Learn the steps to a staple freestyle kayak move! This is Wayne Paulsens instructional on how to do a Blunt! A Blunt is a full 180 degree spin where your stern is above the angle of 45 degrees at some time suring the rotation. Also your rotation has to include an edge transition and must be done by your stern pivoting around your bow in from of the foam pile! Enjoy!!!
Coach Tino Specht
A short side trip from our adventures in North America took us to a helicopter pad just outside Niagara Falls where we were treated to one of the best experiences you could have in Niagara. The father of a previous student to NRA, Jessica Droujko, happens to be the owner of Niagara Helicopters. Jessica will also be attending for our Spring semester to Uganda and as a favor we all received the rides of our lives at Niagara Helicopters. Jessica’s family hooked us up with free helicopter rides, meals, and free passes to some of the attractions in downtown Niagara. The helicopter ride was an amazing experience, thank you Reudi Hafen, and Lena and Jessica Droujko!
The Canadian side of Niagara falls from the helicopter.
For more of Mackenzie’s photos Click Here
Driving from Ohiopyle to Fayettville we took a must needed stop at Valley Falls on the Tygart River. There were 3 clean waterfalls that were a good 10 to 15 foot boofs. These being my first real drops I was super stoked. The first drop that we did was a wide drop and could be hit anywhere but should really be hit off the roster tail. the next two drop were side by side but separated by a rock in the middle. On the river right of the rock was a little spout drop that was about three feet wide. On the left was a wider drop but had a nasty hole underneath. As we were hucking ourselves off the drops doing Hail Marys and free wheels we were getting more attention then the wedding going on behind us. Needless to say we are a lot more entertaining than the a wedding. The stop was great fun and it for sure got me stoked to go to Chile.
Hunt Jennings dropping the left lower. Photo by Errik Hill
Jason Terry doing the upper drop. Photo by Errik Hill
Jordan Poffenberger boofing the left drop. Photo by Errik Hill
Some guy doing the upper falls. Photo by Errik Hill
Mackenzie Hatcher about to do her boof stroke. Photo by Errik Hill
Published by Errik Hill
Click Here for more blogs by Errik Hill
Hey my name is Jacob Slobodian and this is my first year here at NRA. I am from Buckhorn Ontario, which is a small town three hours away from the Ottawa River. I am 16 years old and will be attending NRA for the full year. I took an intro to kayaking course two and a half years ago and ever since kayaking is all I can think about. These past two and a half years have consisted of doing everything I can to go to the river. Many people have helped me get to the point where I am today. I enjoy surfing big waves and learning new freestyle tricks, but the best feeling is looking back upstream after running a large drop. Outside of kayaking I like to wakeboard, snowboard, windsurf, mountain bike, or anything that involves the outdoors and water. I love to be outside and I feel that this school is perfect for me as I am currently sleeping in the crisp outside air of West Virginia.
Good bye for now
Jacob Slobodian
This previous week our school stayed at Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania. We were put up in very nice accommodations thanks to Laurel Highlands River Tours. They put us up in the Mackenzie guest house, which was a very comfortable house conveniently placed in the middle of downtown Ohiopyle. While there we were able to paddle the Upper Yough and the Loop, both of which were very exciting runs that challenged everybody in different ways. We owe a very big thank you to Laurel Highlands and Jamie Hatcher, Mackenzie Hatcher’s mom, who helped us through the week and even got us pizza. I had an amazing time in Ohiopyle and I know everybody else did too.
To see more of Jason’s photography, click here: Jason Terry’s Blog
The put-in for the Yough is right in town
This sign welcomed us as we entered the town
Laurel Highlands base
Main Street Ohiopyle
Ohiopyle Falls is a popular attraction, but unfortunately it is illegal to run
Enjoy a ride with Niagra Helicopter Tours with our New River Academy Video Class
Hi my name is Jordan Poffenberger. I am 16 years old and I am a new student at New River Academy this year, this is my junior year, however I will be graduating this year from NRA. I live in Fairfax Virginia, which is 20 minutes away from the capital of the US, Washington DC, and the Potomac River which is one of the best whitewater rivers in the world. I have been paddling for 10 years now, since I was 6.
I am a c-1er which means that instead of sitting on my butt with two paddle blades and my legs out in front of me, I use only one paddle blade, like a canoe paddle, and paddle on my knees. I am currently on the USA Freestyle Kayak Team for c-1, and will be going to Germany to represent the US at the World Freestyle Kayak Championships in June of 2011.
I am really excited to be attending NRA this year, not only to be at a great school with awesome teachers, but also to be able to train and so many great spots around the world and improve my freestyle abilities for 2011 World Championships.
Another stop on our way to Fayetteville, West Virginia was in Ohiopyle, PA. Ohiopyle was such a great place! We ran the Yough River, had classes in so many cool places, and every morning I walked to the local coffee shop and woke up with my caffeine. Also in Ohiopyle we had some of the best sleeping arrangements that we have ever had, thanks to Mackenzie Hatcher’s family. Her grandparents, Linda and Mark McCarty, invited us to stay in their guest house and Shirley Marietta, Mackenzie’s great grandmother, let us stay in two rooms in her hotel so that we could have extra space. Laurel Highlands River Tours hooked more than half of the school up with creek boats for the Upper Yough, and Mackenzie’s mother, Jamie Hatcher, bought the hole school dinner after a few laps on The Loop. Thank you so much Mackenzie, and Mackenzie’s family.
Click here to see more blogs by Zoe Ross.
The fall leaves in Ohiopyle
Ohiopyle holds donation based yoga classes which is awesome.
A kayaking mural under the bridge across the river
The Firefly Grill is one of the best places in Ohiopyle to get ice cream and tasty food.
The small Ohiopyle Fire Deparment
Kayaking Sticker on the 'Tow Away Zone' sign
I will let the pictures do the talking. One thing can be said though, everyone had a good time!
Taking off on our helicopter for our tour of Niagra Falls provided to us by Niagra Helicopters!
Niagra Falls at night, a blurr
The Chilean and guess who?
The Staff loves Lucy
Ahhhhh
Frrreeeedddaaaayyyy
Morning walk to the falls!
Going over the falls!
Birds below the falls
The Bridge to the USA
The cave behind the falls
The middle of the falls.
Jordan Freewheeling Valley Falls
Lore throwing a rock spin
The school scouting the lines from above
Alex all smiles before dropping Valley Falls
Julia going for it on her first waterfall. She is pumped for all the clean waterfalls in Chile
Dave and Mackenzie talking about their last photo shots!
Taylor dropping the last one!
Jacob running the falls with a crowd looking on!
Alex Freewheeling as the video and photo classes shoot him from all angles!
Errik nailing his boof off the first drop!
Walking back to the top for more!
Wayne killin it on his first waterfall!
Zoe Ross showing how much she improved over last year!
Hayley on her first waterfall!!!
Jason with some style!
Wayne cruising for his 10th or maybe 20th run down the falls!
Lore running a tougher line.
Zoe Ross ladies and gentlemen
Jordan with the cross bow boof!
New River Academy
Rt. 2 Box 245
Fayetteville, WV 25484
(304)- 574-0403
Fax: (304) 513-2247
New River
Academy
