the moment

[abird]

ok, so what was the moment you knew you had to become a cboater?

i still think of it as clear as day. it was april 2000. i was a kayaker first, but i knew the second i saw jaime mcewan paddle that i HAD to become a c-1er. i saw my first race and i was too scared to participate, because it was snowing out, but i saw jaime mcewan absolutely smoke everybody. i knew at that moment that i had to quit kayak and take up c-1. twas decisive!!

so what was your big c-1 moment?
Alden

[Craig Smerda]

...so this female friend at the time and I had done a few class1+ rivers, canoecamping and the like... (humble-pie time) then we bought a Dagger Genesis from her neighbor that was "in-the-can" and proceeded to fix it up. First step- lot's of BONDO, then new knee pads.. second new seats with nylon webbing then can holders for beer, relaced the airbag cages?.. and showed up at the nearest creek uninvteded with a cooler, bungee cords, leather sandals, mowhawk paddles, no helmets and unzipped PfD's... they where nice enough to shoot us down the river, show us SURF-ing!, eddies, and the way down...... Class II and Class V looked the same then!...... I went solo with the boat and my lifestyle, met a great woman who loved my paddling diversity, progressed with skills, met people, married a woman who loved my love of paddling, and grew.......
...Fast forward (several years)... I've been lucky enough to paddle with and befreind the best OC'ers in the world.. they have led me, and challenged me down race courses, through BIG water, steep creeks, and seeking the thrill of holes I once avoided like the plauge. They have showed me their thoughts, plans, and aspirations, and I hope to do them proud in the future, by showing their idea's, forethought's to others. I've been blessed by my freinds..... wow! I don't normally spill my guts, but this topic hit's home for me. I have met soooooo many great, and diverse people from paddling, it still blows me away that this is such a fringe sport.. what a lucky person I am. Thank you to Kim (my wife), Pete, MJ, Laurie, Craigle"s", Dewey, Roy, David (pyscho), Frankie, Eli, and soooooo many others who go unnamed here. Without people like you I may have taken up a sport that everyone else does.... and they will never see the likes of the Green Narrows, trout jumping for flies in late spring, or the mid-summer sunset at your favorite playspot..... wow. (feel free to put this on my headstone!)
So what has paddling meant to you?, beacuse it changed the world for me.

[Ocoee Boater]

Wowww Craig thats hard to beat but amazing none the less and abird nice topic..
Im only 18 and have yet to experience the most crucial points in my life and am about to go through some crazy points here in university but i guess what got me started was my crazy a@! school in Canada. (Those canadians sure are nice people) but before i went there i didnt have that appreciation (as Craig beautifully said it) for mid-summer sunsets or Canadian winters. By going to this school with teachers from OUtward Bound I had teh chance of a lifetime. ANd Craig and just about every other canoeist, c1er, kayaker... i've met has been about the nicest people I've ever met. From the first time getting my ocoee open boat and people helping my goofy butt trying to surf it to getting everybody at Cboats.net to help me outfit my new transformer...to me..its a good way to get some good clean fun with a sport that is our own..thats unexploited and hasnt moved to the business pages with all those other sports..
my move to c1 was based purely on my girlfriend..shes a kayaker (ya i know but havent gone to the dark side) and she consitently made fun of my fear of being skirted in a closed boat so I gave it a chance in Andy Convery's (of Echo Paddles) forplay converted c1 and man oh man was that a rush...all i ever say after paddling is wow! theres nothing like the people, mother nature, and the feel of an immense river wave on your tail
So whats your story? cuz going from a california kid who didnt care about much except girls to a ...well i still care about girls but that appreciation came from up north

[Guest]

All I ever wanted to be was an OC1 canoester. But I was looking for my first boat and I new I'd outgrow it quick so I was looking for cheap. And my bud had this GyroMax he wasn't using so I figured what the heck. And then I figured I might as well learn to roll the thing and one of the instructors had a Slasher and I had to have one too cause I needed a boat that would school me.
BUT
Then my shoulders went to hades and every roll was like getting hit with a sledge hammer. So I got an Outrage and became the OC1 canoester I'd intended.
BUT
Now my shoulders are much better and I've almost got the Slasher under control. So I bought a Foreplay cause I need a boat that'll school me.

[jKelly-Rand]

My river running had two era's. Back in 75 my wife and I bought a canoe and we went with our friends to the Cacapon in WVA. It was Fall, so I brought this Navy fur lined jumpsuit to wear. At small dip in the river our canoe broached on the rocks and I went in. The river was only waist deep fortunately because that jumpsuit weighed a ton full of water. It did warm up fast but I learned then to dress light for the river. We did this river many times over the next few years and then other aspirations ended our river running. In 95 I returned to paddling for a trip through Smoke Hole Canyon, with a case of beer for flotation. My friend was in a Gyromax he had been paddling for ten years. I was really impressed but thought I could never fit in one of those. The trip ended with a mile long swim from the old dam down to Petersburg. There you can see the water mark of the 85 flood 12' up the wall of the local restaurant. So it progressed that I got myself a solo canoe and began to frequent the Deerfield with trips down to the MD. panhandle in the spring and fall. In 2000 I finally tried that C-1 and I haven't looked back. Was there a moment? No, I think it was just a progression of experience and tryiing something new. I will be looking at mystery boats next. (as well as that C-2)

til next
Jim

[Sir Adam]

Well, here goes. I don't know ! Or rather, don't remember . In my great corner of the world (Adirondacks) I'd never heard of a CBoater until I was 18 or so. BUT, I've been whitewater canoeing (or at least IN a whitewater canoe) on the Hudson since I was 3 (1979 or so). Until I was 16 or so I just paddled with my parents, did the Hudson River Whitewater Derby each year, and thought decked boats looked fun. At 16 I entered a very dark stage in my life and owned a Perception Reflex (it was cheap!), but my legs kept falling asleep . So, when I became a raft guide at 18 (minimum NYS limit) I became aware of a really great guy (Andy Banach) who had a "C1".

Since I was used to paddling a canoe anyway, I figured it would be a better fit than my little used Reflex. So, I sold it and purchased two boats he was selling (or rather, I bought a Cascade from him and he GAVE me a Slasher (he hated it). He also taught me to roll, but we never paddled.

So, I'm largely self-taught. Through college I kept paddling, and eventually sold my Cascade and Slasher to a friend to buy one of the first Dagger Atoms. A year or two out of college I leapt from Geology to computers (late 90's), and since I had a spring ruined with consulting work, put the $$ towards a Groove. I also noticed something on the web called the C-Forum. It had been around a few months, and I attended the Concordia-this was my first time paddling with other CBoaters!

I must say it was one of the best experiences of my life. Talking with super nice, down to earth folks like Davey Hearn, Bill Hearn, Andy Bridge, Kent Ford (not too mention DaveM and Scott W.!) really meant a lot. It proved that the sport I had always enjoyed by myself was also greatly enjoyed by many, many nice folks out there who WERE NOT ego-driven like so many kayakists I'd met.

The C-Forum also spawned this site-it was where I first took to the idea of creating a "virtual cboat museum" where people could learn about boats. I *think* it was Scott B. who first voiced the idea, but I don't remember any more! That has also grown into the "real" CBoat museum (aka "Collection") that I have. No real museum to show off the boats other than an old barn, but they're all boatable .

Well, I hope that wasn't too long winded for everyone, but like Craig, I wanted to put a lot of stuff down I never have before. I also want to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you that read and participate on this board, and go to events, and especially those who have sent in material to CBoats over the years. I've received many Thank You e-mails, and even a few boat donations to the Museum.

I hope you all get as much out of CBoats, both on the water and on the 'net as I have.

C-ya
"Sir" Adam

[sbroam]

A single moment? I don't know when I thought I just had to be a C-boater. Well, there was that first time I realized how people actually got down *inside* kayaks and hung around upside down in rapids, well, then I realized there weren't no way I was having any of *that* koolaid. Aside from that I can think of a number of defining moments -

* When my father-in-law to be put me and my wife to be in a canoe together on the Little Tennessee : I'd never been on moving water, while she'd canoed with the Girl Scouts many miles - he says - "You're heavier, you go in the back - you'll learn how to steer". We flipped going into an eddy, all the while he was screaming (from his *kayak*) "LEAN DOWNSTREAM!". I grabbed on the boat from the upstream side and was dragged over and pummeled by the rocks. The bruises were a nice shade of purple. [D'Etta did not get in a boat with me for a while - see another "moment" further down.] At that moment, my thoughts were "what the hades am I doing here..." I didn't know, but the seed was planted.

* Months later on the Nantahala : Same father-in-law to be says "We need to go run the Nanty! You didn't figure out steering last time, so you go in the front this time!" So, he takes out the front seat of his Explorer so I can sit further back and lower (i.e. on my knees or butt) and he took on steering duties. Moment 1 - after the 49th dowsing in the bow - "Hmmm, it's a little chilly up here, but this is kinda fun..." Moment B - after flipping in the "Falls" - "He's up to something - he's trying to kill me, run me off, or test me" I was on crutches for a week with a hyper extended ankle. The seed was growing...

* Running The Saluda at BIG lvels in a Coleman (with floatation!) - A friend and I ran it twice in one day following that dastardly father-in-law guy in his kayak. We flipped each time in the same monster hole. "Hey, this is fun - I need a real boat. Also, rain coats <> paddling wear..." Hooked...

* At the NOC Fall Sale (1991?) - buying that first whitewater boat (Mad River ME), after having been smitten by the gadgety-ness of it - multiple air bacgs, thigh straps, 3 pedestals, multicolor painters, etc... That just looked so good on top of my truck...

* Watching a tape of the '89 worlds - seeing Lugbill glide across that wave and spin around through that upstream gate...

* Saluda at high water again - We showed up for a Canoeing for Kids event that was supposed to be a pleasant float through the Fall foliage, a tropical storm changed that. They cancelled the event, but we, we being that father-in-law-in-a-yak and my wife and I in a canoe, pressed on. When I delivered her to the take out in graceful and dry style, the words defining the moment came from her - "You've gotten lots better! I might paddle with you again!"

* Ocoee, first trip, following Don Spaulding - watching Don in a 15' OC-1 out finesse the hottest of the kayakers without a sinlge wasted stroke - "Wow" I now have something to aspire to...

* First controlled, prolonged surf, Surfing Rapid, Nantahala, in the snow - that realization of what it is to be the skipping stone. Bliss.

* First stern squirt - Euphoria accompanied by the realization that I was in love. And that I'd better get that roll thing ironed out.

* First real, honest to goodness, live-fire, combat roll - You shoulda been there - missed the must make move, nightmare Jungian maelstrom, demonstration of chaos theory nonlinear fluid dymanics,under water jungle drums, omigosh-where-the-heck-am-i. bang-crack-thump - "Man, I just knew you were gonna swim!" That might just have been *the* moment - it was better than learning to ride a bike.

* Watching the tape of the '89 worlds years later- seeing Lugbill glide across that wave and spin around through that upstream gate, after having seen the Savage and having a more complete understanding of what it takes to do that... I am but a grasshopper.

* Kids in the boat - After running a bouncy II+ with our first two kids in the "big boat", they both said "Let's do it again!" Uh oh, planting my own seeds...

* Everytime I can plant a solid, smooth stroke and slide across the face of a wave...

I'm sure I left some out. I'm sure there will be more...

Scott
Cuz kayaks just don't feel right...

[Cone Bone]

I read a book in fourth grade, Rascal by Sterling North. The kid in the book made a canoe in his living room and spent some fine time on flatwater with his pet raccoon. After reading the book, I always knew I would someday make my own canoe.

Twenty years later I ordered plans for a stripper canoe designed by Jensen for Canoe magazine. I built the boat in my dad's garage and spent some fine time on flatwater with my wife at the time. I lived in Phoenix, AZ at the time, and always wondered if a person could take a canoe down a real river. I had no idea there were a bunch of active whitewater canoeists out there.

After following the boatbuilding bug to WA state, I got wind of a club of canoeists in Seattle, Paddle Trails Canoe Club. I found their website, joined and scheduled myself for a beginning whitewater canoeing class, bought a used Rival and took the class in the spring of 2001. My buddy Steve bought a boat and took the class with me.

The second or third session of the class, I watched Dave Mainer instruct while he casually buzzed around the river in his Ocoee. THE OC moment for me was watching Dave surf a class II wave while hollering ideas to the group. I was doing my best just to sit upright in an eddy - I knew then that I would spend whatever time was necessary to become proficient in an open boat on moving water. I thank Dave and his wife Peggy for getting me fully into the sport.

I flip so much that getting a decked boat just seemed the intelligent thing to do. More internet surfing brought me to the C-Forum. Lurking the forum lead me to buying a C-1. I have to say that I don't think any of us on this forum realize what a cool thing this site really is. For me, it has been huge, and I really appreciate it.

I bought a used Cascade from the Mainer's quiver. I always thought of it as a training boat for my real goal of OC-1 proficiency. Two kayak conversions later, I had THE C-1 moment. Dinking around on the Nisqually near my home, I cranked into an eddy at the end of a strong chute. I was in my freshly converted Forplay. My bow dipped under the back current in the eddy. In slow mo' I followed the boat down and under. No big deal, but that fluid moment is burned in my mind. It was then that I quit thinking OC and admitted that I was a C-1 junkie.

Since this is a great opportunity to mention the wonders of rivers and boating, I will add this. A passing acquaintence of the time spotted my Rival when I was trying to install the boat's outfitting in my driveway. He became very animated, and insisted that we hit the river together soon. It turns out that Pino, the acquaintence, grew up paddling OC and C boats in Italy. Since that day, Pino has covered my butt on the river for more trips than I can count. He is the real reason that I made it this far without drowning or becoming discouraged. He has also become one of my best friends.

Best regards!

[dgemoets]

I kayaked some in the mid 90's, but could never keep my feet from falling asleep ( I mean, I could stay in a boat like 10 min max).

Fast forward to last year, when while living in upstate NY a friend sold me a riot slice setup C1. I could actually sit in it for more than 10 min!

this summer I spent some time in the WW park in Golden, CO ( a great place to learn) and am now in Cody, WY playing on the Shoshone.

It is so nice to be back out on the rivers. And, I have to admit, it is kind of fun being the only C-boater (I think) in town. Seems like C-boating is bigger in the East than in the West.

Darren

[Jim]

The posts about the weekend on Vermont's West River reminded me about one of my 'moments'. I first ran the West, spring of 1989, solo in a 16' Mad River Explorer. The shuttle up (back then they ran a spring shuttle) was one of the last of the weekend on Sunday afternoon, and it left me more scared than any river I have ever run, before or since. I was with a bunch of kayakers, and I just kept staring at the water with my jaw hanging open and a look of terror. I figured I had just moved out of my territory and into theirs. They convinced me to give it a try (at that point in my career my nickname was "Entertainment" for all the swimming shows I put on). I ended up with a pretty clean run, a huge adrenaline rush, and a great respect for the canoe. I could not get enough time on the water.

The next time I returned to the West I was in a Whitesell Pyranha and I had a roll. The river looked MUCH smaller and more manageable from inside that boat.

After that I had the good fortune of following Jim Michaud around for a few trips. Another of my moments came when he, in his OC, was leading a kayaking buddy of mine down Connecticut's Sandy Brook. With Jim's instruction of "just follow my line" my friend thought 'no problem' since Jim only required 2 casual strokes to make the crux move. He then proceeded to follow in the kayak, nudge a rock, and then needed a frenzy of flailing strokes to go bracing and bouncing after Jim. He kept saying "He's in a freaking canoe and he made it look so easy, how the hades did he do that?" Ahhh- finesse, and the joy of C-boating.

Family and work obligations have kept me away from the West for several years. I was hoping to get up there this weekend and reminisce (we had a campsite all reserved) but one of my sons was really sick with asthma and pneumonia. Oh well- sometime soon.

Alden- I hope you make it to NY and have a great race this weekend. I look forward to seeing you at the Esopus race next weekend.

Jim

[Joey]

well, my mom and dad paddled open boats all through the 80s. i think my dads first trip was in a tandam mohawk, that he and his friend swam out of every rapid on the lower yough. so i kind og grew up around canoeing. my father and i did a canoe race every year on the rappahanok river in fredricksburg VA since i was 6, and we won too! about that same time, we started heading down to the smokies for a club trip once a summer. i usually paddle tandem with someone a few days on the trip usually on the nantahala, or the nolichucky. we move down to atlanta when i was 11, and i think that was when i really started paddling by my self. i think that was the year thew ocoee came out, and my dad had to have the first one off the line. this ment that i got the encore!. at age 12 the encore was longer than i was old!(encore is around 13'). i didnt stop me from paddling it as hard as i could though. we did family trips to tyhe ocoee, and the nanty almost every weekend. my poarents would usually go paddle the ocoee one day, and then take me down the nanty the next. i guess it was on section 4 of the chattoga that i met eli for the first time (which was also my first time running section 4). i had never seen a c-1 do the things he could do in a "playboat" which was the RPM at the time. damnit i wanted to do tricks to! i worked the entire summer at the pool to save enough money for my first c-1. i finally got the money, and bought a used Atom from a friend. i think that was the year it came out. i bought my first boat when i was 14, and i couldnt even drive. since then, the boats have gotten shorter, and the creeks have gotten steeper, but i still love paddling c-1. --- joey

[PAC]

I can say I have come to C1ing in a very round about manner. Starting first as a kid canoe with mom on fishing trips! At a time when few women did the outdoorsy thing – thanks mom! Then doing the annual rafting thing with buddies on the Gauley and Yough! Oh we thought we were bad!!!
Finally, in my early 30s I got out of one relationship (female) and into another – that being a $50 12’10” glass kayak with gear. Seemed like the right thing to do!
Learned to paddle and roll on my own by way of the crash-and-burn method! Through skiing I found REAL boaters and soon I was running big and scary stuff, still without a clue (something’s don’t change)! I soon migrated to squirt boats since everyone else I paddled was in them.
After a long period of pain and draining I decided I wanted something more comfortable (anything more comfortable) so I bought a Probe 12 OC1 (much better but I still had the draining thing going on). Paddled it for years becoming a much better boater (at least by my lowly standards)! Had loads of fun and was always the silly open boater with those crazy squirt boaters.
Then on a shuttle to the put in for the Lower Gauley I meet an older couple who wound up sort of paddling down the river with our lose group (squirt boaters and me in an OC1). As I followed gentlemen’s fluid C1 lines in my OC1 I KNEW I had to have a C1. Carter Hern sure makes it look easy!
That Christmas I found a Cascade and gear in my living room the wife had bought for me.
So here I am - still without a clue, but with a desire to paddle. Not to mention all the great people I’ve meet through the single blade, and paddling in general. Now I’m trying to pass the addiction on to my kids – and it’s working!

PS: Mr. Hern probably doesn’t remember me and I might never be as smooth as he is but it does give me something to shoot for.