cali c-paddlers

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:07 am

are there any left?
i always use to see at least a couple open boaters on the south fork american. not any more. no c-boaters. period. now i get asked regularly; why are you paddling with one paddle? then comes; what is a c-1?? this from "kayakers" on a class 3 river. i know they're newbies, but come on! it's o.k. if they don't want to paddle a c-boat, but they should at least know what one is by the time they run whitewater.
there are "whitewater kayakers" out here who have never seen a c-boater!!

a couple of weeks ago, we did see a coolguy running chili bar in a 17' aluminum canoe. complete with dangling cigarette. so cool.

Tiggy · Post by **Tiggy** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:22 am

Tell them you graduated from the "training" paddle

Bruce Farrenkopf · Post by **Bruce Farrenkopf** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:11 am

Larry,
I get that all the time.....too many kayakers out here have not seen a C1er

.
Maybe there are a dozen C1ers who can paddle Class 3 out here. I haven't actually counted - it's just a good guess.
Bruce

johnd · Post by **johnd** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:17 pm

I used to run the SFA pretty regularly but I've been busy lately taking classes so I can make more money and support my boater-trash lifestyle. Often I would be the only canoeist on the river.
People don't really like the canoe in California. I often get people encouraging me to walk Class 3 rapids. The first river trip here, I asked some strangers if I could join them. When I came back with my canoe paddle, one of the kayakers said "That wasn't mentioned," in a pissed-off tone of voice. At the end of trip, he said "I don't want to see you in that boat next time."

I probably should mention that most of the kayakers are OK here and glad to have you on trips once they get to know you.

NSOC1 · Post by **NSOC1** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 10:38 pm

The other day I had a kayaker (a novice, but still,) say "I didn't know you could paddle whitewater in a canoe!

chuck naill · Post by **chuck naill** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 11:29 pm

Great post!!!! Now here is the empirical explaination that you will need in order to understand what is going on.

Initally in the Eastern Tennessee area boaters were open boaters who learned their skills from trial and error.These were the first generation open boaters, (FGOB) Their children grew up knowing all about open boats, c-1, k-1, and other forms of going down stream.These are the second generation skilled and adaptive offspring, (SGAO)

These paddlers are so good it hurts. THey carry throw ropes and will actually help a stranded paddler.

There is another group. These are the first generation high schoolers (FGHS). These paddlers learned their skills from the SGAO's. They also read Boater Talk and watch videos to learn the language and gather other information so that when they are discussing the Ocoee that can appear to have played in hades Hole whether or not they have actually been there.

THe filter is working so that the actual name of the rapid is changed.

Now we all know stories about folks down through the years who started paddling kayaks and went from class 2 to class 5 over the Summer. They try Russel Fork at flood stage, take a nasty, near death swim and then sell there boats on Monday. That is happening with the FGHS's even as I write.

I would not be discourage that nobody knows what a c-1 is. There is nothing better than to be a FGOB running a clean line down the Ocoee and hear a SGAO tell a FGHS setting in an eddy that that is a c-1. That guy paddling it is a c boater. That's the hardest thing to paddle on the river.

There are other comments at the take out. Hey old man, what's taking you so long to get out of that boat. Man, if it hurts that bad why don't you try a kayak? At this point you would say, "It would just take too long to explain, besides I am a dog gone c boater and this is the hardest thing on the dad blame river to paddle and I thrive on that stuff, pain or not. "

Warm Fuzzy's to all,

Chuck Naill/ President Emertis East Tennessee FGOB

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 1:04 am

Hey Chuck, Great post! I also like to ask 'em "doesn't it hurt to sit like that?" or "doesn't that spare blade get in the way?"

Eastern NC FGOB'er

CosmikDebris · Post by **CosmikDebris** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 1:12 am

I met Norwood Scott at the Gauley Race, he lives out there somewhere. Talked about paddling Cherry Creek and some similar stuff like that. Not sure where he lives.
will

P.S. I am going to try to come out this summer and hit some good runs, and if anyone tell's me I can't paddle something because I have a canoe paddle, I'll shove my T-Grip so far up their butt it'll come out there nose. That's just not right...

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 2:25 am

john, i see you have a finkensomethingorother (i can never get that name

). haven't seen you out there. we should go boating. the eel has some good cass II-III and IV runs for the winter. those lower elevation sierra runs are good winter runs too.

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 2:41 am

will,
i have met norwood but haven't boated with him. he's boating a notch above my level so i don't run into him much.

as for the t-grip up the butt.. i have never seen anything like john mentioned. usually the kayakers i meet are hoping for carnage(entertainment) so they are very welcoming.

be sure and let me know when you're coming out.

icyone · Post by **icyone** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 2:35 pm

C-boating started in the East and has always been primarily an East Coast thing --the State College Boy Scouts were converted from OC's by a European C-1, whereas Euros who went West, like Roger Paris in Colorado, were K-1ers. But, especially since since the advent of plastic ("plastic keeps turkeys fresh"), ky-yuks are so overwhelmingly the choice of newbies that even in the East many boaters hardly know what a C-1 is. A couple of years ago I was in a paddling shop and was asked what kind of boat I paddled. "I paddle C-1". This guy had never heard of a C-1, and was positive that I meant a sea-kayak.

However, it is hard to imagine even ky-yukers being so rude --unless this guy just couldn't stand being shown up. (LOL)

Incidentally women don't paddle C-1 in Europe. Back when the Euros started showing up on the Ocoee, it was a gas to, say, come flying into an eddy full of visiting Euros, give a quick nod & fly out while the jaws dropped. But the best tale came from NC -- seems a certain boater was recounting a day on the Gauley: "and we were sitting in the eddy below Sweet's and this C-1 dropped in -- and it was this OLD WOMAN!!"
They should have known....

(But now if you really want to draw stares, bad karma and insulting suggestions -- try showing up in a wildwater boat....)

johnd · Post by **johnd** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:20 am

Larry,

Thanks for the offer.

Maybe we need a summer California/Oregon armada, to take back the rivers!

Jan_dettmer · Post by **Jan_dettmer** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:33 pm

I'll be in Cali this next spring/early summer. I'd like to finally get on the MF Feather and maybe Mill Creek.

My friend Graz told me good things about the SF American, too if I remember it right.

Hope to run into some of you c boaters.
Cheers, Jan

NZMatt · Post by **NZMatt** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:34 am

Hi y'all
One of my best mates is based out of Truckee. We paddled for about 4 years together in upstate NY before he moved west. He's mainly a 'yaker but also paddles some OC. Plus, he put up with all my swimming and dumping when I was learning OC and is a totally cool guy. If anyone needs a contact up that way, drop me a PM and I can send you his info.
Cheers,
Matt

PS. I'm planning on trying to organise a c-boat armada on the Simme in Switzerland next June or July (can't remember the date right now)....anyone interested?

fez · Post by **fez** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:47 am

Arno and me definately want to come

Greetings Frank

C-Forum

cali c-paddlers

cali c-paddlers

Age Factor

It's an East Coast thing...

Truckee paddler

shure