CCC Intermediate White Water Course 05
Mike Betts June 11, 12 \ 05
I must start by saying how immensely I enjoy seeing "practiced"
novice paddlers make the transition from moving water to the thrills
of white water. This course is designed not only to introduce,
but also raise the bar for a student to experience and see where
kayaking begins to take on it's "serious" side. Class
II and III white water is where most of a paddlers skills will
be refined and honed, and although ALL moving water is to be taken
seriously, II-III is where consequences for a paddler's confidence,
decision making, and skill do become a "serious" matter.
And hopefully that is the last time I will use the word "serious"
in any of its forms! Where did I put my thesaurus? This course
also is aimed at addressing the safety issues that MUST be ingrained
into those who pursue this sport. The CCC is and has always been
a stellar example of practicing water safety on both sides of
our club, white water AND flat water. My fellow head instructor
Dave Gibson and myself were very lucky to have been able to learn
from our previous intermediate instructors, Mike Boyd and Carol
Figdore, and although we have modified their template over the
past few years, their basics will always be with us….we learned
from the best! "LEAN DOWNSTREAM!!" This is where a lot
of students decide whether or not to continue to advance their
white water careers so to speak. This is also the time one realizes
they've been "hooked" by the thrills of fast moving
rivers. I know I speak for my fellow instructors as well when
I say that being trusted to instruct and guide our newer paddlers
through this most important part of a student's learning curve,
is an honor indeed. My teaching\support staff….what can I
say? All incredible people, dear friends and paddlers who made
my job sooooo easy. I cannot thank them enough! It very simply
would not happen without their graciousness, patience, love of
the sport, and eager willingness to pass on their knowledge. This
level of paddling never fails to produce dramatic results, seeing
our charge's skills advance so quickly in just a weekend. It is
with great pride that I write of their progress, new gained experience,
knowledge, and welcome our newest crew of white water warriors!
Here's to many years of campfire stories of flips, boofs, rolls,
squirts, enders, cartwheels, wave wheels, blunts, spins, dinged
helmets, broken paddles, terminal side surfs, nuggets, flash floods,
splats, the holes that swallowed us, spat us out, goose eggs ,
boo boos, and big water carnage! Notice I did not mention swims……they
are our little secrets….
So….perhaps I should say something about the weekend
now?
Figuring there was no way we would be blessed with rain and
high water on the eve of said course two years in a row, I decided
with consent from other instructors and students alike to take
full advantage of the two day Lehigh release and make this course
an over-nighter. Tricky timing with those already camping at Hickory
Run, those in our Saturday morning caravan, those we met along
the way, and those following my directions, all making it to the
White haven put-in relatively on time! I knew from there this
was gonna be a killer weekend! We had a group of 21 paddlers on
Saturday and as I recall 18 on Sunday. My butchering of names
from a water logged memory to come later.
For those who do not know the Lehigh, it is comprised of
two sections, the upper being an eight mile run, for the most
part at 750 cfs, a class II-II+. Very good training ground with
a rail trail right along side all the way down, in case of someone
wanting to walk out. It also offers a "bridge to bridge"
2 mile section where we could have staged a short shuttle if we
decided to only use that section for the first day's training.
The lower section is thirteen miles long, bigger and much longer
rapids, with some class III tossed in for spice. A perfect run
for Sunday's graduation trip.
Now being one who likes to make the most efficient use of
my time, we decided Dave would keep the students at the put-in
giving his safety talk while the rest of us ran shuttle. Kevin
buddy…….got keys? from Sunday's trip.
Upon our return, we could all just saddle up and paddle. I made
sure all students were accompanied by support boaters as we put
on and made our way to the big staging eddy river right some one
hundred yards or so downstream, the put-in being amass with rafts
and boats and lots of people. Once there, I conferred with my
other instructors as to the best way to divide the group. Kim
Montagne and Sue Groseclose would lead the women's group, being
supported by two of their male counterparts for rescue opps. Dave
Gibson would go one on one with our newest student with support
from Blaine Feeser. I also like having Pat Montagne up close and
personal with less experienced paddlers, this awesome dude has
come a very long way in a short period of time and gained one
of the healthiest respects ( not to mention mine and others personal
respect) for water and water safety of anyone I know. Someone
you WANT to be near if you're on new water. Did I mention how
proud I was to be friends with these people???? Unbelievable.
Back to the report….I would be leading the guys that had
some previous experience and giving them a "workout"
catching every micro eddy and ferry and surf we could find. The
rest of the crew would be running safety for the divided groups,
some as free lance support, being where they perceived as needed
most, and our very own Shirley "Sweetyaker" Koty acting
as this weekend's videographer, documenting the course, which
means she basically runs the river ahead of us and waits with
camera ready hoping for as much carnage as possible…….."safety
schmafety" she thinks to herself….I can hear her thoughts….."
I JUST WANT GOOD FOOTAGE FOR THE SUPER SUPPER SOCIAL"!
And here boys and gals is where I have to loudly APPLAUD
the fine lady paddlers we are so lucky to be associated with.
We have many on the white water side of things. I had four….count
em…..FOUR female instructors on this trip. Kim, Sue, Evy,
and Shirley watching after two female students. And on Sunday,
we had Erin join us for support and a fun filled day of river
running. Talk about coming up the ranks quickly….Erin has
just started boating last January and has already tackled the
lower Yough, Cheat, and others. She will absolutely jump into
any hole she finds! We really missed ya on this one ART! I along
with others, thought it important to keep the gals all together,
the reasoning being the ladies would be instructed with and from
a woman's' perspective. It's also about comfort and fun after
all. And Kim and crew are as up to the task of teaching and leading
their students down the sweet lines as anyone out there! Let's
face it, guys when in doubt will simply power their way through
everything and see what happens. The ladies on the other hand,
know right off it's all about finesse and grace and…..hmmmm
which pair of shoes will I buy next? Just kidding…..our lady
white water athletes are more prone to be dreaming of new bent
shaft paddles rather than , did I say shoes? As one would expect
when upping the ante, the first few rapids saw some shakiness
and a few swims, par for the course when students meet new challenges.
The instructors quickly pick up on how far to push each individual's
limits without overwhelming them, observing not only the physical
abilities but also and most importantly the mental attitude, are
they still smiling? Can't stress the FUN FACTOR enough. The last
thing we want is for a student to go home, hang the boat in the
garage, and never paddle again. We watch our brood well indeed;
after all they are already our paddling buddies and will soon
enough be helping tend other new kayakers in turn.
Sunday would see us on the lower section of the river. By
now everyone was a Lehigh "veteran" and ready to step
up to some mild class III. The second day of the intermediate
course is more of a graduation trip if you will. We still stick
close to the newer paddlers and simply have a fun day river running
and hole playing. Students can at any time work on new found skills
with support boaters if so desired, but this is not a day of organized
drills. I am certain we will be seeing some of these guys and
gals in Jeff Beard's advanced level 1 course later this summer.
LET'S BOAT!!
Instructors\support All K-1
Mike Betts ……………………..."Saddle
up!"
Dave Gibson……………………"no
really, I mean it! THIS year I'm getting out more"
Pat Montagne…………………..."new
grandpa and still BIG water Kahuna"
Kim Montagne…………………."Queen
of the River Siren's" and still prettier than Pat!
Shirley Koty……………………"Sweetyaker"….says
it all don't it?"
Sue Groseclose………………….singing
"School's out for summer"! < Always smilin'
Evy Stauffer……………………."play
boatin super Mom"
Erin Mack………………………"What
hole? Lemme at it!"
Brenton Petrillo………………..."My
head sparkles! Where's the babes?"
Dave Whitmer…………………."Soon
to be helmet cam master"
Jack Hill………………………..."Don't
know him well enough to roast yet!"
Blain Feeser……………………."Check
the new lid! I'll never get lost"
Mike Hostetter…………………"Chick
Magnet"
Kevin Vesely………………….."Mr.
Vertical"
Seth ………………….."Outta
my hole ya Pelican"!
Ken Gustavsen…………………"Honest
honey, You'll be fine!"
Students All K-1
Peggy Gustavsen………………"Fine
huh? Just you wait!"
Gay Bearzi…………………………..."I
want water falls!"
Ed Spayd………………………"Long
boat master, Jeff Beard would have been proud!
Mike Marchio…………………."Out
of my way Jeff!"
Jeff Groft………………………"Out
of your way? I gotta bear chasin me!"
Eric McClary………………….."WOW
This river looks different than the last time!"
Tony Lobato……………………"Hey!
That's my eddy!"
Bill Schneider…………………."Now
it makes sense….let's up this another class!"
Good Job ya'll!!