John Pinyard posted this over at the USA WildWater ( http://www.usawildwater.com/ ) site, and I've linked it here because he makes some very good points that can be correlated to CBoating in general. Also, he's RIGHT. More of us DO need to try WildWater. It is not easy, but it is very thrilling and the speed is abosolutely amazing.
Please check it out and think it over. Perhaps I'll C U at a race next year
I'd love to try! But, there are several reasons I personally am less likely to try that out that other modes :
1. lack of opportunity to try it out - the race boats are quite a bit different than rec boats and a lot more scarce. And on those rare occasions when I've seen them at races, I've really not been comfortable enough to ask somebody to let me try out their expensive, fragile, tippy, glass boat...
2. time (?) - when I get to the river, I want to maximize my time on the water, be that park and play, playing at slalom, or playing my way down a river - WW is about minimizing time on the water! Or rather, you have to keep shuttling... And you have to fly past those tempting surfing waves... If my paddling time were less scarce, I might be inclined to try it out more often<edit> .
Not that it is unappealing - I've participated in two down river races and they were certainly fun. The challenge of seeking the fastest line was certainly different than the challenge of hitting every eddy, surfing every wave...
And being in the SE, there seem to be only a handful of races per year that are within a 6 hour driving radius...
Scott
[I kick myself for passing up the WW C-1 3 years ago for $200...]
Last edited by sbroam on Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Where can I find a WW C-1? Maybe something old, beat up & cheap (it won't get used much). Team trials are on the Nanty in March! Scott, can we find a C-2? I primarily paddle right, but due to dabbling in flatwater, I can do lefty.
I agree with Scott in that it's tough to pass up the surf spots while racing . Last year while making a practice run forWWOC nationals we passed a buddy of mine playing at surfer's. I eddied out, talked & got in a surf before heading down to catch my racing buddies. When I caught them they all asked if I was ok & had I swam. I just told 'em that I needed to surf . It's also tough for a playboater to look for fast lines. I'm used to looking for meat & a place to eddy out so I can jump back into the meat .
I posted on my club's board that I want a boat. How much harder are these things to paddle than a Viper or Acrobat?
I'd love to do some wildwater racing, but I don't really have much money and couldn't buy a boat. Do ya'll know if the NRC participates in wildwater races?
Was just looking at the usawildwater.com site - they have an equipment posting board. There's a C-2 for sale for $200..."very used". Email contact is cralbright@juno.com
If anyone hears of one for sale cheap in Europe....let me know
Ciao
Matt
NZMatt
Hmmm....new country, new rivers...-
Still not enough c-boaters....
Here's the response from the guy with the $200 C-2:
First of all the boat is tenatively sold. I will know after the 9th or so. It is in need of some glass work. As the story says it met its match on the Loisach in Germany. I just kept adding tape and that is how it is now. Chas. I will let you know how it plays out with the Irish guy. Regular small cockpit skirts. I will see if I can get a photo. It is in my basement.
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I also have a line on a C-1 that was built in '76 & sounds like it needs work. Probably the kind of thing that you wouldn't mind beating up on the Nantahala .
Update on the previously mentioned wild-water C-2:
"the C-2 is still for sale. As I said before it was heavy, like 69 lbs when raced, It was beat up in garmish and all I ever did was keep adding tape. I have no idea what is going on under the tape but I am sure that it has damage to the wings ( tight fits on the Loisach). It had a white deck and a black hull. Has lots of stickers. It was a Feeling built by Valley Mill. The skirts were large C-1 size. Had a skeg that was large by thickness compared to others that I have paddled. It did not have a skeg slot. It was a training layup and I believe I spent about $1500 for it. I would sell it for $200. Charles Albright 775-324-5102"
. Last year while making a practice run forWWOC nationals we passed a buddy of mine playing at surfer's. I eddied out, talked & got in a surf 
before heading down to catch my racing buddies. When I caught them they all asked if I was ok & had I swam. I just told 'em that I needed to surf 
. It's also tough for a playboater to look for fast lines. I'm used to looking for meat & a place to eddy out so I can jump back into the meat