One can hardly pass a body of water in Western North Carolina big enough for a boat and not see paddlers thrashing about.

Whether it be the slick surface of some protected lake or raging Class V rapids, canoers or kayakers have discovered it. Have you ever driven by such a scene and thought, “That looks like fun. I wonder if I can do that?”

Well, thanks to an innovative new instructional program offered by the Nantahala Outdoor Center, the answer is “yes.” Beginning in 2002, NOC will offer a new instructional paddling package called Rapid Progression that guarantees success or you get your money back.

According to NOC Head of Instruction Wayne Dickert, the customer makes all the calls. Rapid Progression students will be given a list of specific skills required for whatever course they sign up for. It is up to the student to decide if the skills have been mastered. At the end of each lesson day, instructors will review the list with students to discuss goals and plan strategies to meet those goals.

Dickert says NOC’s goals are to “introduce new people to the sport of paddling and make it as easy as possible for them to acquire the skills needed to enjoy it.”

Paddling is a sport Dickert knows and loves. The 1996 Olympian has been at it for more than 20 years. He has qualified for 10 U.S. Canoe & Kayak national teams, served as executive director of the Nantahala Racing Club, Slalom Director for the U.S. Canoe & Kayak Team and published the “Slalom Athlete Progressions Manual” for U.S. Canoe & Kayak. Dickert served 12 years as lead kayak instructor at NOC before assuming Head of Instruction duties.

He returned to NOC from U.S. Canoe & Kayak because he had a lot of pride in NOC as a company and saw opportunities for growth. Rapid Progressions is one of those opportunities.

Rapid Progressions offers five different courses which last from two days to two weeks. The weekend course guarantees students will learn the skills they need to navigate Class I whitewater.

There are two four-day courses — the Relaxed Track and the Basic. The Relaxed Track teaches the same Class I skills as the two-day course, just at a more relaxed pace. The Basic course will teach students the skills they need in Class II whitewater.

The most intense course is the Fast Track. This six-day course will teach students the skills needed to run Class III rapids, like Nantahala Falls. The Fast Track is a concentrated, intense course designed for students with an aggressive attitude.

The Platinum Package offers the opportunity for students to utilize their newly acquired skills at one of two Costa Rican destinations. The course is composed of six days of whitewater instruction in the U.S., where students will learn to navigate Class III whitewater plus one day of playboating instruction and then a seven day paddling trek to Costa Rica. This package is limited to 10 students at a time.

The Rapid Progressions guarantee is simple, says Dickert,

“If you don’t successfully complete our course, you can return for another course for free. Or, if you get into the course and decide whitewater is just too scary, we will refund all your instructional fees.”

Instruction programs are all inclusive once you get to NOC. Fees are broken down into instruction, gear, lodging and meals so the apprehensive Rapid Progressions student will know exactly where she/he stands regarding NOC’s moneyback guarantee.

NOC has long been noted for the skill-level of its instructors. Dickert is one of the many world-class athletes who has trained and taught at NOC. It’s a tradition he encourages in his position as Head of Instruction.

Working with top-flight paddlers who are training and competing is a logistical nightmare, but one Dickert believes is integral to the integrity and success of NOC’s instructional programs.

“These people bring a level of skill and knowledge to NOC that can’t be acquired anywhere else,” Dickert said.

According to Dickert, NOC will be offering other new instructional programs in 2002. For those looking for a more relaxing time on the water there will be half-day guided flatwater kayak trips. “Think of them as guided hikes in a kayak,” Dickert said.

Also included will be an Alpine Tower Sampler for landlubbers. This will be an instructional rappelling and ropes course on the climbing wall at NOC.

To learn about Rapid Progressions or other NOC instructional programs call the Guest Relations Office at 800.232.7238 ext. 600 or visit the website at www.noc.com.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News