What got you riverboarding?

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Permalink Reply by Rochelle Parry on August 6, 2009 at 6:04pm

Bodyboarding most of my life to the point of burn-out. In 2004 I moved far from the surf (3.5 hour drive) where I could snowboard a lot, and had a bodyboard, wetsuit (thick for the colder Washington water), and fins. When I lived in Jackson Hole in '97 I saw people surfing on the Snake river but never tried it. I researched standing waves, came across Skookumchuck, which I've yet to try, and a demo at the Wenatchee Whitewater festival put on by some dude who went by "Ice". Who was driving a Hummer. With spinners. Didn't really get into it til three years later; wish I'd done it sooner.

So much more demanding than bodyboarding, I've had to up my conditioning. Riverboarding has been nothing short of motivating to get in the best shape I've ever been in, both physically and emotionally. Part of that motivation came from traveling w/ the inspiring athletes of Face Level. It's upped my bar for the kind of people I want to spend time with, the kind of people I, unfortunately, rarely met through surfing & snowboarding - a community largely associated with drugs and alcohol, something I've never been able to relate to, and causes all kinds of problems on outings. 2009 has truly been a huge year of personal transformation.

Favorite runs: Pacuare, Brush Creek, Nooksak, Juicer. I *really* want to hit the Lochsa in Idaho next year after seeing videos. Memorial day trip? :)

Eddy Flower: Are there enough girls for a team who would get out there?

Permalink Reply by Alicia Anne on August 7, 2009 at 2:43pm

Thanks for getting the ball rollllling Rochelle! I'm hoping to have the numbers for an all girl EFVC team next year, working harder towards enough fem boarders for our own race category! So ladies, we have a mission! Spread the word, get friends on the water (safely of course) and let's do this!

Permalink Reply by Romina on August 10, 2009 at 5:04am

Hi gals,

So I'll tell the story of my very limited experience with riverboarding. I say limited, but it got me excited enough to still be into it even though I live nowhere near any real whitewater.

At the beginning of summer last year I was on a plane to New York state and I read an article about this crazy sport called riverboarding in one of the in-flight magazines. It sounded awesome. It was an article by a reporter who had taken a lesson with Shane Bolling of Ripboard in Golden, Colorado. I was coincidentally going to do an internship in Colorado that same summer and quickly wrote down the name of the company to see if I could check it out. As soon as I could find an internet connection, I got the info and set up a lesson. It was hard to find a friend that would try it with me but I got someone to go and we loved it! I did the same run on Clear Creek once more that summer, and that's about it. Ever since, I've been trying to go riverboarding again but other responsibilities and the complete lack of whitewater without alligators in my area (Florida) have made it a bit difficult. I don't have much gear or any real experience to take friends out on my own but I was FINALLY able to get a small group of friends together to try it in a few weeks on the Pigeon River in North Carolina with Kevin Yount. I'm very excited to introduce a few more friends to Riverboarding and actually getting in a river again.

I just graduated from vet school so a huge change in lifestyle is coming soon. I'm still in Florida and will move out of state soon but I don't know where I'm going to live. Since location is up in the air, I'm holding out on buying any gear just yet. I will get more into the sport soon, but I just have to find out where and how.

As for favorite runs...well, I don't really have any yet lol

And getting more women into the sport so we can get our own teams and categories...working on it, and that includes getting even myself out there on the river :)

Permalink Reply by Rochelle Parry on August 10, 2009 at 4:10pm

Consider Washington. With a dry suit, you can riverboard year-round :)

Permalink Reply by Alicia Anne on August 10, 2009 at 4:43pm

Your enthusiasm is great! The great thing about TeamFLI is that we're not all pros here. Beginners can come here for advice and not feel like "I'm not cool enough to be here". Welcome!

Have a blast on your trip with Kevin, you're in good hands.

I look forward to photos and stories! We love those around here ;)

I definitely recommend moving somewhere where there is at least a drivable distance to whitewater, especially if you enjoy the sport. The Carolina's are good, and the cost of living isn't outrageous, out west is better, but can be more expensive.

Congrats on vet school!

Permalink Reply by Romina on September 3, 2009 at 3:28am

Thanks for the suggestions! Unfortunately it's not up to me where I end up living :( but it'll help some day when I actually get to choose lol. But anyway, I FINALLY went riverboarding last week with Kevin and it was great to be back on a riverboard! I brought a few friends with me so they could try it out. Had a few mishaps along the way such as one of us losing Kevin's board (he got it back later which made me feel much better). But either way, they had a good time. Maybe I can get one of them to become a Woman of Whitewater too :) We'll see!

Permalink Reply by Alicia Anne on August 10, 2009 at 5:06pm

I suppose I should answer my own question. Now that I am sick in bed what better time! haha Pardon me if I don't make much sense, I'm all sorts of loopy.

My whitewater addiction began the summer of 2000. I started out as a rafter, became a raft guide and enjoyed summers on the water. I went through Swiftwater Rescue training in 2002, and highly recommend taking a Swiftwater course to anyone who goes near whitewater, no matter how big or small.

My friends and I used to swim the rapids, either with just our PFD's on, or using an extra PFD or boogieboard for added buoyancy, and we were also no strangers to blow up pool toys. I dabbled in kayaking, and taught roll clinics in college with RU Outdoors. Then in 2004, right after Bayden was born, my brother-in-law bought me my first REAL riverboard. I came downstairs to find a nice new shiny Ripboard (gauley model) laying in my living room. "Are you kidding me?!?" I cried. I was so excited.

That's really where the fun began ;)

Permalink Reply by Sofia Koutzoukis on September 11, 2009 at 3:46am

Truckee River 2000 or so

On our annual summer trip to Lake Tahoe CA we always went rafting on the class .5 or so Truckee River. My brother Alex always went down it on his boogie board so naturally I wanted to too, so despite my mom's pleading, I went down and got scared so I hung onto a rock for a while until a nice couple in a raft took pity for the poor 5 year old and picked me up...and got hooked on river boarding from then on!!!

Permalink Reply by Jess Oveson on November 1, 2009 at 7:20pm

So it's funny you said that, I had a westwater canyon trip planned with some friends and about a week before my dad was all like, "well I have a riverboard you can use it you want to." So I was all like, "BOOYAH!" and so I did.

Easily the one of funnest experience of my life and a great oppourtunity to really experience a stretch of river I've done so many times.

Permalink Reply by Stephanie W on July 24, 2012 at 10:03pm

Looks like I stumbled on this forum a few years too late - story of my life.  I riverboard with two other women mostly on the South Fork American in CA.  We try to hit other rivers as the opportunity presents.  We would love to meet/board with other women riverboarders (men too).