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Archive for December, 2010
New River Academy Visits a Chilean High School
Friday, December 31st, 2010What a Bittersweet Moment
Saturday, December 18th, 2010That is it boys and girls NRA has unfortunately packed up camp for the semester and it is time to head on home. I think I can speak for every when I say that we had an AMAZINGLY, AWESOME, and RAD quarter in Chile and semester. I am saying bittersweet for that fact that all of us have had all the desires of eating at our favorite restaurants (Hunt, like Chick-Fil-A) or go down to our own watering hole to wet our whistle. But as we wonder off to thinking about home we can’t help but be reminded by the Chilean culture that surrounds us. I would like to give an enormous thank you to to Mr. David Hughes for all the hard work he has done with this school and his beautiful hosteria in Pucon, and just for everything that I have done this year. I will show some of my favorite photos to look back on this epic journey to land of Mapuche and insane kayaking.
Published by Errik Hill
School kids playing a friendly game of football. Photo by Errik Hill
Jordan Poffenberger and Clay Whitaker throwing down tricks on the Siete Tazas. Photo by Errik Hill
Truck convoy going into the Calina Valley. Photo by Errik Hill
A muddy Chaco. Photo by Errik Hill
Last Days In Pucon
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010I am nearing the end of my stay here in Pucon. My time so far has consisted of beautiful challenging rivers, amazing volcanoes, great food, hot springs, and great people. Pucon could possibly be the worlds best whitewater destination. We have paddled many Pucon classics and it seems every day the paddling just gets better. I am sad to say I will be leaving Chile within the next few days, but I know this wont be my last time here. The simple way of life and scenery will definitely bring me back whether its for kayaking or not. I have learned so much this quarter in and out of school. My spanish has had a large improvement along with many other things. I have been to places that I used to only dream about and have seen places only few people have been. Chile has opened my eyes to many new things. I can’t wait for another and equally amazing trip to uganda after break.
Sitting at the top of the Volcano
Jacob Slobodian enjoying the beautiful Rio Turbio Photo Cred Errik Hill
Doing what the pros do, the Nevados
Monday, December 13th, 2010A few days ago, New River Academy took some of its more advanced students to do one of the more challenging runs of the year: the Nevados. This run is a good sized creek with a few twenty foot drops on it, that take skill and quick thinking to hit the lines, but have very few, if any consequences. Below our takeout is a different story. The Lower Nevados is an extremely hard run with some serious drops, including the infamous Demshitz drop; a ten foot boof into a fifty foot drop that reconnects halfway though. There’s no need to worry though, we didn’t even come close to these drops. We stuck with the Upper Nevados, a solid class V run that while only about a mile long, offers tons of fun. It starts out with a cool ten-foot waterfall into a long slide that the students were not allowed to run because of the potential to ramp into the air five feet, and then land face-down on rock. We cheered and took pictures as Dave, Lorenzo, Tino, and guest coach for the day Jake Greenbaum styled the line. Then we got into our boats and headed down to scout the first drop. This drop was a solid twenty-foot waterfall with a decent lead-in. The trick to this one though, was that you had to boof the drop and do a ninety degree turn and then stomp your feet down. The turn helped you avoid the bank that was five feet past the drop, and the stomp makes sure you don’t land flat. Everybody did the line perfectly and it was a very fun drop. We then went through some class IV boogie water until we got to the second drop: the pinched twenty. This is a very intimidating looking drop, although it doesn’t have much of a line to it. Basically the entire river constricts to a boat width and falls twenty feet. This may sound easy but there is about a three foot boof over log before it, so you have to hit your boof and then line yourself up to go off the drop. This drop had some more interesting lines than the last drop. Jacob broke a paddle and somebody else who wants to remain nameless flipped on the lip of it. Everyone turned out fine at the bottom and we proceeded to the next drop which was a super fun, ten-foot auto boof. Right after this was a runnable but hard rapid that most people portaged. Unfortunately, Kira flipped on the auto-boof and went down the first drop of the portage where she got worked and swam. She did the smart thing and ditched her boat and paddle right away to avoid the next drop and fortunately we found both of them (though her boat was in the eddy above Demshitz drop). After this drop we were in a pickle since we were down two paddles and a boat. Dave made the good decision of making us hike out and that is what we did marking the end of our Nevados adventure.
To see more of Jason Terry’s pictures and blogs, click here: Jason Terry’s Blog
Jake catching air off the slide
Alex giving a perfect example of the turn and stomp on the first drop
Clay on the second twenty-footer
Another NRA first D
Monday, December 13th, 2010El Rio Turbio, where to begin. Maybe the fact that I almost passed out as I watched Evan Garcia walk by me and then go do a gnar waterfall and slide while I sat and took pictures. Or maybe it is that I completely killed it at creeking. Lets get back to Demshitz for now. Yes that is right we all stood in awe as we watched the people we aspire to become, like in the kayaking realm of life, drop insane stuff and cheer us on when we get ready to do our run. Alright now that I got that excitement out of the way it is time to talk about the river. The Turbio is a small creek that lies on basalt bed rock and flows right off of a volcano. The run is a mostly class 4 run with some stout class 5 drops that definitely make me think about changing my river shorts sometimes. We walked around all the sketch stuff leaving that for the Demshitz that were only a few meters up stream of us. El Turbio is lined by beautiful yellow bushes on either side of you, as if you were of to see the wizard on the yellow brick road. The run is all walk able and can park at the take out and walk up to the put in in about half an hour with scouting the hairy rapids. Over all the Turbio is yet another must do classic Pucon run.
Published by Errik Hill
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Teacher Chris Smith scouting the Turbio. Photo by Errik Hill
The drop and slide the Demshitz daringly went down. Photo by Errik Hill
Jared Seiler running a NRA portage but something easy for him. Photo by Errik Hill
The man, the myth, the legend...Evan Garcia stomping a sick drop. Photo by Errik Hill
The Infamous Rio Palguin
Saturday, December 11th, 2010The Palguin is one of the main reasons for tourism in Pucon, Chile. The epic river has many clean waterfalls and super sick rapids. The most stout waterfall was recently first d’ed by Steve fisher last year and is an 86 foot sketch drop. It is just that everything else is sketch that goes on around it. But seeing that beauty makes your jaw drop in amazement. The upper is super fun with a 20 footer boof or plug, your choice. There is also a portage depending if you have enough balls to do it. It is a 20 footer with only enough space on either side of you for a piece of paper to slide through. Yeah its that tight. There is a big meaty hole where if you get stuck you will swim. Cough, cough, Alex. If you are ever in the Pucon area you must hit up the upper Palguin. The Palguin os a run for all levels whether it is upper, middle or lower. I just have three words left to say: It is Sick. That is all, thank you.
Published by Errik Hill
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The Steve Fisher 86 footer on the Rio Palguin. Photo by Errik Hill
Alex Anderson on the Rio Palguin going for a boof. Photo by Errik Hill
Pucon, Chile: Upper Nevados
Thursday, December 9th, 2010It’s been almost four months of honing kayak skills with the students at the New River Academy. And their final exam has been Pucón, Chile’s finest clean creeks. Yesterday, it was the Upper Nevados. I know I know… “Isn’t that a hard one?” It’s not a beginner creek, but if you’ve mastered holding your forward position, your boof stroke, and can ferry moving creek water then with solid leadership you might be ready for this Pucón classic.
Actually, last year I scouted the Upper Nevados several times researching available portages and of course the clean lines. During one of these trips I watched Huge Experiences alumni and recent Green River Race Runnerup Isaac Levinson knock out his front two teeth on the entrance “Cali-style Slide.” While, the slide has an easy and un river left line I’ve designated it the most dangerous rapid on the river. I’ve just seen some good boaters hit the launch and go more aerial than they wanted. So, we agreed with the students that they could run the Nevados minus the slide and a couple of other crux rapids.
Lorenzo Andrade Astorga still catches air on the left sneak of the Upper Nevados slide.
Soon after the slide the first twenty footer approaches. It’s a drop with character as you approach it slides you to the right. Then there’s a wall 10′ after the waterfall. So, students had to drive a little left, pause on their boof stroke, and then subtly take a right hand boof stroke to shoot them left at the bottom. In actuality I’ve seen this drop messed up every way you could imagine… it’s just a kind drop.
Alex Anderson turns his boat slightly to the left mid-air.
Jason Terry flies off the first of three clean 20 footers on the Upper Nevados.
The run continues with fun action including one of the world’s best clean 20 foot boofs, Dulce Amor (Sweet Love), an abundance of 6 to 10′ high clean boofs, and the Pinch 20. Unfortunately, it began to rain and I put my camera away. This was a classic day in New River Academy history and I was proud to paddle with: Huge Experiences alumni Jake Greenbaum, MacKenzie Hatcher, Jason Terry, Jordan Poffenberger, Jacob Slobodian, Alex Anderson, Clay Whitaker, Errik Hill, Hunt Jennings, Tino Specht, and Lorenzo Andrade Astorga.
MacKenzie Hatcher and Clay Whitaker look into a waterfall curtain on the Upper Nevados.
Report by David Hughes
David Hughes is the founder and director of New River Academy.
And We, Danced?
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010Ñuble Fest 2010 is definitely the most memorable river fest I have ever been to. First of all during the so called opening ceremonies there many harangues to kick off the wild party. After being lost in translation for about 45 minutes it was time to chow down of some dank goat from the asado. While we were all snacking and having a good ol’time the group of rowdy gringo kayakers started to talk and say that two of us should do the Cueca. I, myself being the performer in the group stepped up to do the dance of mating chickens. I called upon my dancing partner, a little gringette if you so wish to call her, to help show all the locals that we, gringos, can have a good time. We stood up started to clap and trot back and forth as the music started to pick up and get into the thick of it. As i chased after Hayley (my dance partner and fellow student) I would run and stop and do my little jig with the flag to herd her and to the other side and do the same. As we run we both exchaged confused looks at each other thinking if we were forgetting something or doing wrong or just plain old making fools out of our selves. Mr. T would have pity on us. But as we started to finish up the song I noticed all the locals were watching and laughing. They for sure weren’t laughing at us they we laughing with us. And as we were getting down with it all I had a huge smile on my face. All it takes is just soe courage from two gringos to make the whole town (litteraly) start clapping along and having a straight up good time. We may have been laughed at a little but I think we did one damn fine Cueca.
Published by Errik Hill
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Rio Claro | Chile’s Mysterious Home of Garganta Del Diablo
Saturday, December 4th, 2010I had been waiting for these ten days for a few years now. Before heading to the Claro everyone was very excited. I knew that the Claro offered beautiful clean waterfalls and committing whitewater canyons. The First day we paddled the Siete Tazas section. This was by far the most amazing stretch of rapids I have ever paddled. The Next day we paddled the Viente Dos Saltos, which means 22 waterfalls. This section started with the biggest vertical drop I have ever ran of 25 feet and this wasn’t even the big one. After styling that line I was feeling good and the entire group had a great run down yet another beautiful canyon. The Next day we paddled the Entre Saltos section that was more mellow but just as amazing.
While at the Claro a large group of students wanted to run Garganta Del Diablo, which means throat of the devil. No one knew whether or not we could get on this section. It is by far the most committing class V canyon on the Claro. One night at dinner with much anticipation of running the canyon Tino stood up and gave us the news. Yes! We were able to run it. Even with this great news the room was silent and everyone started to realize that their dream of this rapid would come true. I was put in the second group, which meant I had to video and watch the first group drop in. The day between the first group and my group was the longest day of my life. I had to sit and listen to every detail about the canyon.
The night before was not filled with much sleep. We woke up and had a half-day of school. We then had to wait four hours so we could have the best light for photographs and video. To get to Garganta we had to paddle the entre section. I can honestly say that I was petrified while we did the Entre Saltos section. After the last drop on Entre Saltos was the first drop into the Garganta section. After that you are committed to the 2-mile canyon.
Once the group dropped in I was no longer scared since there was no way of escaping. We paddled to the Lip of Garganta. Dave, Tino, and Lorenzo went first. It was now my time. I paddled over the lip staring into the throat of the devil and plunged down the biggest rapid I have ever paddled. At the bottom we all celebrated and everyone was safe and ready for the rest of the canyon. The canyon is by far the most amazing place I will ever go on this planet and I feel privileged to know that only kayakers will ever get to see this place. The Rio Claro has been the ten best days of my life!
Jacob Slobodian above Garganta Photo Cred Mackenzie Hatcher
Jacob Slobodian On Gargante Del Diablo Photo Cred Mackenzie Hatcher
Jacob Slobodian Boofing on Viente Dos Saltos Photo cred Tino Specht
Jacob Slobodian slack lining on the Rio Claro Photo cred Tino Specht
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