Gap Year Student David Gorski Runs Salto Los Leones

The first day here, we went to a “park and huck” waterfall called Salto Los Leonas. It is a 25 foot gentle waterfall, with bright blue water. Most of the group ran it, while a few of us walked upstream to a small playwave to tool around. I was of the latter group. It was nice to just get to surf for a bit. I miss playboating A LOT. Hopefully when we return to Pucon, the playhole near Dave’s house will be in.

The next day, The group ran the Lower Fuy. I stayed back with Callie, our wonderful new English Teacher, and taught her to roll. For once, the lake was not peaceful at all. Standing in the water with Callie, I would be swept off my feet by waves. In a lake!!! It was windy, but the warm wind of a storm coming. Callie and I had been in the water only 20 minutes, when she got her roll! We spent the rest of an hour and a half perfecting it, and starting on her hand roll. We had just stumbled through the wind back to the Hostel, when the rain started. And it poured. The rest of the group who had run the Lower Fuy, had a paddle across a lake in it!

Chase Simmons Plugs Los Leones Falls

Yesterday and today has been chilly and cloudy. Not the most encouraging weather to paddle in. But the River here is crystal clear all the way to the bottom, and every run is still a ton of fun.

-Tracy d’Arbeloff

David Gorski, a Gap Year student

Yesterday afternoon we took an hour drive to the Maichin River, a beautiful class IV run. Although (due to injuries of the back and knee) Katie and I went with David, Andy, Callie, Kyle, and Zoe on a class II-III run on the upper Maichin;  it was still absolutely beautiful and fun. Even relaxing. David helped Kyle and Zoe with their back deck rolls, while Andy helped Callie with her normal roll. I do believe that all three were successful by the end of the run. Katie and I worked on holding our bowstalls and pumping for flatwater loops. It was fun to just get some chill flatwater practice in.

Fruit is officially in season! Yum!

Today classes started. We had orientation in the morning, and then met with all our teachers for the normal periods. It was hard getting back in the swing of things. I think everyone was a bit slow to warm up. Especially me in Calculus. Ugh. But we have a fun packed quarter ahead of us, including some spectacular sounding side trips including a couple day horse expedition into the mountains in Patagonia in a couple weeks. So excited!!! I am so glad to be back at school…even if it means homework. Tomorrow Jessica Droujco arrives, and then February 1st we leave for Choshuenco and the Fuy. Expect lots of blogs! We have a really solid group, and I know that the next 7 weeks will be unforgettable.

Ok, Signing off.

Stay Warm!

-Tracy d’Arbeloff

Tracy d'Arbeloff, National Champion!

Breaking news!!!! Tracy d’Arbeloff just called me with the incredible news.  Tracy took first place at team trials and Emery Kate Tillman took second, earning them both available spots on the US National Team.  Having claimed their national championship and national championship runner up, they are now set to travel to Switzerland to compete for the title of World Champion! Congratulations!

Emery Kate Tillman, National Champion runner up

The 8^th annual Level Six capital cup was this past weekend in Ottawa city. It was a warm sunny day and the competition was fierce. Tents were set up and it was a day of fun starting in the early morning with the competitors meeting. 

The open women started out the event with the top 3 paddlers including Melanie Gravel, Sandra Kiviaho, and our very own Julia Fisher. All of the women did great some of them it was their first competition ever.  The judges were also top notch and included Billy Harris, Keegan Grady, Kalob Grady along with others.  The women did great. Up next was the Pro Junior girls which included three New River Academy ladies Alex Shallhorn, Palmer Miller, Tracy D’Arbeloff, and precious student Katie Kowalski. The 

It was a tough competition all of these girls are very good friends and were nailing moves. Blunts and roundhouses were their game.  Katie Kowaski dominated the junior girls category with Alex Shallhorn in a close second. The competition was really kicking off now with the red bull tent and all of the visitors hopefully some of them will get into paddling. The junior men was a big category with eleven competitors. The New River Academy boys defiantly brought their stuff to the table crushing the competition. Issaac Holden, Josh Mills, and Keegan Grady made it into the finals with Keegan sweeping up the competition with a score of 106.  His little brother Kalob Grady missed out on finals by a couple of tricks. The Men’s category was huge with twenty-nine competitors, with three heats. Four New River guys were bringing the fire and fear to the other competitors eyes. Jason Craig got into to finals and placed fourth. Jason is only 15 and was up against men who were a lot older then him. The top three paddlers were Dave Nieuwenhuis, Billy Harris, and Joel Kowalski, who is the new level six capital cup champion. 

The day was full of fun festivities with a BBQ and tents from local paddling clubs. The Nepean high school was nice enough to volunteer and help out the event. Tyler Lawlor did a great job hosting the event. Hopefully New River Academy can be back for the 9th annual Level Six Capital Cup.

Emery Kate Tillman 

Jackson Conn looks out at Oceana Rapid on the Tallulah Gorge run.

Next New River took on Brave wave in Rock Island Tennessee. The wave was super fun, and students and teachers alike were throwing huge. It was great training for Team Trials, which many of us students are trying out for late May. While at Brave Wave, the famous Billy Harris came in as a guest coach for a week. He was an amazing coach and helped everyone with their moves. It was a cool experience to get to learn from one of the best kayakers in the world in a one on one type setting.

Jason Craig about to run the New River Gorge in West Virginia…He forgot his pants apparently…

After Rock Island, Students had the choice of going back to the Tallulah, or going to the Ocoee. I chose to go to the Ocoee. The Ocoee river in Tennessee is a super fun play run. Isaac Holden and Jason Aytes both knew the run well, and showed the rest of us all the cool secret playspots. There were so many different lines you could take on all the rapids, the river never got boring.

Alex Shallhorn and David Hughes goof around by the Ocoee River in Tennessee

The next week, a few of the students went to the Green River, but most of us went back to West Virginia. There we ran the New River Gorge, which is probably my favorite run ever. It is not hard, but there is so much play, and lots of big fun wave trains. We have been running the gorge every day basically, and I still look forward to it tomorrow.

Alex Shallhorn and I after running the New River Gorge in West Virginia

School is going great, the kayaking has been amazing, and everyone seems happy. We leave for Canada thursday morning, so, I’ll have more to write about soon! (MINI BUS!!!)

-Tracy d’Arbeloff

If you want to read more about my travels, you can go check out my blog at WRSI or Still River Outfitters.com .

Photo students compose shots in Pichilemu, Chile.

Palmer Miller, David Gorski, Tracy d’Arbeloff, and Emery Tillman take turns directing photo compositions.

Photography classes in Pichilemu have been one day of planned assignments and shoots, followed by a day of uploading photos to the New River Academy Flickr account.

Two parts to the signs assignment: Capture a photo essay, series of 5 to 6 shots with signs that told a story. Signs must include both artistic and literature style signs.

Students take turns directing a shot while other photo students take their turn being models within the compositions.

David Hughes spots a smoking burger and note the drinking fries too.

David Hughes found the smoking hamburger amusing in this boardwalk painting.

Photo class compose shots in front of signs in Pichilemu, Chile.

Palmer Miller, Dave Gorski, and whale painting.

For more photos from New River Academy surf to the New River Academy Flickr account.