TWO new Whitewater Kayaking Videos to View!

Check out "killing time"- a whitewater kayaking short with footage from the southeast united states. Featuring a little obligatory Green River Narrows footage, Big Scirum Creek, Rock Creek, Tallapoosa River, and The Locust Fork of the Warrior River. See it all here creek boating, freestyle boating, and even some head cam action.

Music:Pretty Lights

Paddling:

Charlie Simmons, Ray Morton, Zach Sanders, Sam Casuey, Collin Hunt and other riders.

enjoy!

Dropping H20 - Whitewater Kayaking in Gorges State Park, NC from charlie simmons on Vimeo.

Check out some class V kayaking in western North Carolina's Jocassee Watershed (Gorges State Park Area).  Including Horse Pasture River, Upper and Lower WhiteWater River, plus a little freestyle footage to glue it all together!

Music: Pretty Lights

Paddling:

Charlie Simmons, Charlie Mix, Sam England, Sam Causey, Zach Sanders, Andy Hobson, Collin Hunt, Jordan Sherman, Tyler Phillips, Will Dowling, King Charles, Ben Bernhard, and other chargers.

-enjoy

2010 Green River Narrows Race 11/6/10

(above)A Great shot from Creeking.info of me on Gorilla during this years race. Thanks guys!

The 2010 Green River Race went off without a hitch!  An amazing event, one that everyone can enjoy; paddlers and spectators alike. ( If you aren't aware of what it is check my previous posts which describe the event in greater detail  http://www.charliesimmonsboating.blogspot.com/).

Here is a link to the RACE RESULTS

http://greenrace.amongstit.com/2010/11/07/2010-green-race-results/

I got a 5min and 24 second time,  (thats close to 350 vertical feet descended in just under a mile!) and though it didn't go as well as i had planned worked out pretty clean and definately fun! 1st place Finish goes out to Mike Dawson. cheers!

Close up of me on Gorilla, photo by Brittany Nelson

"Sunshine" Right- photo by Brittany Nelson

"Go Left and Die"

Here is a link to a great video from this years race, put together by Get Wet Productions; Featuring many different view points as well as rapids and paddlers.

And yet another video from "Mindless Conception" showcasing an entirely different perspective, and a very cool one at that.

Big Thanks to all of you whom help organize, promote, and follow through with such an AMAZING EVENT!  As well as everyone that hiked in just to watch, cheer, and yes even enjoy the carnage.....it wouldn't be the same without all of you.

See you on the River

-charlie simmons-

Team Wavesport, Shred Ready, Ophion Paddles, Bomber Gear, Skirtworks

19 days and counting...........Green River Narrows Race

 Saturday November 6th 2010; marks the day.  The Green River Narrows Race is one of the worlds most extreme kayak races, and this year is the 15th annual race.  There are several categories in which racers will sign up; Kayak (long boat and short boat classes), C1, Handpaddling, and Iron Man (short + long boat): and of these categories there will be mens and womens. Racers will have timed intervals bewtween there starting point and will paddles as fast as they can (or at least willing to through class 5 rapids) down what is known as the "Monster Mile" this is a stretch of river in the Green river gorge that drops almost 400 feet in one mile!  The majority of the mile is class 4+ and 5 but there are two grade 5+ rapids; "Go left and die" and "Gorilla".

-Below is a short film put together by Five2Nine showcaseing the Green Race and the Green River in particular.  "Currents is a river stewardship focused WebTV program (online video documentary) which uses white water kayaking as a means to educate a broader audience about the risks threatening the world’s rivers and to help highlight the intrinsic value of preserving rivers in their natural state.

More info at five2nine.ca."

Currents - Episode 3 - Asheville, North Carolina from Five 2 Nine Productions on Vimeo.

On race day there will be spectators exceeding 500 whom hike into the remote gorge just to see the action......some of which will be stylish and inspiring; but some of the action will be pure carnage!

Race training has stepped into full effect here in the mountains of western North Carolina, and it has bee a great time on the river.  Days packed with lots of great paddlers, and even more great rapids.  While i have been getting some great video footage, i am saving it for another day however here are some photos all shot over the month of october on the Green River Narrows. Some racers, some not but all good times.

Til Next Time, see you on the river!
-Charlie Simmons-
Team Wave Sport Kayaks, Ophion Paddles, Shred Ready Helmets, Bomber Gear, Skirtworks

Good Times, Good Lines

Its going down soon, with rainfall and autumn kicking in up here in North Carolina the steeps are sure to be great soon! Mmm Mmm looks tastey!

Makira loves to go squirt boating!

Green River
Green Race 2010 is only a month away, lots of long boaters getting out these days. Including me

Mike the knight

Brett

Nick Murph-Dog

GAF (Guest Appreciation Festival) at the Nantahala 2010

I love to SUP, but damn its always cold on the Nanty.... still great times on the falls and surfs.

NOC Wave Surf Session, had to back load but still fun

Figured this was worthy of showing, took it on a creek scouting walk

-Til Next Time-
Charlie Simmons /Team Wave Sport Kayaks

Coosa River Whitewater Fest 2010

The 2010 Coosa River Whitewater Festival was a blast, and was infact the 25th anniversary of the event; and i would have to say it went very well.

-here is a link to a video interview i did with WSFA 12 NEWs from the river with some good freestyle video footage! CHECK IT OUT!!!
http://www.wsfa.com/global/Category.asp?C=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=93080&topVideoCatNoB=97608&topVideoCatNoC=153813&topVideoCatNoD=92106&topVideoCatNoE=95084&clipId=4789289&autostart=true

Friday's events consisted of a "Fun-Float/Practice day" which i was unable to attend due to my girlfriend Brittany's graduation from Auburn University (congrats B!)
However, Saturday on the other hand i was able to make it out for, and it went great. The day started early, at leat for me, buy shuttling up to the put in around 9 a.m. During this time there was a mass start down river race to where the main event was to take place at "Moccosins Gap." Unable to race, do to carrying to many vessels to the freestyle comp, (see below image; k1, c1, SUP)

I was still able to make it down to the Gap in time for a few surfs in my C1 (closed cockpit canoe) before my first competition was to start. Here are a few photos Brittany took of it.

(above)You gotta love some Blunt action!

My firt competition of the day was on my Stant Up Paddle-board or SUP. The name of the comp was Freestyle through-a-rapid/ Sit on Top. Well i managed to break the trend for the first time in the festivals existance with my paddle board. Though there was still some good competion including from Southern Trails and COC owener Lonnie whom managed to pull of some nice enders and even spins, but i think it was the surfs and freestyle dismounts i pulled that brought home the 1st place award to me! Below are some shots of how it all unfolded, again taken by Brittany.

All good things come to an END!

When my kayak freestyle competion finally came around it felt like it had to be close to 100 degrees outside, but nonetheless i was pumped and ready to go! Overall i felt it went great, i was in the lead for the first AND second heats leading all the way up to the finals..... but you know how it goes; Go big or Go home! i didnt go all the way home but didd drop down to top 3rd place for the overall Mens division! Oh well still on the podium. Below are some photos taken by the Montgomery Advertiser New-Paper and some by Brittany.

(above) a few shots from my first heat (above) Jeremy Adkins

(above) Mcnasty in the top wave

(above) since the competion was "through rapid" you could take advantage of 3 features during your time limit. here is me in the "Top Hole"

(above) Big Loop by Jeremy Adkins

Hunter Katich with a paddle toss!

Accepting Awards

All together the event went great and from what i could tell without a hitch. Good friends, Good music, and Good times on the river. What else can you aks for?

-Here is a link to all the photos taken by the Montgomery Advertiser News-Paper (click the thumbnails link to see all photos)

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DS&Dato=20100515&Kategori=COMMUNITIES010202&Lopenr=5150801&Ref=PH&Item=21

And here is a link to a video interview i did with WSFA 12 NEWs from the river with some good freestyle video footage! CHECK IT OUT!!!
http://www.wsfa.com/global/Category.asp?C=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=93080&topVideoCatNoB=97608&topVideoCatNoC=153813&topVideoCatNoD=92106&topVideoCatNoE=95084&clipId=4789289&autostart=true

-til next time, hope you enjoyed it!

-charlie simmons'

Team wavesport, ophion paddles, bomber gear, skirtworks, shredready

Locust Fork Invitational Canoe and Kayak Races 2010

The Locust Fork Invitational kicks off the Alabama Slalom series of races which consists of 3 race events culminating to make the "Alabama Cup." This year the original date scheduled was last weekend (feb 6-7) which was rescheduled due to high water (who would have thought a white water event there could be too much water?) to the weekend of Feb 13-14. And as the weekend rolls around it turns out we were predicted 1-4" of snow. Combine the two and you have a recipe for a low turn out, in both spectators and racers but we still had a HUGE low country shrimp boil friday night followed by a great time throughout the weekend.........And to top it all off my division, Mens Championchip C1, was the first division to race on Saturday and i was lucky bib #1..... needless to say it was quite brisk, but beautiful and fun nonetheless.Despite the abnormal weather conditions and the low numbers of spectators and even racers, i think its safe to say all in attendance had a great time myself included. And with a first place finish in my division im all smiles.
So to sum up my complete weekend..... i got to playboat with a good buddy at a great spot while the snow was falling, got to do a little Alabama back country snowboarding with a some decent log grinds, and compete in the first event of the "Alabama Cup" slalom races the Locust Fork Invitational 2010. And when you put it all together it = a GREAT TIME!!!!

-BIG THANKS- to Chip and Joel for letting me use the Vajda its a sweet boat!
Also to Tyler and Jessica for letting me crash in the warmth of your home
-charlie-