now Forming:
Kayak and canoe classes at Introduction to Paddling School
Swift Water Rescue Seminar
TSRA is pleased to offer Swift Water Rescue training to its members again this year. This program is designed to help recreational paddlers of all levels learn to negotiate whitewater without a boat! Taught by ACA certified instructors, you will learn skills and techniques to help protect yourself and your paddling companions from the risks encountered while enjoying whitewater. This intense seminar covers a wide variety of topics such as rescue philosophy, equipment needs, proper use of the rescue rope, rescue swimming techniques, and gear recovery techniques. Approximately half of the instruction involves “classroom” type activities, with the remainder being hands-on, active learning. You will not need a boat for this seminar, but you will get wet!
The seminar is limited to the first 20-25 paid participants so interested members should register quickly. We will camp and prepare the furnished meals as a group. If you have any special dietary needs, please let us know before the seminar.
Where:
Gee Creek Campground in the Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park near Delano, TN. If you are unfamiliar with this campground, directions can be found on the Tennessee State Parks website: http://state.tn.us/environment/parks/Hiwassee/ Look for a large tarp and a sign related to “Swift Water Rescue”.
What to bring:
Bring your personal camping equipment and a camp chair for “classroom” sessions. A personal mug will be the only camp food related equipment needed.
Bring full river attire including helmet, PFD, and river footwear. We recommend a wet suit primarily for abrasion protection—you will be swimming around rocks! You will also need a throw rope, a water bottle, two locking carabiners. If you have it, bring 15 feet of 1” stitched nylon webbing and a length of rope for knot practice. The rope and webbing can be purchased at most outfitters, but don’t panic if you can’t find it—we’ll have extra. You will also need a whistle for your PFD. Leave your rescue knife at home.
Cost:
The registration fee is $75.00, and covers the cost of the instruction, the camping (assuming you camp with the group), and the meals.
To register:
Mail your check made out to TSRA for $75 to: Charlie Penley, 1413 Beddington Park, Nashville, TN 37215. Be sure and include your name, address, phone numbers, email address, and your ACA membership number. If you are not an ACA member, add $10 to the fee. You’ll receive you a bit more information prior to the seminar. Questions? Contact: cpenley@tnonc.com or ops@paddletsra.org.
Hot Rolls & Hiwassee Extravaganza Weekend
July 18 - 19, 2009
Lead Instructors and Trip Leaders: Barnett Williams - BarnettW3@aol.com or 615-516-0346 and Charles DeBray - cdebray@earthlink.net or 615-347-5466
“Hot Rolls” School (Saturday)
Wondering how your pool roll will play on the river…or why your pool roll isn’t playing on the river? Then “Hot Rolls” is for you. This is a great opportunity to improve your river skills. We’ll start early on Saturday morning with a 10:00 am (Eastern time) meeting on the picnic tables at the Hiwassee Outfitters on Highway 30E -- this is the take-out for the Hiwassee. (Bring your own warm rolls to munch on!) We'll work our way out onto the river later that morning for our “Hot Rolls”—come out, have fun, and practice rolling.
- This is a bargain at $20 (for members).
- Bring food and snacks for both before and after we get on the river.
- Bring warm paddling clothing to layer--the Hiwassee has cold water year-round!
- If you use them, bring your nose plugs!
The “Hot Rolls” drill :
We’ll start off getting to know each other and talking about good techniques and some safety issues. Then we move to the river.
Next, all the pumped-up paddlers who are ready to perfect their whitewater rolling skills can practice real time, (semi-controlled) “combat” rolls at our favorite spots upstream. We will spend the rest of the morning until early afternoon practice rolling in whitewater and aspiring to the lofty goals of the CAT Roll and the POP Principle. Be prepared for the cold water of the Hiwassee. Bring more food for when we take out at another set of picnic tables, where we’ll debrief and have our late lunch. Your instructors can be bribed with food to insure you have ‘no swims’.To ask questions, get meeting information, and get more details about the school itself, contact Charles DeBray cdebray@earthlink.net or 615-347-5466; or contact Barnett Williams at BarnettW3@aol.com or 615-516-0346 .
The Extravaganza (Sat & Sun)….
As “Hot Rolls” is ending, a continuation of paddling the river will start the next part of this Hiwassee Extravaganza . At these picnic tables just upstream of the Big Bend parking lot all you Saturday “Warm-up Trip” paddlers will be joined by all those (now graduated) Hot Rolls paddlers wanting to continue paddling to the normal Take-Out. All other “Hot Rollers” will ‘take out’ at our last work-out spot. (those same little picnic tables just upstream of Big Bend). This Saturday warm up trip is open to anyone who wants to start early to mid afternoon (be flexible!) on Saturday and meet at this point downstream from the normal put-in (you’ll have to look for us!)… confusing and unofficial , but it will be fun! … AND, this later start, will give you plenty of time to drive in that morning from Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Birmingham or Atlanta.
The Extravaganza (Sat & Sun)….
As “Hot Rolls” is ending, a continuation of paddling the river will start the next part of this “Hiwassee Extravaganza.” At the picnic tables just upstream of the Big Bend parking lot, all Saturday “Warm-upTrip” paddlers will be joined by our Hot Rolls graduates to continue paddling to the normal take-out. Other “Hot Rollers” will take out at our last work-out spot. (those same picnic tables just upstream of Big Bend). This Saturday warm up trip is open to anyone who wants to start early to mid-afternoon (be flexible!) on Saturday and meet at this point downstream from the normal put-in. You’ll have to look for us! Confusing, maybe . . . but it will be fun! This later start will give you time to drive in Saturday morning from Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Birmingham or Atlanta.
Part Two of the Hiwassee Extravaganza weekend begins Sunday July 19 at 10:00am (Eastern) time at the same main river take-out , at Hiwassee Outfitter below the railroad bridge. Your official Sunday trip leaders are Trent Ganstine at tganstine@comcast.net (c) 615-598-4190 and Barnett Williams at BarnettW3@aol.com or 615-516-0346. Call if you’re planning to join us or have any questions. Many folks will camp at Gee Creek campground on Saturday night. You can Google for directions, if needed and make your own transportation and camping arrangements.
Please go to the Schools section to register for the “Hot Rolls” school online or to download the mail-in form. You can also contact Shirley at ops@paddletsra.org or Barnett at BarnettW3@aol.com with any questions you might have regarding sign-ups.
* Membership is required for this event. To join TSRA, please go to the “Get Involved” section and download a membership application
Basic River Rescue Class
August 15-16, 2009
Lead Instructor: Trent Ganstine - 615-598-4190 or email tganstine@comcast.net
Upside down, disoriented, and looking for an oxygen rich environment—we have all been there! If you haven’t been there yet, or haven’t been there recently, it’s coming. There is an old saying in paddling: “We are all between swims.”
Aside from a solid roll, nothing builds as much confidence as being calm and feeling in control when swimming. If you want to build your confidence, be an asset to your paddling group, or remain calm during those OBE’s (“out of boat experiences”), then this is the class for you. This event is informative, empowering and FUN. It will fill up quickly, so register as soon as possible. This is not the Swift Water Rescue Class. It could be a great warm-up for someone wishing to attend SWR. It would also be great for folks wanting to brush up on what they learned at SWR.
Who should attend?
Anyone who hasn’t recently attended a rescue clinic. Anyone who is fearful of swimming. Anyone who has good boating skills, but isn’t comfortable helping rescue swimmers or recover gear. Anyone who doesn’t own a throw rope. Anyone who owns a throw rope but doesn’t know how to use it. Anyone who is concerned with safety for themselves and their paddling group. Everyone can benefit from this class.
Deadline for registration is August 1, 2009. Register now by going to the Schools page.
TSRA has an on-going video/audio history project featuring interviews and conversations with some of the founding members. Here is a short Quicktime movie, (2MB) "The Genesis of TSRA with Bob Miller"
A group of TSRA paddlers running Wooten's Folly rapid in Clear Creek canyon on the Cumberland Plateau.
©David Pelren
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