NOC Classes

[Minna Ulmer]

Anyone ever take the group lessons at NOC? Specificly the 3 or 4 day beginner whitewater classes which include rolling.To me they look like great,intense training-but pricey. Minna

[Louiscov]

Hi, Minna.

NOC classes are fabulous.

Best outdoor $ I ever spent were a 2 days class on the Mulberry with Jim Simmons and a 4 day NOC class, both open canoe in 1990, and the ACC beginner kayak class in 2008 at Mulberry.

Since I know you and your interests and passion, I highly recommend them for river running and reading and playing. Don't know about rolling, but I'd expect it to be the same.

GREAT INVESTMENT!! Then follow up with ACC and BCOS in spring 2009. I'll guarantee ya it'll be a great, life changing, PRICELESS expenditure!!

GO FOR IT!

See ya on the water,


Louis C.

[Lupe]

I've taken a 4 or 5 day intermediate kayak class with NOC. Great experience with all your food and lodging taken care of. I lucked out and there was only 1 other student signed up, so we had a 1:2 instructor ratio. I don't think that happens often though.

I have also taken private instruction with ERA - Endless River Adventures. You get an instructor and it's just you and the instructor and all the focus is on you and what you want to learn and work on.

I thoroughly enjoyed both and I can recommend both, but for pure quality of instruction and maximizing your learning experience, ERA wins hands down. Give 'em a call and talk to them...or even if you decide to go with NOC, stop by their store (it's right there in the Gorge too) and talk to their great staff. http://www.endlessriveradventures.com

You can't go wrong either way...enjoy!

[Cowper]

...beginner whitewater classes which include rolling.

Here's my two cents on that issue. (This is very much my opinion, and there may be a line of highly qualified instructors who totally disagree.)

Learning to roll from pros is a big plus, if you have the time and money, 'cause any problem areas will be immediately corrected before you "learn" bad habits, BUT:

Learning to roll is a very individual thing. I've seen folks get a roll within 15 minutes of the start of their first lesson; I've seen others take several dozen 2 hour sessions before their roll progressed to the point of a combat roll that was there for them 50 to 75% of the time. For this reason, I usually don't like to mix roll lessons with river training. Roll practice, yes, roll lessons, no. If you turn out to be one of the "slow" learners, it is only going to take away from river time learning other skills, and leave you frustrated that others "got it" and maybe you didn't.

I think a better plan is to find someone local who can get you past the initial stages of learning a pool roll, then go on to the NOC or ACC classes with that already under your belt so that you can focus more on learning the host of other river skills that can be taught only on moving water.

[freakinadamant]

Hey, ya might try Green River Adventures if you're lookin around. I took an intro to creeking class with them last September and had a real good experience. They also had great teacher/student ratios (1:1), and were a lot easier for me to afford than NOC, who I also originally had my sights on.

They took me down the upper Green. It's a narrow dam fed stream, (dam fed off the top of the lake so it's very warm) that has a real nice creeky feel down in the bottom of the Green river gorge. They're located in Saluda, NC just south of Hendrsonville.

Like $500 got me two days - 1 on 1 - but the more students the cheaper it gets. They also had brand new gear (boat and everything) included. http://www.greenriveradventures.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Adam

[RomanLA]

NOC has private instruction now too. They normally teach their rolling on Lake Fontana and then you go to the river. That's also a drawback to taking their regular classes. If you have weak students, you may end up spending a lot more time on the lake. I may go next year and do one of the Saturday back-to-back skill workshops during the Summer. You do a rolling tune-up in the morning and then run the Nanty in the afternoon.
http://www.noc.com/index.php/skills-workshops.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.noc.com/index.php/private-and-custom.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Minna Ulmer]

Thank you all for such helpful info! Feel free to add more if you think of any thing else. Everything I learn enables me to enjoy this sport more and more. I may just treat myself to some classes and training in this "off" season we are in right now. :) Minna

[knu2xs]

I would have to support Cowper on this one, as much as it truly pains me. Rolling is not a skill requiring moving water to practice, but a skill greatly facilitating learning of other skills where moving water is a requirement.

Therefore, no matter what your decision in instruction, your time spent with a professional will be much better spent and more rewarding since it can be focused on other skills. Trying to learn the nuances of a dicey ferry is largely unproductive if you are nervous about catching an edge and swimming on an eddyline because you are not confident in your roll. The same wobbly feeling is nowhere near as frightening when the only consequence is simply rolling up and trying it again.

[kayakcono]

And if you do go down to NOC (at the Nantahala) ask for Instructor John Holdmeier (lil Holdmeier). He's a Missouri lad, and a Saint Francis regular since like age 11. He is an excellent instructor, but don't tell him I said so !! Freddie

also, what up Joel.... long time no see. A large group of old timerz will be at River Ratz this weekend, hooking up at the middle put in bout 10am Saturday morning to run the upper. So, if you're in the area, come by.
The Saint got hammered a bit tonight, so we are expecting it up tomorrow, 7/31 the slackerz are assembling.