New River Academy students hang out between surf sessions on the Dries
We made it! The drive from the Ottawa River back home Fayetteville, West Virginia took about 16 hours, including a few stops for ice cream and pizza. Well, we figured that since the next day was Sunday and the drive had been so long, we’d have a late sleep in and a leisurely start to a day of paddling and relaxing. I planned on making pancakes for breakfast and having them ready at around 10:00.
I wander into the kitchen at 9:00 Sunday morning ready and to my surprise, the students are already up and eating cereal. Some of them are already in full gear, others are loading the trailer. Sleep in?! Who needs to sleep in! The dries are IN and they were rearin’ to go for a morning session. “Do you guys uh…want pancakes?” I asked to the flurry of bodies around me pulling on dry tops. “No thanks! We’ll be back for lunch!” the door bangs shut and in no time at all….all the students are gone.
As it turns out, the dries (the big, famous wave featured in many a pro-kayak video, a 4 minute-if-that drive from the school base) were not only in, but in at 53,000 cfs which apparently means HUGE. Bigger than buseater. Bigger than just about anything, if I am to believe the rumors. A timid paddler for life, I stay far away from big waves, but every single one of our students got out there, surfed, and went big. I know this to be fact, because I’ve been watching the video footage they took. When you see it, I’m sure your jar will drop as far as mine did. I’m sure you’ve already heard all about it; I overheard a lot of mother’s day phone call that went like this:
“Hi mom happy mother’s day THE DRIES ARE HUGE I JUST SURFED THEM THEY’RE AWESOME GOTTA GOAFTERNOONSESSIONBYE!!”
In a world where apathy seems to be the epitome of cool for teenagers, it’s incredible to see the students so entirely passionate and dedicated about something. I wish there was a way to accurately transport the feeling of excitement there is around the house now that the dries are in, the sun is out, spring has sprung and, oh yeah, today was our last day of classes! Life is pretty good for everyone these days.
Between sessions yesterday, the students were hanging out in front of the house. NRA alum Matt West is visiting (along with a few other alums and friends, lured by graduation ceremonies and high water) and he’s always playing his mandolin. Tino continues to play his guitar and sing songs he makes upon the spot for the students. The afternoon light was beautiful yesterday as it filtered through the newly green trees, and everything, including all of us, seemed fresh and newly awake. I couldn’t help but take a few pictures, so I could remember this feeling of ease, camaraderie, and contentment against the back round of late spring in West Virginia.
New River Academy Alum Matt West plays his mandolin for Palmer Miller and Nelson Jones
Tags: daily life, Dries, Road Trip, study abroad programs, West Virginia
