Thompson River

by chad | May 10, 2019 | Creeking, Video, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

The Thompson River is an amazing and spectacular run located in both North Carolina and South Carolina. My friend Erik Amason and I had the privilege of taking the spectacular trip down the granite slides and amazing scenery that make up the run. Enjoy the...

Best hikes while kayaking the Grand Canyon

by chad | Apr 6, 2019 | Exploration Feature, Whitewater

One of the first things that you notice as you push off from Lee’s Ferry is the sheer walls that rise up on either side of the Colorado River. You feel like you are being granted a gift by navigating through this deep canyon, and it’s really too much to be...

Why Kayak in Mexico?

by chad | Feb 18, 2019 | Creeking, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

I made it down to Veracruz again this year for warm weather, tacos, tequila, and kayaking. It’s so amazing to take a break from freezing temperatures and head south to spend some time padding the amazing rivers that Mexico has to offer. So why don’t more...

Raising little kayakers….

by chad | Jul 21, 2018 | Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, Whitewater

So this might be counterintuitive, but I firmly believe that how you start getting your kids into kayaking, is by not kayaking. How many adults out there were pushed into doing something as a child that they grew up to resent? I know for me personally, I was supposed...

TVCC Paddle School 2018

by chad | Jun 26, 2018 | Family Zone, Instructional, Uncategorized, Video, Whitewater, Whitewater Instruction

It’s that time of year again, paddle clubs are having their annual paddle schools all across the country. While some paddlers scoff at these events I like to see them as they truly are, a time for encouragement and instruction. This is when new paddlers get that...

Dealing with loss

by chad | May 11, 2018 | Whitewater

I’ve been debating whether to say anything publicly or not about recent events because of the sensitivity of the subject matter. As these types of situations go, human nature is to blame something or someone and go on a rampage to bring that thing or that person...

2nd Annual Tallulah Race

by chad | Nov 18, 2017 | Creeking, Event Coverage, Events, rivers, Video, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW Disciplines

Oh the Tallulah Gorge, this is one of the most amazing places in the Southeastern United States to kayak in the fall. If you haven’t had the chance to paddle here you are missing out, every November there are scheduled releases both Saturday and Sunday with...

The Adventure Parent

by chad | Sep 23, 2017 | Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, rivers, Whitewater

The Constant Struggle of the Adventure Parent. There seems to be this notion in the whitewater community that when you settle down and start a family, all exciting life and travel ends. It is true that I feel like there are two people inside me constantly battling for...

The elusive first descent

by chad | May 10, 2017 | 2015 Zen, Creeking, rivers, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

Oh the elusive “first descent”. If you have been kayaking for any length of time I am sure you have heard the term. Living in the Appalachian Mountains of TN, waterfalls and creeks that have not been run are very hard to find in this day and age. Most of...

Event Recap

by chad | Feb 4, 2017 | Creeking, Event Coverage, Events, rivers, Video, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW Disciplines

Grassroots race on the Cumberland Plateau. Make sure to plan to attend next year, and huge thanks to Jackson Kayak for being a major...

Rivière Rouge

by chad | Jan 15, 2017 | Creeking, rivers, Trip Reports, Trips, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

Do you love waterfalls that are low stress? Do you love the feeling of falling through the air? If you enjoy the weightlessness of falling and low stress drops, I have the perfect destination river for you! The Rouge, or Rivière Rouge in French, is located just...