Little more than 40 years ago now, but first river rafting and canoe trips were on the Nantahala. Then the afternoon of the second day my cousin and myself got stupid and and made the entire run down to the outdoor center on inner tubes( yes blown up semi-truck inner tubes) and at 57 I would still do it although now a vest and helmet is a must.
I love surfing big chaotic ocean waves in the smaller 300x version! It drains faster due to the 16 large autobailers servicing a smaller cockpit. Very helpful to improvise knee or foot braces; I can be buried by a huge overhead wave yet experience a nice elevator ride back to surface. Use a big fin and seek explosive crumbling waves because it isn't fast enough for the classic blue curls. You can face oncoming waves, spin on a dime to catch a chosen one, dip paddle only a couple times, and be shot forward like a spit watermelon seed for a long ways by the fist of whitewater.
SO COOL! I learned to canoe and kayak on the Nantahala (River of the Noon Day Sun) around 40 years ago. You didn't mention how cold that water is. Thank you for that trip down memory lane. I hope you did a video on the Ocoee as well. Sadly, I wasn't able to insert the picture of side-surfing Lesser Wesser. It's probably time for me to look into a Sea Eagle, too.
That section was one of my first paddle trips after taking my first whitewater class, That's when fiberglass whitewater kayaks were the thing. I don't miss patching those boats three times a year, but it was fun making them all from the same mold.
Thank you for this! Love the NOC! My daughter and I are doing a duckie trip in a couple weeks on the Nantahala so this hit at the perfect time. While we've done a lot of rafting on many of the rivers up there, we are only recreational flatwater (springs/coastal here in Florida) kayakers/paddleboarders, and I figured the Nantahala would be a good place to stick our toes into the whitewater kayaking world. Went with guided for this first foray into it. I've watched a lot of your videos trying to teach myself to be a better kayaker (I'm much better on my paddleboard!), thank you so much for all the great content. Also am a River Kings fan, so have enjoyed your joint videos as well!
That's awesome! You're going to have such a good time there. I think you're wise to get a guide for the first run too. You don't NEED one... but it will be really nice to have one! Can't wait to hear how it goes!
like seeing the Sea Eagle 380x surfing -- haven't gotten to that tandem with the 420X. Just one nitpick -- in designing a wilderness river, the first requirement would be wilderness, and unfortunately like so many rivers, having a road alongside just doesn't make the cut.
Good point. :) That being said, it's amazing how little you notice the road and vehicles while you're on the river. The sound of the whitewater, and the fact that the road is well above eye level make it easy to forget.
@@PaddleTV yeah ... roads are what we have, like it or not, on most of our rivers outside Alaska. It's tragic, but I agree the rivers are still magical.
What paddle is that you're using? I grew up paddling canoes. Now looking to get a little whitewater in with my wife. I'm been looking at this boat but don't know what paddle to get
Oh yeah! surfing the Sea Eagle!!
Sweet video , just in time too. Ive been looking at the Sea eagle 420x .. Nantahala was where i started my whitewater adventures , a must visit
Little more than 40 years ago now, but first river rafting and canoe trips were on the Nantahala. Then the afternoon of the second day my cousin and myself got stupid and and made the entire run down to the outdoor center on inner tubes( yes blown up semi-truck inner tubes) and at 57 I would still do it although now a vest and helmet is a must.
I love surfing big chaotic ocean waves in the smaller 300x version! It drains faster due to the 16 large autobailers servicing a smaller cockpit. Very helpful to improvise knee or foot braces; I can be buried by a huge overhead wave yet experience a nice elevator ride back to surface. Use a big fin and seek explosive crumbling waves because it isn't fast enough for the classic blue curls. You can face oncoming waves, spin on a dime to catch a chosen one, dip paddle only a couple times, and be shot forward like a spit watermelon seed for a long ways by the fist of whitewater.
Nice! Surfing rocks!
SO COOL! I learned to canoe and kayak on the Nantahala (River of the Noon Day Sun) around 40 years ago. You didn't mention how cold that water is. Thank you for that trip down memory lane. I hope you did a video on the Ocoee as well. Sadly, I wasn't able to insert the picture of side-surfing Lesser Wesser. It's probably time for me to look into a Sea Eagle, too.
The water is definitely... refreshing! Would be amazing on a hot summer day!
I love my 380x and goes great in my hatchback to anywhere
That section was one of my first paddle trips after taking my first whitewater class, That's when fiberglass whitewater kayaks were the thing. I don't miss patching those boats three times a year, but it was fun making them all from the same mold.
Very cool!
Impressed by that backwards drone shot, well done
Looks like I chose a right ducky for myself! Thanks, waiting for detailed review.
Thank you for this! Love the NOC! My daughter and I are doing a duckie trip in a couple weeks on the Nantahala so this hit at the perfect time. While we've done a lot of rafting on many of the rivers up there, we are only recreational flatwater (springs/coastal here in Florida) kayakers/paddleboarders, and I figured the Nantahala would be a good place to stick our toes into the whitewater kayaking world. Went with guided for this first foray into it. I've watched a lot of your videos trying to teach myself to be a better kayaker (I'm much better on my paddleboard!), thank you so much for all the great content. Also am a River Kings fan, so have enjoyed your joint videos as well!
That's awesome! You're going to have such a good time there. I think you're wise to get a guide for the first run too. You don't NEED one... but it will be really nice to have one! Can't wait to hear how it goes!
NOC is definitely on the bucket list. Arguably the “Mecca” of whitewater in the U.S.
Love your videos, great job thank you for your hard work.
Thanks for watching and enjoying them! :)
Looks like fun!
Next run will be with Challenger K1... as far as it endures... 😅
like seeing the Sea Eagle 380x surfing -- haven't gotten to that tandem with the 420X. Just one nitpick -- in designing a wilderness river, the first requirement would be wilderness, and unfortunately like so many rivers, having a road alongside just doesn't make the cut.
Good point. :) That being said, it's amazing how little you notice the road and vehicles while you're on the river. The sound of the whitewater, and the fact that the road is well above eye level make it easy to forget.
@@PaddleTV yeah ... roads are what we have, like it or not, on most of our rivers outside Alaska. It's tragic, but I agree the rivers are still magical.
What paddle is that you're using? I grew up paddling canoes. Now looking to get a little whitewater in with my wife. I'm been looking at this boat but don't know what paddle to get
The Aqua Bound Manta Ray. Here's a link: in4adventure.com/sorx
Do those kayaks have to behand pumped or do they have the powered pumps
They come with hand pumps, but you can buy power pumps for them too, which I recommend if you're going to be using them a lot.
How long is your sea eagle?
Super
I like see review on sea eagles 385 Fast Track
It's in the works! Stay tuned.
@@PaddleTV Fantastic!
👋😎👍
That is one inflatable raft I may look into. Depends on price.
Stay tuned for the gear review!
There is no such thing as a kayak designed for flat water AND whitewater.
Pretty cool. 👍🙂🛶
Thanks 👍