C-Forum

Are there any places where one can go to learn the fundementals of OC-1 paddling, in the winter?

I know there used to be an outfit in Costa Rica, but do not know its status.

Contact Esprit rafting. They have a facility in Mexico. I know they run OC and kayaking trips. I'm not sure if they have instruction, but they are very cool about doing things custom, so I imagine they might arrange something for you.

The owners and a few of their top instructor/guides go down there, so I'm sure the quality of instruction would be high.

My other suggestion is sure to get a reaction..... contact Bob Foote. He runs a trip to Costa Rica, and that may or may not include instruction.

h2sk1 wrote:
My other suggestion is sure to get a reaction..... contact Bob Foote. .

NO COMMENT
also try Endless River Adventures http://www.endlessriveradventures.com/
they do trips down south as well and they are really good peeps

squeakyknee wrote:

h2sk1 wrote:
My other suggestion is sure to get a reaction..... contact Bob Foote. .

NO COMMENT
also try Endless River Adventures http://www.endlessriveradventures.com/
they do trips down south as well and they are really good peeps

And they won't wizzz in your booties.

I am not sure about the OC part, but there is Ben Kvanli in San Marcos TX. they have a course like 250 feet from their house, and I tihnk he could do something with you. or at least it's worth a try...
http://www.redriverracing.com/
Skaal
-Isaac

oh, and the water is always like 81 degrees because it's from a spring, and it runs year round...
-isaac

Spring fed 430cfs. and a constant 71 degrees. Warm in the winter, cool in the summer. Fresh water prawns and blind salamanders. It's the San Marcos River and I believe they do teach c-boating, open and closed.

Sounds nice- how's the play?

The best spot on the San Marcos River is in the town of San Marcos at Rio Vista. The city replaced an old dam with a small WW park. Three drops. I found a couple of youtube videos (mostly Kayakers, sorry). It is a fun place to play and I enjoy the smallest drop to work on my side surfing (see last video). Great for working on skills. If any C-boaters are interested in heading down, there are a few c-boaters in Central Texas, some very good.

Ben Kvanli is training for the Beijing Olympics in C2. See second video. He is very enthusiastic about the sport and I believe he would be an excellent instructor. Bob Foote is in Houston and often runs a class in the area late fall or early spring.

Dirk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbNgFnQGUyY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OwRxt0ETJw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceUtYN9Ea-U

thats the top hole... it's wicked sticky in a long boat, but there are two other drops that are like 1/3 the size of the first one, the last one has a little hole to it, and the middle is mainly just currented water. but it is good for technique, and working around really weird gate configurations... we had an 18 gate slalom there this spring, and it was a mess, It was actually difficult to not get lost, in the first pool there were i tihnk 8 or 9 gates...

How's the play?
The 6 or so springs that compose the headwaters ( first named San Marcos springs by some spanish explorer in 1689) now form a small lake ( dam formed in the 1850's) which is home to 2 species that exist only here. Texas wild rice & the San Marcos salamander.
The scuba and snorkeling is excellent below this lake, with nightime
stealth missons in the lake. The river then runs thru the SWT campus (5:3 female to male) where the play turns toward the bikini clad San Marcos split-tail. Big Fun!! Then, as Dirk said, the Scott Shipley designed playpark. 3 drops with a total gradient of about 10-12 ft. Tame but fun. Here a low water prepark video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz4Rt3Vh4rU

Next is Ben's place The Olympic Power Center. I believe they have about 6-8 instructors. Then a couple of beginner friendly waterfalls, where Ben takes his students .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma2wMXDGpKU

While not really a whitewater river, it is an awesome place. It is also home to the Annual Texas Water Safari, a grueling hallucination filled 260 mile self-supported race to the Gulf. Not for the faint of heart, day/night non-stop paddling thru log jams, poisonous snakes, alligators, poison ivy, ect. Not my idea of fun.

And, if you come RC, Mexican Creek has been running all year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4IuNB_SanE

It is dam fed, and that lake is full.

Hi, Isaac;
I was going to take the Fink down Mexican Creek that day, but the fear of losing all my flesh got the better of me. I'm going to wait for it to drop a little more, or bring my open boat. I'll post the carnage. (if I live). Hope all is well. Bill

Bill,
I hope you are getting in that boat... I wish I could have, but the racing is treating me well, and all in all, It would have been nice to have been able to keep it, but I think you will enjoy it more than I was able to...
cheers
-isaac

We do have an instructional program form OC1 in mexico. Andrew Westwood is a guest instructor over new year and Jim Coffey heads up other instruction for the balance of the season.

Hope to see you,

Team Esprit