Aside from coaching many great paddlers, Joey himself is a very accomplished playboater, having travelled all over the world to pursue this passion. His accomplishments in kayaking include: “being a three time member of the Canadian Freestyle Team, winning some contests here and there, they just kind of all disappear into the past.” Some of Joey’s best times paddling were in Mexico and Chile. His favorite river other than his home river is the Futalafu in Chile. Another big part of his boating career is his new boat that he designed himself and took for a test drive this summer in Germay. “It is called the LSD and it is still in constant change,” he says. Joey has a second prototype coming out in the spring this year. It is definitely the boat of his choice. It has been so good to him so far as it lasted all summer: in Germany and then on the Ottawa in holes and on wave features. The first prototype is made out of a kevlar and fiberglass infusion. It is great material as he has still not had to fix it yet, which is a huge struggle for most custom made boats.

Although Joey is a world traveller, his heart rests at home in the Ottawa Valley with his favorite river and growing business. Growing up in the Ottawa Valley, it is no wonder that he got into playboating at an early age. He started off in a Dancer, a boat worlds away from the playboats we use today, when he was 12. His river of choice is no doubt his home river, the Ottawa, where he learned to kayak and did his first rolls. The Ottawa is also home to his favorite playspots: Bus Eater and Gladiator, two huge waves where he throws down even bigger tricks! In the summer Liquid Skills, Joey’s business, keeps him busy at home. He runs many clinics for anyone from beginners to advanced playboaters on the Ottawa River. He says, “One of my biggest accomplishments in kayaking would be staying with Liquid Skills from day 1. With owning it for past few years we’re just keeping the dream alive. It keeps us in close touch with the kayaking community.” This summer he plans to add new big things to Liquid Skills. There is going to be SUP classes, a boot camp program, and the usual whitewater clinics with occasional guest instructors for the playboating clinics. In the winter months Joey runs clinics in Costa Rica. Sounds like a pretty good life to me!

Joey Hitchins on his home river getting ready for a session at Garburator.

Joey ripping it up on Garburator.

Sticking in a stabilizing rudder stroke on Gladiator.

Canadian Freestyle Kayaking Team 2011.

Joey and DL with their son Calder, starting him off young.

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]]> http://www.newriveracademy.org/kayakblog/kayaker-interview-joey-hitchins/feed/ 0 http://www.newriveracademy.org/kayakblog/happy-holidays-from-the-well-rounded-ladies-and-gentlemen-of-new-river-academy/ http://www.newriveracademy.org/kayakblog/happy-holidays-from-the-well-rounded-ladies-and-gentlemen-of-new-river-academy/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:38:04 +0000 Kira Tenney http://www.newriveracademy.org/kayakblog/?p=6218 We are nomads.  Moving from one of the world’s best kayaking locations to the next, we have all quickly come to realize that home is just as much the people as it is the place, and that family doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be genetically related.

For the Holidays, all of the members of our high school kayak team have dispersed to different locations around the globe to re-unite with, shall we say, our lovely genetic families, but I thought it would be appropriate to share some photos from our New River Academy Kayak Family Thanksgiving celebration and some other photos from the semester to wish everyone Happy Holidays!

Note: As shown in the pictures, New River Academy men bake, write and share poetry, and give speeches on “How To Be Chivalrous,” and New River Academy Ladies stomp such drops as “Garganta del Diablo” and style runs such as the Nevados.  We are all about balance, and being the best we can be by mixing it up and trying new things with the support and encouragement of each other.  We feel so lucky to have such opportunities every day.

Hunt Jennings and Kincaid Wurl learn to make cinnamon rolls for Thanksgiving breakfast the next morning.

...Although naturals on the baking front, sometimes the boys instigate trouble/ fun in the kitchen... Waaayyyynnne!

Eric Bartl and Alex Muck communicate with each other to find perfect balance in team yoga.

Sara Jane Daub runs Garganta del Diablo or "Throat of the Devil." Fellow girls team member Hayley Stuart couldn't get enough and ran it twice.

Me and the ladies of New River (minus the absolutely wonderful Anna and Carla).

Galen Volkhausen, not afraid to be dressed by Sara Jane Daub. Forget your gear? Don't do it, but when you do, we've got each others backs!

Hayley Stuart and Wayne Poulsen make the new recycling center more colorful for Art class.

The Stomping Stouts with Authority Crew stomp with authority by day and give educational speeches on chivalry by night. (Note that the balloon under Kincaid's shirt is unrelated to the speech on chivalry... this was dress up for karaoke).

We set down in the Andes-surrounded Santiago airport after an overnight flight and immediately loaded all of our kayaks and gear onto a big bus to head to Cascada de las Animas, an eco-tourism resort on the mighty Maipo River that is only forty minutes outside of the city.

Cascadas de las Animas, or “Waterfall of the Spirits,” is our base for the first week and a half.  It is nestled in a narrow valley of beautiful, tall desert mountains, and includes magnificent camping, a gourmet restaurant, waterfalls to hike to, a zipline, horseback riding, and, most importantly, is the takeout to the upper section of the Maipo River and the put-in to the lower section of the Maipo River.

The lower section of the Maipo is a Class 2/ 3 run, perfect for practicing boofs, eddy turns, punching holes, and racing.  The same skills can be practiced for the more advanced boaters on the upper section, which is a Class 3 /4 stretch with one easily portaged Class 5 rapid, called Frenchman’s Curve.  Throughout the week, all of the New River Academy team improved immensely, and, after great assessment and a strong safety set-up, some ran Frenchman’s Curve!

After the Maipo, the team cruised to Pucon, the creeking capital of Chile.  With its Jurassic Park-like mountains, countless waterfalls, and majestic volcano, Pucon is one of the most well-known summer destinations for Chileans.  For kayakers, it is known for the insanely high concentration of rivers within its near radius.

New River Academy’s kayak school base is located on the Trancura River.  Similar to our location on the Maipo, our Pucon base is situated at the take-out to the more challenging Class 3/ 4 upper section of the Trancura and at the put-in of the Class 2/ 3 lower section of the Maipo.  While we have certainly been enjoying putting in and taking off of the river immediately out our back doors, the team has also enjoyed runs on the Palguin (a perfect intermediate waterfall run) and the Nevados (a more challenging steep creek run).

In addition to kayaking, the team has enjoyed Chilean-led dance morning workouts, natural mountain hot springs, delicious Chilean meals (so much fresh bread!) at communal tables in front of warm fires, and classes that often incorporate the daily experiences of our surroundings.  We are all taken with the culture, the beauty, and the boating of Chile and we can’t wait for the next four weeks!

Make sure to visit the Rio Achibueno on your trip to Chile.

The kayak school has been hard at work producing a video guide series of all the major Chile Whitewater hotspots!

Yes there is space for you to apply for both kayak gap year abroad and the high school semester.

Who can apply? Most students arrive to New River Academy after completing a kids or teen kayak summer camp. Great kayak camps teach students the safety and river running skills that allow you to progress with New River Academy. If you can run class III then you are ready for a New River Academy semester.

“Tell me more about kayaking Chile rivers.” Kayaking in Chile is remarkable. The Andes Mountains are gorgeous, the culture is friendly and inviting, and the rivers are clear and safe. We seek the safe class III-IV runs offering a combination of play boating and exciting river run skills.

Enrollment Tip- It is recommended to submit the Phase I Application early. Sending the Phase I Application does not commit you financially. Rather, it allows administration to research your references with the goal of issuing your “Acceptance Letter.” Once you receive your “Acceptance Letter” you will have the option to officially enroll.

Important Links for You to Read:

“Easy to Apply” downloadable application

More Info about Kayak Gap Year Abroad

Chile Semester Details- Return to Chile Second Semester- Lakes District and Patagonia