Project X 56 at work: NOC hole on the Pigeon River

 What an awesome boat! Its a great all around boat, amazing at down river, and especially at what its made for: FREESTYLE. Ive made few recent trips over to the Peigeon river in western North Carolina, and while the river isn't exactly known for quality playspots, there is a "somewhat" new feture down at the NOC outpost that is pretty good. 

 Depending on the level of course its a pretty active hole, with "wavey" characteristics.  Ive been on days when it was nice a retentive, but ive also seen days where it wasn't quite so proactive.  Nonetheless a nice place to get wet in a great boat.

 This playspot has park a huck potential but, you can always run the river just the same to get to it. 

 It also harnesses the ability to go huge on traditional areial moves like loops, godzillas, etc..

Video highlights to come soon, thanks for stoppin by!

-Charlie Simmons-

Team WS

Photo dump.......

So lets play catch up....me on tripple falls- (low water)
squirtin to pass time...

squirtin

going down

just chillin at keiths cabin

how about some.....

mt boardin

zach sanders

me

Andy on Zwicks backender

Andy Hobson on Tripple falls

gotta jet, hope you ejoyed it

-charlie simmons

Photo Dump!!- enjoy

So Ive been out boating non-stop lately and i have a lot of photos and stories to upload, but to get a huge jump start on it all. So here are a bunch photos all courtesy of my buddy Wes Brown, thanks a lot bro!

Lunch Stop wave- Mulberry forkTallapoosa River- Andy's couldron flareLocust Fork- Ender holeTallapoosa- boofMulberry Fork- Lunch stopJohnnies Creek- entrance fallsMulberry ForkTraveling paddle wagon- new years campoutMe!

Thanks again for all the sweet photos Wes.

-charlie-

Team WS,SR,Ophion,BomberGear,SkirtworkS

Playboating in my Project 52

So with all the recent rain i have been able to get on some great creeks and rivers lately, and had a blast doing so. But all in all i have been missing a good 'ol playboating throwdown session, so over Christmas and New Years break i took to the Locust and Mulberry Forks of the Worrior river in North central Alabama.

With plenty of waves and holes to chose from we had a great time, i felt like i was returning to my roots.......... i have recently been creek boating so avidly that its been a while since i felt the rush, power, and speed of a play feature.

I want to take this opportunity thank my Sponsors, Wavesport kayaks, Ophion paddles, ShredReady Helmets, BomberGear, and SkirtworkS. They provide the best gear, with the best support so make SURE to check them out!

signing out

-charlie-

SkirtworkS- sprayskirts and accessories

SkirtworkS is great company right out of Friendsville, Md. and they have handsdown some of the best service I have ever delt with. Owners Charles and Karen put a great effort into assuring the best products they can manufacture, and have a handson effort on every product. SkirtworkS even offers custom made skirts to ensure the best fit for the right job.
SkirtworkS mission:
"Here at SkirtworkS we know the paddle sport industry is growing and changing everyday. It is our promise to build and test our products and find new solutions to be able to provide you with a higher quality product at a reasonable price. Our skirts are manufactured from the highest quality material available today. All of our seams are hand glued with pride right here at our shop in Friendsville MD."

With a full line of sprayskirts, and accessories including footwear, head gear, and even poggies, SkirtworkS has what you need, so make sure and
CHECK IT OUT HERE:
http://www.skirtworks.com/
-charlie simmons-

team skirtworks

Wavesport Kayaks - whitewater kayaks period.

http://www.wavesport.com/ http://www.doubleyouess.com/

Since 1986 Wave Sport has been pushing the boundaries of paddling, revolutionizing paddling, and how we think about kayaking. Wavesport kayaks have played a huge roll in my kayaking history. My second kayak ever was a Wavesport T2, my first C1 ever was the same Wavesport t2, my first creek boat ever was a Wavesport stubby, and my first real playboat was the Wavesport project 52........

I've been super fortunate enough lately to become a member of Team Wavesport, and am FIRED UP about throwing down in the project 52 once again, and dropping serious bombs in the super sweet Wavesport Habitat creekboat.

So with being said, prepare yourselves for a Wavesport revolution! I'm gonna sweep the region, and hopefully far beyond spreading the Wavesport goodness.

Here is a letter from Bryan Kirk, team manager;........

"We've had a couple new additions around N. America for Wave Sport's Regional Team. Taylor Cavin has been killing the creeks in his native CA, Charlie Simmons is creeking, surfing, and slalom racing in Alabama, and Tyler Fox out of Ontario has been traveling all over the globe promoting WS. Let's welcome all these guys to the Team. The Project 52CX is coming along, and will be available in early '09. Keep in touch(and warm!)",Bryan Kirk

Ophion Paddles - Precision Paddles for Precision Paddlers

Ophion paddles are made in small village in Slovenia. Made from the best materials, and using state of the art technique to precision manufacture some of the finest paddles made today in my opinion.

I've been fortunate enough to be on Team Ophion U.S. actually honored to be the first United Sates native ambassador, but I'm sure just the first of many to come.

The name Ophion comes from Greek mythology, Ophion ruled the water then; and Ophion paddles rule the water now!

Sasa Rejec, the owner and engineer of Ophion Paddles, worked with Aqua-planing to design car tires, and made the realization that it could be used to design paddles too.

His father, whom already was a paddle maker, inspired Sasa to follow through with his idea.

Sasa followed through with it while resting from a broken arm by mountain bike accident.

And now makes the power that is Ophion.

He strives to try and fill the gap in the lack of custom made kayak and canoe paddles. Not only should you chose a length and style, but weight and uses.

If you could completely customized your paddle wouldn't you?

so check them out here

http://www.ophionpaddles.com/

do it now and save on the christmas specials.

til next time

-charlie

Green River Narrows Race - 13th annual

The Green River Narrows marks the coolest dam released creeking in the southeastern united states and maybe beyond.

Paddlers from all over test their skill and will on the river on almost a daily basis, thanks to the natural gradient and Duke energy. The Green river flows out of Lake Summit, located in Saluda North Carolina. Its a small mountain lake, with about a one hundred foot tall hydro-electric dam feeding the Green river.

Once a year around Halloween there is a race held on The Green River Narrows that challenges more skill and technique that I've ever been tested on before. Racing whats called "The Monster Mile," the race course involves about twenty rapids most ranging into class Five. There are normally about 300-500 spectators at least, (which doesn't sound like much, but when your talking about a remote river canyon it is.)

The Race calls for a demand in endurance, physical, and mental strength.

And Six 'Bama boys made it out to represent. Sam England, Andy Hobson, Danny Flynt, Luke Scott, and Snodgrass all raced in the short boat class.

And I held in down in the long boat class, using a nice teal blue Perception Corsica Matrix.

The race was AWESOME!!!!!!

I believe the most fun I have ever had competing in whitewater kayaking.

Luckily it was a safe year and no one was hurt. Amazing considering the amount of carnage and low water level.

Next year will be the 14th annual race and it should be even bigger and better!

i look forward to it every day.

All of the pictures were taken by my girlfriend Brittany Nelson, with the exeption of the one of me in the corsica on Gorilla.

-charlie