C-Forum

I have friends that live 5 minutes from the whitewater center in Charlotte. I know people have discussed paddling there on here, but I just was told they don't allow open canoes and was turned away. Is this something new? Not that it really matters because I will never go back, just curious.

i was there (in a c1, mind you) 2 or 3 weeks ago. there was an open boater there. i'll use the term loosely. there was a guy with an archaic mohawk boat. i dont know what it was. it was darn near wider than it was long though. well maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but it had to be 3 or 4 feet wide. and he had his airbags bungied in, and no doing much but floating on top of the water in his boat. nearly every time i saw him he was swimming, dragging a completely swamped canoe behind him...i figured the least i could do was teach him a bit about fixing up his outfitting some and after flipping to turn the boat upright before dragging in to shore. i would have helped him more ,but i was having trouble enough keeping my own self together....

if they were letting him paddle there, i'm guessing they'll let anybody.

i think there are folks from the board headed over there this week actually....

It was probably just me but it still sucks.

Never had any problems there. I'll be there tomorrow in an open boat.

Just checked their website. They don't mention canoes, open or decked. All references are to kayaks. Their phone number is 704 391-3900. Their email is info@usnwc.org

Eric and I will see ya' at the WWC tomorrow, Dave - of course the only thing that will be archaic there is me!

When there in person, the first person told me canoes were not allowed despite the fact that there was one on the course - a dude in the next room overheard my attempt to explain about whitewater canoes and floatation, etc and he said I definitely would be allowed with an appropriate canoe. So, if they say no, keep pushing,

Pushed a little but and talked to two different people. Just wasn't in the mood to hang put until someone else showed up to make the final call. Ended up paddling out on Mt. Isle Lake with one of my friends. Probably had as much, if not more, fun. Might try again, but on a day with other open boaters there.

yeah they tried that on me, open canoe and whitewater canoe r 2 differents items there. the place has tons of whirlpool eddie's ;tuff on canoe's :but its a must do ~ scott

sorry to hear you got skunked.

I think we may need an open boat day over.

If that was the last place to boat... I'd take up basket weaving or stamp collecting. They hung the Open Canoe Slalom racers out to dry, with a year long promise to host Nationals as the inaugural event. Only to re'nig at the last possible moment, with all manner of things... then had the audacity to host a deck boat race, like the next week. Sorry to say this for you South Carolina boys, but that place has always held itself in too high a regard to suit my taste.... shame on me if I ever spend a dime there.

Uh Phill, isn't that place in North Carolina?

I can assure you that we do still allow whitewater canoes outfitted with secure flotation.

Here is what our website quotes in the FAQ section
What kinds of boats are permitted on the whitewater channels?
Whitewater specific kayaks and canoes are the only boats other than guided rafts allowed on the channels. No duckies or inflatable boats are permitted.

Hope that clears up any confusion. If you have any questions feel free to email me fcoffey@usnwc.org

Cheers

Fergus Coffey wrote:I can assure you that we do still allow whitewater canoes outfitted with secure flotation.

Here is what our website quotes in the FAQ section
What kinds of boats are permitted on the whitewater channels?
Whitewater specific kayaks and canoes are the only boats other than guided rafts allowed on the channels. No duckies or inflatable boats are permitted.

Hope that clears up any confusion. If you have any questions feel free to email me fcoffey@usnwc.org

Cheers

BS - I saw a wave runner there on an episode of Nitro Circus. They're playing favorites!