Meet Your Guides

Clay Wright

Clay Wright brings character, charisma and leadership to a great program.

Clay is a living legend and ambassador in the whitewater world.  You name it and Clay has done it:  appearances in many kayak films including National Geographic, multi-time US Team Member, sponsored athlete for over 20 years, and youth programs coach.  Whether it is competing, leading expeditions, developing freestyle score systems, or teaching safety Clay Wright is at the forefront of whitewater.  Clay has been guest coaching with Huge Experiences’ New River Academy since our beginning in 2001.  It is an honor to have Clay’s persona as part of this year’s Family Trip.

Kurt and Pablo Casey Leading as Father-son Team

Kurt Casey embraces his beautiful family in Chile. Pablo, Luna, Eva and Kurt at the beach.Kurt and Pablo Casey

Kurt Casey wrote the book on Chile and Peru whitewater.  Well, he wrote the online guides and is the foremost expert on South American whitewater. That’s pretty cool and we’re a bit envious to be honest.  If you are a paddler in Chile and really want the beta then there is no better person than Kurt.

Check out the fruits of Kurt’s lifetime exploration missions:

RiversofChile.com

PeruWhitewater.com

Kurt is Pucon locally respected for possibly the highest number of first descents of anyone in the world.  Just last year Kurt notched an unprecedented 6 first D’s in just four days.  Last week when Kurt invited Clay from the Pucon Kayak Hostel on a mission to the Futa we had a good ideal Kurt had been looking at the topos and sure enough Clay soon was texting about his most recent First D.

Kurt is married to Eva Luna and together they parent Pablo and Luna Casey.  Kurt hails from Pittsburgh where he graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and  still remotely works with the family mining equipment business as VP of Latin America Sales for Casey Equipment Corporation.  Kurt will surely bring a cultural and geographical wealth of knowledge to the program.

Pablo Casey-

 Eleven year old Pablo is Kurt’s son fluent in English and Spanish.  For families bringing kids Pablo will serve as a helpful translator as you guys play on local rivers and lagunas. Pablo has already notched a few of his own cascades and New River Academy is excited for the day when Pablo is old enough to apply.

David Hughes-

David Hughes has been leading Chile based trips for 14 years is excited to share his favorite destinations with families.

David has led student and family international trips for over 15 years and may have more logged days of Chilean whitewater leadership than anyone in the past ten years. This year is special for David as Pucon Kayak Hostel hosts it’s largest group yet with the New River Academy families.

“Trip goals first and foremost would be to organize a medium that allows parents and children to optimize their Huge Experiences in this glorious country.  It’s a priceless opportunity for everyone involved.  Hiring the best guides in the world only further insures success.”

If you are attending then you might want to check out the,

“Parent Trip Itinerary.”  

Evan Garcia Teaches Brown Claw to High School

Evan Garcia describes the dangers of a Brown Claw placed too high. Safety. Safety. Safety.

It’s no surprise all the high school kayakers at New River Academy want to be a pro just like their Bomb Flow idols.  It’s a special day for the students at their Pucon, Chile base, aka Pucon Kayak Hostel, as Bomb Flow and Demshitz stars Evan Garcia, Anton Immler and Aniol Serrasolses roll up in their slick new 1,700,000 peso truck.  Students flock into safe little huddles nearby hoping one of their idols will say to them, “looking stout kid” or “I saw you brown that slide the other day… stout.”  Instead the students awkwardly stand their with fuzzy mustaches and shorts riding low.

“Team meeting!  Everyone meet on the deck.  Today we’re going to the Rio Nevado and we’ve got some guest coaches.  You’ve all heard of Evan, Anton and Aniol.”  The student’s have been watching videos of the hucksters every night trying to mimic their stomps and power positions.  The thought of running one of Chile’s finest cascade runs, Rio Nevado, with the world’s best stompers has the students in an untypical silent excitement.

Garcia makes the Brown Claw look easy and can brown without looking at his hand.

“If you’re going to be a great kayaker like the Demshitz and Bombflowers you’re going to need one move, the Brown Claw.”

Garcia steps forward and begins explaining the proper height of a Brown Claw, “You don’t want it to be too high… you might open yourself up for an injury.”

Garcia drops his right hand claw from extended high to a comfortable balanced bend.  Students study their hands and try to picture themselves doing the brown claw on the local stout “Sweet Love.”

Student Hunt Jennings raises his hand to ask, “Which hand do you use?”

Garcia replies, “Good question.  Everyone has a dominant brown hand.  Once you become natural the hand you brown with depends on the drop.” 

View Video, “How to Brown Claw.” By Hunt Jennings.

Jennings is stunned by the ideal to ambi-brown claw and once again is impressed by the pros.

Garcia helps position Galen Volckhausen's cave-hands.

Brown Tip- Use your knee to naturally fit your claw size and finger positions.

Garcia being as adept at teaching as stomping lines notices a student struggling lacking the dexterity of the brown claw position.  New River student and 16 year old Dempoop Galen Volckhausen almost in tears is embarrassed as he struggles to claw his cave-like fingers.  Garcia sensitive to the matter patiently illustrates a way to place the brown claw on to your knee to secure the proper sizing and positioning of the Brown Claw.

Again, the go Huge Kayakers are in awe by Garcias ability to simplify the complex move.

Wayne Poulsen sticks a righty brown on the Rio Nevado Cali Slide.

It’s easy to Apply to New River Academy.

By David Hughes

Owner Pucon Kayak Hostel

Director New River Academy

Jake Greenbaum, reighning Palguin Race Champ, coaches New River students daily on stomping Rios Palguin and Nevado.

Sixteen year old Galen Volckhausen masters aerial balance on "Cali Slide."

As this semester’s head coach it’s been a pleasure to challenge the athletes on creek racing skills.  And there is no better place to do that than on Chile’s whitewater wonderland.  New River students have their work cut out for them with an eleven year winning tradition.  Why is that?  Well let’s name drop a few Huge Experiences extreme alumni:

• Isaac Levinson- reigning Green River Champ and top US Extreme Racer.
• Pat Keller- Past Green Champ and Freestyle Runnerup World Champ.
• Casey Eichfeld and Rick Powell- Olympians.
• Jake Greenbaum and Keegan Grady- winners of Palguin Races 2010 and 2009.
• Tino Specht- coach and videographer.

Pucon, Chile holds a magical energy as it lies between three volcanos in the heart of the lake-district.  Imagine geological perfection for creating clean waterfalls as rain and snow meander their way down the Andes and volcanic drainages to the Pacific.

New River Academy students have been staying at Pucon Kayak Hostel enjoying classes and kayaking under the Chilean sun.  This past week has been the semester climax with 80% of the student body paddling the famous Upper Rio Nevado and Upper Palguin daily afterschool.

It’s school history in the making with each student honing aerial balance skills on such a perfect stomping ground.

About Pucon’s Rio Nevado

Often called “the Nevados” the Rio Nevado has become Pucon’s favorite creek run.  The upper stretch is speckled with 6’ to 10’ boof after boof.  All having character, unique lines, zigs and zags, clean corners to launch, and soft pads to land within a canyon.  Add to this three clean twenty footers each with signature moves.

What class is the Rio Nevado?  While, many call it class V the drops break down into a series of class IV moves with a couple of class V portages.  Paddlers mistakenly label it as class V based on the canyon nature and few portages.  Note there is a trail to every rapid on the Upper so it’s not as remote as many assume.  Additional note-  300 meters of the Lower Nevado below Demshitz drop is a non-hikable access canyon of cascade beauty.

 The Cali Slide (You can park and huck)

Kincaid Wurl takes the speed bump for a little pop wheelie.

It’s a quick hike in and out to the Cali style slide.  Bring your camera for those once in a lifetime shots.  Taking a right line helps you slow your speed and avoid the aerial hump.  Better boaters enjoy riding the ramp for those once in a lifetime aerial shots.  Most folks will lap this slide to maximize the fun factor.

Wall Falls

This is a super cool twenty footer.  You’ll slide an 8 degree slope to a 20’ horizon staring at the giant wall.  Take a subtle righty boof stroke to turn you boat left and practice stomping a 30 degree pitch entry.

Double Drop

Go through the first three foot drop on right and then let’s see you “get there” on the bottom right side boof.  Air it out for style points.

Ecstasy aka Pitch 20

Hayley Stuart takes a pro stroke on a tough line to time at Ecstacy.

This cool twenty footer goes through a 3’ wide narrow gap and creates a super cool horizon.  Ride through the gap on a balanced right rudder and time a righty boof stroke.

Boof and Auto Boof

The next two are simple boofs.  The auto boof makes for a sweet photo.

Make the Ferry

At higher water the ferry below “Auto Boof” is tough real tough.  You can paddle under the cave rock and portage.  After the ferry boof right and slide right.

Boof Ten Footer

Not sure the name of this 10 footer.  At higher water air this big boy out for style.  Get up on the boof heading left as a low boof slides you off into a rock on your right.

Hero Move at low water.  Catch the left eddy above the boof, turn and boof the river right side.

Sara Jane Daub at Auto Boof.

Dulce Amor aka Sweet Love

Has to be one of the best 20 foot boofs on the planet.  The river converges into a 5’ wide channel sloping off the perfect 45 degree wall.  Charge that wall and get your boofsmear on.  This is as good as boofing gets.

Pyramid Rock below Dulce Amor

It’s a steep 6 footer.  Go on the right side of the pyramid and boof left.  You’ll have to reach low staying balanced to keep your bow up.

Rock Jumble

There’s a right line, there’s a left line and there’s a portage.  Better scout this one.

Sara gracing the ten foot boof. New River Girls Rock!

River Right Portage or Scout

There’s a tight little tough to make eddy.  With groups you should get a boat catcher.  New River walks this one as the slot walls are undercut.

Demshitz Drop and Takeout

Congratulations you just ran one of the cleanest waterfall runs in the world.  Takeout and do it again.  If you want more then scout the Demshitz 45 footer with solid entrance.

By David Hughes

Director New River Academy

Owner Pucon Kayak Hostel

It’s easy to Apply to New River Academy.

Eric Bartl timing his stomp at Sweet Love... world's best twenty foot boof.

Mother and son, Beth and Matt West, swimming in the most beautiful laguna (Rio Fuy) you will ever experience during 2008 Parent Trip.

Click to view, Parent Trip Report from Chile 2008.

New River Academy Parent Trip to Chile

“David… seeing Katie lead Sue and I with her Spanish in Pucon, watching her in her classes, and taking photos of her today at the waterfall, well… it’s just priceless.  This has been our best vacation ever.”  -Joe Kowalski commenting on the 2008 Chile Parent Trip

Parents enjoying the Chilean sun at the school's Pucon base.

The parent trip is a special bonding experience that has not been offered in three years.  Now, with David Hughes on the ground in Chile owning Pucon Kayak Hostel we are in a great position to once again offer you this Huge Experience.

Imagine watching your child in classes as 4:00 pm hits a buzz is apparent.  Coaches meeting and kids soon are running to grab gear and load boats.  You’ll ride high into the Andes and hike to cascade overlooks to photograph your child run the waterfalls they adore.

Nightly, you’ll return to freshly baked bread and dinners next to a fire and see your child living life.  Real life.  Interacting.  Playing.  Learning.

You are warmly invited to join us, bond with your child, and live part of the experience you have given to your child.

Dates:  Feb 6 to 14

Temuco Airport Arrival:  Feb. 6 means depart USA or Canada on Feb.5

Temuco Airport Departure:  Feb. 14 means you arrive to USA or Canada on Feb. 15

Hayley Stuart runs the Rio Nevado "Sweet Love" cascade.

Flights:  We suggest working with our travel agent Mary Jo Palmer in order that flights arrive and depart at same time. Mary Jo is a remarkable resource.  1-800-640-4137

Airport Shuttles outside of our scheduled pickup:  You can either rent a vehicle of pay $US100 for an airport shuttle.

Costs:  $1,600

Includes:  meals minus 4 dinners out, activities listed, lodging, transportation, happy child + bonding experiences…

**Cost does not include:  4 dinners out.

Deposit:  $400

How do you confirm your space?  Once you decide you want to do this trip you should confirm with David Hughes via David@PuconKayakHostel.com.  David will send you a paypal deposit request for the $400 deposit.  The balance of $1,200 is due upon meeting in Chile.

Parent Trip Itinerary:

Galen Volckhausen catches air on the kids new favorite river, Upper Rio Nevado.

Feb 6-            Arrive to Temuco and drive to Choshuenco base.  Watch students on Upper Fuy cascade runs.

Feb. 7- Half day school + Class I-II SUP board and kayak Lower Fuy.

The Rio Fuy is a offers the true rustic Chilean experience. Families will enjoy meals cooked by our family owned hosts and afternoons next to the lake and cascades.

Feb. 8- Observe School day.  Afterschool waterfall run and photo shoot.

Feb. 9- Rio San Pedro Family day with SUP Boards, ducky, raft and kayaks.  And drive to Pucon base.

Feb. 10- Half day school + Upper Palguin Cascade run and photo shoot.

Feb. 11- School day/Parent day off with their child.  Explore Pucon, take a hike, shop… Hotsprings night.

Feb. 12-Valentines Rio Tolten SUP and kayak day.  Class I-II gorgeous river.

Feb. 13- School day + Paddle Trancura afterschool.  Farewell Parent asado.

Feb. 14- Airport shuttles to Temcuo.

Things to know:

• What about transportation?  David will hire the proper vehicle and driver to transport the parent group to each destination.
• What if you want to arrive early or stay longer?  Absolutely.  David will gladly help you plan or advise you on great Chile destinations.  Not long after the parent trip the student group will travel South into Patagonia.
• Do you need a visa?  Chile has a one time entrance visa of $US131 upon entering customs.
• Can we guarantee your child will be excited and happy to see you?  We’re confident your child will be excited to skip a day of school in order to proudly show you around Pucon.  Simple things like walking to the bus stop and how to get around South America are proud moments.
• How often will you see your child?  You will observe classes, meet with students, and be asked to complete teacher evaluations.  Each activity is planned for you to experience and bond with your child.
• Can you visit at a different time than parent week?  We prefer not due to the energy required to host families.  Imagine a different family every week.
• Parents bonding with other parents…  There is something special in the commonality of families and friends during this week.

Kira Tenney drops Pucon's Rio Turbio clean twenty footer.

Students Learn to Stomp

New River Alumni Jake Greenbaum has been hired as the guest coach while in Pucon.  Greenbaum having mastered the art of running cascades shares and exhibits proper form for the eager youth.

Galen Volckhausen practices stomping his feet down to transition his boof to angle entry.

Paddle Misconception:  Why do pros throw their paddles off big drops?

While, many think it’s dangerous pros often throw their paddles because it’s safer.  Large cascades tend to drop into clean pools easily manageable by any kayaker with a solid handroll. What is more difficult to manage is a safe placement of paddle upon impact.  The paddle has been known to strike the face, brow, neck, break, dislocate shoulders and cause other problems.  If you’re good enough to stick a cascade without it then you can dramatically reduce problems.

By David Hughes

Program Director, New River Academy

Owner, Pucon Kayak Hostel

Drew McEachern strikes himself with paddle to the face now proud of his earned battle wound.

Numbers 1-10= 10 points each

See Zoe Ross’ assignment from last year.

Choose a local professional photographer to interview.

1. Include a minimum of 6 favorite shots of your photographer.
2. Describe the steps you have taken to earning money for photography.
3. Are most of your photos freelance or studio?
4. What is your favorite aspect of photography?
5. What has been the most challenging obstruction to becoming a professional photographer?
6. What advice can you share?
7. Do you prefer film or digital?  Why?
8. What is your favorite subject?  Why?
9. Do you have a favorite camera?  Why?
10.  Where do you get creative ideas for shots and backgrounds?

Project 2:  10 shot photo essay of your family.  20 points/number.

1. Include 10 family shots.
2. Two shots must creatively shoot the family as a group… but not a straight on shot.  Consider your lighting, background, angles and creativity.
3. Shots should creatively illustrate the character of your family members.
4. Captions should tell something about your subject.
5. Shots must include the f stop and shutter speed in the text of blog.

Project 3:  Get 20 People to Like the New River Academy Facebook page.  5 points/person

Check out the photos from this misty foggy WV morn workout.

Anna Bruno leads a yoga ab routine and takes delight in the pathetic groaning of 16 year old boys.

What a delight to see in your living room at 7:30 am.

Yoga leg wars. We're bonding! We're bonding!

Students stretch it out after another day on the Upper Gauley.

That Guy Yoga. New innovative styles of yoga develop daily.

Congratulations to all for their participation.

Results:

Junior Men

1-  Kalob Grady

2- Eric Bartl

3- Colin Klein

Junior Women

1- Sara Jane Daub

2- Hayley Stuart

2- Alexandra Muck

Carly and Macee have a calming effect on Billy Big Bear.

When I think of my favorite people in kayaking Billy Harris tops the list.  Not because in his prime he was respected as the best freestyle kayaker in the world, or that he was an innovative designer, or that he made a mark on the industry as a writer when that was not his forte.  The respect is derived from his care and attention to youth, to the individuals he’s helped along their kayaking path, and the endless attention he’s devoted to those around him including his wife Carly.

Billy Hires Chilean Vegetarian Restaurant Cook for Carly

The past two years I invited Billy to coach students and visit my Pucon Kayak Hostel to which he said, “I’d love to but I don’t know if I can be away from Carly that long.”  So, Billy planned and led a trip for Canadian club boaters in order to pay for not only Carly’s way but also his father-inlaw.  Of course, they loved him as I took notes on how to lead a great trip.

Macie's just days old on a sunny Ottawa day Billy and Carly outside of their home.

Carly’s a vegan and resourceful Billy made a point to research the local vegetarian restaurants.  He’d discover the local cook of a variety of vegan foods including the producer of the area’s tofus.  It was at that moment I realized Billy’s love for his wife.  It’s kind of an unlikely match seeing that Carly is vegan and Billy loves to shoot his long range rifles at big Canadian game.  But they make it work.

“You’re bringing your father-in-law with you for three weeks to Chile… ARE YOU CRAZY?”   First let me say Chuck is the most patient and understanding father on the planet.  For two weeks I had to watch Billy and Chuck argue over what they’d each have Carly doing when she arrived. Each planning every step of Carly’s trip, when they both knew Carly’d end up doing her own independent thing and spend time with each when she was good and ready.

Understand Billy is the world champion of fun loving humor gone too far.  How Chuck tolerates Billy’s endless barrage of not-so-funny to everyone else but hilarious to Billy old jokes is beyond me.  Chuck deserves a medal for being able to pretend that anyone of of Billy’s hundreds of jokes are slightly funny.  And Billy too deserves the same for his unending devotion to Carly and her family.  It’s a loving back and forth banter rare to see of in-laws being this close.

The Happy Harris Family Billy, Carly and Macee.

Coaching Youth

Each year Billy volunteers to coach the New River Academy students.  And each year they say, “Billy is the best coach I’ve ever met.”  You see coaching youth is something few do well.  First, most pro kayakers won’t take time out of their lives to coach for pay much less volunteer.   Not only does he volunteer, he invests more individual time than anyone.  This is the nature of Billy Harris that will make him a remarkable father and husband.

This year I couldn’t ask Billy to coach New River Academy students as it was just days ago that Macee was born a beautiful perfectly healthy baby.  Although, when I went to visit Billy he’d made coaching notes about each of the students from a single day he’d seen them from the Garberator banks.  Pretty cool.

Carly taking care of Macee. Billy's probably somewhere making fun of Chuck.

Thank you Billy for all you have done for kayaking’s youth and the sport of kayaking.

I wish you, Carly and Macee the best of luck on your new family venture.

Below you will find school and river days and how they work together.

The Gauley is a long day on the water requiring two and a half hours of shuttle and a minimum of ten miles of paddling.  This means we need a full day on the river for safety and feeling of being relaxed on the water.  It also means we utilize our 90-min class schedule to meet mandated hour requirements.   With 7 periods (90-min) that’s 10.5 hours of school.  So, we’ll opt to have one period each river day to make the school day work.

Here’s how the school hours will work:

Wed 9/21       Drive to Niagara Falls:  Niagara Helicopters Tour compliments of Reudi Haeflin and Lena Droujko

Tour Niagara Falls area

Thur 9/22      Niagara Whirlpool Jetboats Tour:  Compliments of Joe Kowalski Wilderness Tours

Drive to WV base.

Fri 9/23          6 periods (90 min) School

Sat 9/24          1 period + Gauley

Sun 9/25         6 periods (90 min) School

Mon 9/26        1 period + Gauley

Tue 9/27          6 periods (90 min) School

Wed 9/28        6 periods (90 min) School

Thur 9/29        1 period + Gauley

Fri 9/30            6 periods (90 min) School

Sat 10/1            SAT Exams or  1 period + Gauley

Sun 10/2           6 periods (90 min) School

Mon 10/3         6 periods (90 min) School

Tue 10/4            Tygart Falls + Hotel near Elkins

Wed 10/5          Field Trip:  Greenbank Radio Telescope

Thur 10/6         Field Trip:  Greenbank Radio Telescope

Fri 10/7             1 Period + Yough Day near Deepcreek Lake

Sat 10/8            6 periods (90 min) School

Sun 10/9           1 period + Gauley

Mon 10/10       1 period + Gauley

Tues 10/11     6 Periods (90 min) School

Wed 10/12     6 Periods (90 min) School

Thur 10/13    Gauley/School based on Mid-Term Needs of Individual

Fri 10/14       Gauley/School based on Mid-Term Needs of Individual

Sat 10/15      Fly Home for Fall Break