Are NOC courses good?

[dcoc1]

I've taken the 5-day Intermediate I and Intermediate II courses at NOC and thought the quality of instruction was excellent. The first year the group was a little larger (maybe 5 or 6 participants) and there were 2 instructors - Jimmy Holcombe and Chris Enis. The other year there were just 3 of us in a group being taught by Eli.

Even though you're in a group the student-to-instructor ratio is really low, so you get a lot of personalized instruction. They're also willing to shuttle you around to different rivers in the area. Over the course of the 2 classes we ran sections of the Pigeon, Tuckasegee, French Broad, Nolichucky, and Nantahala (of course).

A solid Class III boater would definitely want to take an Advanced course (if they offer such a thing).

I've never been up to Madawasku, but have heard good things.

[Ladd]

I have taken private instruction at NOC. Both times I requested Jimmy Holcombe as the instructor. He was fantastic. It is also cool to talk to him about the history of the sport and his first descents (such as first hard boat descent Gauley). You get a tremendous amount of instruction in a short period of time. I actually recommend not doing consecutive days if possible(for private). Unless you are in great shape; the multiple ferries, surfing, rolling, catching more eddies than you thought existed, can get quite fatiguing in a hurry when you are the only student.

I once did a Saturday on the Nanty followed by Sunday on the Ocoee. Great fun and informative but WHIPPED at the take-out as it was early in the season. The highlight was when I barely missed the small eddy Jimmy was sitting in at the top of Broken Nose. It was my first time to run the main line. I ran the top drop backwards and back paddled into the eddy above the second drop. It was exciting and fortunately I did not swim!

I think Wayner or Eli would also be awesome.

Ladd

[Smurfwarrior]

Speaking in general terms, what's the normal cost of a day of one on one training? Also, what's the best source for oc1 roll instruction videos? I'm having a bear of a time getting my roll back.

[jcsieck]

The prices can be found on the NOC web site at www.noc.com

You can also call them and they will explain everything, they are very nice to deal with.

There is a video by Bob Foote entitled The open canoe roll. It covers some basic moves to get started. You should be able to purchase it from NOC at their on line store.


By the way- If you are going to roll a Zoom It works much easier if you cut a waterway under the seat to allow water to pass from one side of the boat to the other as you are rolling up.

Good Luck
Joe

[ncdavid]

Got lucky last summer. Took a ACA tandem/solo whitewater instructor course through Davidson College. We had six candidates. Instructors were Jimmy Holcombe, Wayner, Gordon Black, and Ed Dougherty. I'd agree with all the positive comments here about Jimmy Holcombe and Wayne Dickert. And you can add Ed Daugherty and Gordon Black to any list of dynamite instructors. But there are tons of good instuctors out there, some ACA certified, some not.

[kimmieOC1]

Like others have said, I say your friend should contact Eli at http://www.thecanoeguru.com/

Eli is incredible. I call him the canoe whisperer after my day or two paddling with him. NOC may be fine, but I can't imagine anyone better than Eli.