Are NOC courses good?

yarnellboat · Post by **yarnellboat** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:42 pm

Being from BC, I don't know much the Nantahala Outdoor Centre, or anything else in the east. I have always wanted to do the advanced open-boating week at the Madawaskwa Kanu Centre in Ontario, but a friend is now looking at the NOC courses...

So, is the 5-day course at NOC a worthwhile way for an experienced class III solo playboater to spend their time & money?

I told her to just go to ALF instead of the course, but I think her timing favours April (NOC) over March (ALF).

Thanks for any feedback on the worth of NOC instruction.

Pat.

ezwater · Post by **ezwater** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:58 pm

I've only taken roll-related instruction, but it was good. Their multi-day river courses sure look good on paper.

Or, you could come to ALF and Louie will show you a thing or two. He LOVES Canadians.....

gumpy · Post by **gumpy** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:28 pm

i haven't done either, but i have a friend who's done both and she said madawaska was way better. aparently mkc is more canoe oriented in general, and has much better food too.

2opnboat1 · Post by **2opnboat1** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:54 pm

I think the NOC is ok for butt boaters but they lack something (a lot) in the OC department

Post by **sbroam** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:09 pm

The last time I looked at their print catalog, I didn't remember even seeing a canoe course. They do show them on line at this time :

http://www.noc.com/index.php/solo-and-t ... urses.html

Wayne Dickert works there and is a good guy and excellent c-boater - I'd think he could put on a decent class if he is still involved in that.

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:18 pm

The year that OC Slalom Nats were on the Nanty, Wayne came to Week of Rivers & offered a free half day course on whatever we wanted. 3 of us wanted to do slalom, so that's what he did. He is an excellent boater & teacher. I don't know if he does much instruction anymore, but if you can get him I think you'd be happy if that's the sort of thing you're looking for. I don't know anything about any other instructors there.

I didn't come out of the class a better boater, I came out with some stuff to work on...I still have some stuff to work on.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 11:16 pm

If Wayner is teachin it you couldn't do much better but Andrew Westwoods at MKC is just as good. Tell her we boat in April a lot also. Have her come spend a weekend with us first and then tell Wayner she was just with us and he will know what bad habit he should try and break her of. I might be in Korea for three weeks in April however.

Bruce Farrenkopf · Post by **Bruce Farrenkopf** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 2:13 am

NOC has done an outstanding job instructing the three different courses I've taken there over the years. Make sure you get into a canoe specific course at the right skill level. The instructors I had there were phenomenal.

yarnellboat · Post by **yarnellboat** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 4:52 am

I guess the main question is how likely they are to be able to group you in an appropriate skill level. They offer a stock program on given weeks, and say they will assess your level and give you what you want, but does that always happen, or how much does it depend on who signs up that week and what canoe instructors are around?

Maybe all the recent trashing on here of ACA insructors has made me skeptical!

Pat.

philcanoe · Post by **philcanoe** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 5:22 am

Call and talk to them, see what your options are. I know in years past, Eli taught there some weekends. Or maybe see if he's got any free time. I've taken Kent Ford (NOC) instruction that way years ago, by just getting into the schedule at the right time.

xmas0c1c1k1 · Post by **xmas0c1c1k1** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 5:35 am

http://www.thecanoeguru.com/

jcsieck · Post by **jcsieck** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 12:47 pm

I have been there twice and would highly recommend their instruction. Their instructor ratio is no more than 4 to 1.

for a few extra dollars I booked 4 days of private lessons because I had just bought a zoom and did not feel I could keep up with others. The instructor showed up with the same boat so he could know exactly what I was up against.

With one on one instruction you dont get away with anything. The instructor watches and works with your every move. everything is taylored to you including what river you want to run on any given day.

I think the money is well worth it and will be going there again.

good luck
Joe

Mike W. · Post by **Mike W.** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 12:59 pm

xmas0c1c1k1 wrote:http://www.thecanoeguru.com/

What he said.

You won't go wrong w/ Eli. Cool guy, outstanding paddler.

Post by **PAC** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 1:45 pm

Diddo...

xmas0c1c1k1 wrote:
http://www.thecanoeguru.com/
Mike W. wrote:
What he said.

Big Dave · Post by **Big Dave** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 1:50 pm

Mike W. wrote:
xmas0c1c1k1 wrote:http://www.thecanoeguru.com/
What he said.

You won't go wrong w/ Eli. Cool guy, outstanding paddler.

Ditto ......
I tried getting into white water in a butt boat by taking the week long course at NOC about two years ago.

They had some great instructors and out of this world food. Being quite a bit on the large (way over wieght

) side I thought about the OC option .........

I spent a week with Eli this last June ....... I can not say enough good things about him. I would much rather learn from him.