2011... where would you like to see Riverboarding go this year?

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Permalink Reply by J. Young on January 4, 2011 at 4:51pm

Good personal goals! I'd also like to run the North Chick with Rob, plus the Lower Gauley at obscenely high spring levels. I also want to do the Upper Meadow and, assuming conditions are right for it sometime in the summer or fall, I'd also like to try to swim the entire Gauley. I need to be in better shape for that, though, and I need the river to be higher than normal fall-release levels.

For the sport, I don't have a single goal. I don't necessarily agree that it's difficult to get into, because I don't really feel it's a good fit for somebody who doesn't already read water. For somebody sliding into it sideways from another discipline, I think it's already pretty easy. Of course, that begs the question: then why isn't it growing like we all think it can? I have no answer for that.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Larkham on January 5, 2011 at 5:30pm

I want to see more people in the Northeast doing it.

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Smith on January 6, 2011 at 9:33pm

Nice job on the personal and sport goals Barry. 

 

Personally, I've added some runs for my 2011 season.

North Chick, when we get a crew together.

Upper Gauley,  Ran the Lower in '10 and want to work to get in better shape so I can run the Upper this year.

Cheoah,  just couldn't make it happen in '10.  So it is a must for me in '11.

 

As for the sport, I feel that positive exposure is the key to growth.  When introducing newcomers to the sport keep them within their comfort and ability level(yeah, preaching to the choir, but a point that should be made and always followed).  Be safe, be an ambassador for the sport and growth will follow. 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Waterboarder1 on January 10, 2011 at 12:31am

Riverboarding goals for 2011, Barry? 

That's an easy one:

Keep growing the sport.  Expose newcomers to riverboarding and whitewater. Show them pictures and videos.  Stop, take the time and explain the sport to the uninitiated.

Take as many (willing) newbies as possible to a riverbank and some moving but flat water and teach them the basics of maneuvering, reading water, safety, equipment.  THEN, aware of their comfort level, take them down some faster water.  DO NOT assume they are getting it, until they show you they are.  Do not underestimate their apprehension.  Remember that when it comes to rushing water, EVERYONE"S mother told them to "Stay away from the edge".  Only some can completely ignore her....

Realize that it will never be the new snowboarding, but Riverboarding can grow into a more mainstream sport, and our days as outliers are numbered.

Keep pushing the envelope, personally and collectively, but don't be reckless.    

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Alicia Anne on January 12, 2011 at 6:16pm

Let's see 2011 goals:

• Intro more people to the sport. (I could possibly make a decent intro video on my home river, and grab a few newbies for it) I'm thinking about starting a guide service here.
• I'd like to make my 6 year old son a hydrospeed so I can start taking him downstream ;) I take him rafting, but he'd rather swim anyway, so why fight it? ha
• I'd like to run the Upper G this year. Each past year it just seems like something comes up. Usually it's because I bring non riverboarding friends that want to raft, or do something else instead.
• I'd like to have another expedition type trip planned for 2012, to somewhere, anywhere. haha 

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Permalink Reply by Huw Miles on January 20, 2011 at 5:45pm

Good discussion topic!

 

For the sport I'd like to see it grow in the UK. There's now a hydrospeeding operation in cardiff on an artificial course which is cool and I'm hoping they'll be some riverboarding at the new white water centre being built for the london 2012 olympics but I'd like to see them embrace the guiding standards that we in New Zealand worked so damn hard to put together. I'd still really like to see some more cross pollination of ideas internationally.

 

Personally I'd like to bomb a couple of rivers in Nepal this year, as some of you know.  I'd like to to start offering international riverboarding expeditions commercially, quit conventional life and travel around in search of the perfect river... but wouldn't we all!

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Yount on January 26, 2011 at 10:12pm

My goals, some which are within 2011, some beyond. 

 

Better my personal best waterfall height.

Riverboard in 6 digit flows (100,000 cfs or higher). 

First descents of the Maryland channel of the Great Falls of the Potomac and the lower section of the West Prong of the Little Pigeon river. 

Pull the Madison County Hat Trick (NC) by running Spring Creek, Big Laurel Creek, and Brush Creek in a single day.  So far I've only run Big Laurel.  Spring creek will be an easy, but breath-taking beautiful run, and Brush Creek will be some steep, burly, micro creeking. 

 

All of those goals will be dependent on water levels and schedule working out to allow me to get there if the levels are right.

 

Some other goals.  Acquire insurance and permits for the Chattahoochee river in southern Georgia to be ready to be open for business in 2012.  It will be so great to have a location where permits are available and having the freedom to operate above the radar.

 

Continue fighting against the communist, protectionist policies of some state and county regulatory agencies that have moratoriums on issuing new commercial whitewater permits.  The caps on permits are there under of the guise of protecting rivers from overcrowding, but they were really just put into place by the raft companies who got to the party first over 30 years ago.  I see these as unfair barriers to business entry.  I do understand the need to have user limits to prevent overcrowding, but I think that there shouldn't be any limits on the number of companies allowed to compete for those users.  You don't see any restrictions on the number of restaurants in a town, do you?  Let new companies with high standards and good marketing come in and let the companies with shoddy guides and that don't know how to market and put butts in rafts fail.  Stop propping up weak companies by sheltering them from new competition.  Those hypocrites have no right to bust people for operating without a permit when the permit process is closed. 

I plan to fight these unfair regulations judicially, politically, and most importantly, using the media like a mother *#$%ing battle ax against this bull.  These fights will not be won in a year, but I am going to keep chopping at the giants' knees until they buckle.  Unholy Trinity of the Ocoee (TVA, Forest Service-Chattanooga, and TDEC), Cocke county (TN), and West Virginia DNR, they are all in the cross hairs until they stop limiting the rights of American citizens to operate a legal and legitimate business.  They may have stonewalled individual complaints before, but I guarantee they have never been hit on all fronts simultaneously.  Appalachian Riverboarding is going to fight for what's rightfully ours (the right to have a permit).  (steps off of soap box) 

 

Get the Tallulah Gorge open to riverboarding, or poach it if they refuse to budge.  It's high time they quit limiting my ability to make good judgments for myself on the river.   Over a year ago, we presented evidence to prove that it could be safely run, and all we're asking is for the chance to actually go out there with a small team of experts and show them that the Gorge can safely be run and enjoyed on a riverboard. 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by J. Young on January 28, 2011 at 7:12pm

Kev, I like your six-digits goal. Could happen on the New, man. It did at the end of last winter. The water would be damn cold, but hey, we'd only be on it for like 15 minutes anyway. LOL

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Permalink Reply by Tyler Mayhew on January 31, 2011 at 1:03am

Two personal goals:

 

1.  The main thing I would like to get the ball rolling on this year is organizing some people that would be interested in going to Chile to riverboard the Futaleufu and the surrounding rivers in Patagonia.  I've wanted to run the Futaleufu for years now, and now that I have a real job and a paycheck I would like to make that trip a reality.

 

2.  I would like to get one of those really badass looking foam hydrospeeds that I see in these videos of Euro/NZ sledgers.  I see pictures and videos of some truly superb looking hydrospeeds that I think are handmade, but I don't have the technical skill, materials, or artistic ability to make one myself.  Maybe someone on here can turn me on to someone who makes a quality foam hydrospeed that looks good.

 

The only thing I would like to see for "the sport" on a broader level is for some of the anti-riverboarding restrictions be removed from rivers like the Tallulah and Grand Canyon.

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Permalink Reply by Alex Koutzoukis on January 31, 2011 at 6:15pm

Personal Goals:

More stand up surfing on rivers

More class V

More creeking (South Silver in NorCAL, and the 7 Teacups on the Kern)

 

Goals for the Sport:

 

I think we all have similar goals, to see it grow.  I'm going to try and keep doing my part by taking as many newbies as I can out whenever I riverboard on the south Fork (American) or Kern.  I'd also like to see people pushing the limits more whether it be dropping a big waterfall or freestyle surfing river waves.

 

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Permalink Reply by Scottie Janczyk on February 6, 2011 at 9:24pm

Goals for the Sport (all similar to prrevious ones):

 

1. Get new people in the sport

2. Ensure the competition circuit goes strong for boardercross and free style surfing

3. Yearly expeditions to cool places

4. More improtou meets up on rivers

 

Personal Goals

1. Run as many rivers as close to the Midwest as possible

2. Try overnight trip on riverboard without raft support

3. Make it to the Upper Gauley

4. South Silver or Fordyce

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Permalink Reply by Rob Robinson on February 11, 2011 at 12:27pm

"Let The Tribe Increase": I'd like to see riverboarding to go mainstream in U.S. -- so we're not like the Lone Rangers out there on the rivers (and creeks.) This is an insanely fun sport ... I'm surprised it has not taken off here in America like it has in Europe where it comprises one third of the whitewater market. More riverboarders translates to more partners to do stuff with. I'm not in to trying to run stuff solo.

 

I also hope we begin to see commercially available foam cockpit boats here in the U.S. sometime soon.

 

Adventure goals for this year include a (and what would be the first) riverboard descent of North Chickamauga Creek here in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Kayakers call it "the whitewater crown jewel of the Southeast." The link above is a work in progress ... check back for additional content in the coming weeks/months as May rains approach. Several veteran kayakers who have made this run many times will be accompanying me and whomever else wants to go. Could that be you?;)  Be forewarned though ... Ben Friberg of www.SteepCreeks.com told me to "start early, have a strong crew and be prepared for an epic day." This guy is one of the most badass whitewater dudes in the South ... you got to listen to him.

 

Like to do the Upper G, but, its lots of big  and pushy water down through a sea of undercuts and sieves. I know the lines are wide and I'd love to run it but I think I want another season or two under my belt before I'll give it serious consideration.

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