University of Paddling

[A Savage spanke]

Alright guys, if you had to pick a college or university in the United States that was best for whitewater, what school would you pick?

[jjones03]

University of North Carolina at Asheville

[FarPastGone]

Oregon State University or Virginia Tech, both of which I had the intentions of applying to, but decided against because I realized applying to a school based on its "proximity to whitewater" and season length was not the only thing I needed to be worried about.

Although there are a ton of great schools on the East Coast for paddling I would definitely pick one in the SEC, so if the fall seasons were as dry as this year then at least the football would be good...or maybe just Appalachian St. because all they do is win.

[smcurtis]

Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado treated me right. My two PE courses, for credit, where Rock Climbing and Kayaking. The kayaking course was paddle strokes and learning to roll in the pool, but the Animas River runs right through town and there is a some pretty nice park and play spots in town. Plus, skiing in the winter.

[William82]

Clemson, Furman, UT Chattanooga, Sewanee, Maryville College (my alma mater) Western Carolina, Appalachian State...

[William82]

oh what about West Virginia, Skiing and whitewater everywhere.

[Eric Esche]

Georgia Tech has it's ORGT - Outdoor Recreation at Georgia Tech program. It was originally modeled after an Outward Bound type program, but when Outward Bound objected to Tech's calling it's program OBGT, they went off in their own direction which was even better. They have a lot of gear for many outdoor sports including kayaking, canoeing, and rafting using gear paid for by the students through their student activity fees (think of them as student taxes that you actually can get something out of.) you have to take classes to qualify to use the equipment, you take more classes to learn how to qualify to be a trip leader, instructor, or exploration leader, and like TEFKACS, it is a very well run program. Georgia Tech boaters have a very good reputation in the Southeastern US, and you would be surprised at how many other places that folks have heard of ORGT. ORGT credentials also do not hurt if applying for a job as a raft guide on most rivers.

BUT school is not all about paddleing. While I liked going to school at Georgia Tech, I did not like living in Atlanta. AND then Life will not always be school. I got out of Atlanta every chance I got while in school and headed up to the Chattooga. THAT I liked. And for many years it was my briar patch while I finished one degree, and then another. Took a job up there immediately out of school and said on my resume that I wanted to be within 125 miles of Clayton Georgia, as that is how far I had been commuting to the Chattooga on the weekends and I knew I could survive that. Took a job 7 miles away in Rabun Gap. They HAD been having trouble getting someone to take an engineering job or chemistry position that far out in the boondocks. Theywere greatly surprised when they interviewed 3 of us who said we really wanted to live there.They hired 3 of us from Georgia Tech's ORGT program when they got the chance.

I know they've been having a drought over there, but the Chattooga can be paddled at amazingly low levels, and still be enjoyed and fun had running it at any level.

Eric

[Fish]

Anything in Washington State or Oregon. Only true year-round paddling in the U.S.

- Fish

[Zach]

Upstate New York also seems to have close to year round paddling making University of Rochester, University of Syracuse, Cornell, etc. all possible choices. Though a few months in the winter would be pretty stupid cold.


Depends a lot on the programs also. UNC Asheville for example doesn't have much of a graduate school. Most of the phd programs are in Chapel Hill.

[ARzach]

Upstate New York also seems to have close to year round paddling

As someone who paddled in Upstate NY for 3 consecutive winters....I would definitely not want to try and paddle year round up there......It is f-ing cold....if you do decide that's what you are gonna do you should definitely figure the price of a drysuit and some really good insulation into your cost of attendance....Go to WA....

--Zach

[A Savage spanke]

University of Montana Missoula? Asheville crossed my mind, but i think its pricey

[okieboater]

anything in Knoxville, Chattanooga or Asheville.

Knoxville would put you within easy driving range of SE and West VA hot spots.

[Trismegistus]

University of Washington!! Sits right on Lake Washington in Seattle -- can even paddle to class. There is a waterfront activities center and assortment of canoe trails on campus. Lake, ocean, and river paddling are all within 20-30 minutes of campus. And if you want to start up some new friendships there are a number of whitewater, kayak polo, outrigging, rowing, slalom and crew teams and clubs on campus.

[ARzach]

University of Montana Missoula? Asheville crossed my mind, but i think its pricey

I doubt Montana has year round paddling but it definitely ain't too far from a lot of paddling most of the year...I could check with a couple of buddies of mine who go there and see what their thoughts are.

Asheville would be a great choice....It's worth the pricey-ness to have the Green as your "hometown" run....

[Zach]

University of Washington!!

Yep, plus Seattle is awesome.
If I can get in I'm going to go next fall.