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Post by James Reeves on Jun 12, 2020 11:44:48 GMT -5
New to whitewater, picking up my first non-recreational kayak as soon as I get back stateside from a middle east deployment, can't wait to try it out, and hoping to meet some new folks and learn how to paddle the great whitewater we have in this state!
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Post by Tim Broughton on Jun 12, 2020 14:59:09 GMT -5
Look forward to meeting new boaters.
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Hello!
Jun 12, 2020 21:23:46 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Dan Waller on Jun 12, 2020 21:23:46 GMT -5
Welcome! Can't wait to see you on the river!
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Hello!
Jun 13, 2020 12:41:31 GMT -5
Post by James Reeves on Jun 13, 2020 12:41:31 GMT -5
Any suggestions for decent streams to get a little whitewater experience without it being too much for a beginner?
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John Pierson
Novice Forum Member
WVWA Member Since 2018
Posts: 46
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Post by John Pierson on Jun 13, 2020 17:50:22 GMT -5
Welcome, James. I’m a “perpetual beginner” and have found that the Upper New sections (Glade Creek to Quinnimont, and McCreery Creek to Stonecliff) are good sections. All class II with a couple of Class III rapids. There are usually trips with a good number of people later in the summer when the smaller rivers drop too low to run. Look forward to seeing you out there!
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John Pierson
Novice Forum Member
WVWA Member Since 2018
Posts: 46
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Post by John Pierson on Jun 13, 2020 17:57:35 GMT -5
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Post by Tony Daniel on Jun 15, 2020 7:12:21 GMT -5
I like the greenbrier (fort spring to alderson) for an intro to ww, other stretches include the gauley below jody to gauley bridge, paddling around the base of kanawha falls (no shuttle), and the elk below clay has some mild rapids, when there is a lot of water the birch and buffalo creek (clay co. ) make good training grounds, in the members only section of the club's webpage is a list of "ranked' rivers by difficulty.
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Post by Harry Netzer on Jun 15, 2020 20:31:19 GMT -5
Glad you found the club's message forum. Usually by this time of year the only river with enough water is the New, and like others have said, it has some beginner friendly sections. Do you have an idea for which kayak you're looking at buying?
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Hello!
Jun 16, 2020 14:56:04 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by James Reeves on Jun 16, 2020 14:56:04 GMT -5
Glad you found the club's message forum. Usually by this time of year the only river with enough water is the New, and like others have said, it has some beginner friendly sections. Do you have an idea for which kayak you're looking at buying? I've already got a payment down on a Liquidlogic Remix XP10. Picking it up in a couple weeks when I get back stateside. Plan is to venture into a little whitewater for now, while having the ability to also do extended camping trips out of the boat. I've spent a good bit of time fishing and swimming Buffalo Creek in Clay, and also paddling the Elk from Queen Shoals to Clendenin. Been wanting to paddle Buffalo Creek sometime when I can catch it with enough water.
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Hello!
Jun 18, 2020 19:12:10 GMT -5
Post by Tony Daniel on Jun 18, 2020 19:12:10 GMT -5
the best gauge to judge the buffalo is the birch river at herold, somewhere around 5 1/2-6 ft on the herold gauge the buffalo is good to go, lots of trees (strainers) in river above cressmont but below cressmont it is usually pretty good down to the ballfield before clay looks like it is running today although maybe scrapey waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=03196500the all seeing yellow boat in the video is an xp10
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Hello!
Jun 19, 2020 2:30:00 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by James Reeves on Jun 19, 2020 2:30:00 GMT -5
Does anybody have any experience with the Remix XP10, and just what all it is capable of with the average paddler?
Tony, do you know of anyone running the rapid at the old culvert bridge just before the ball field, or any video of it done?
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Post by Tim Broughton on Jun 19, 2020 7:47:12 GMT -5
I've paddled my XP10 extensively; it's ideal for multi-night trips on something like the Greenbrier or New, but I doubt I'd ever use it again on daytrips: Too heavy and too hard to make precise moves in ww, but it is stable and a plow. I've had it on the Upper New, Top Gauley, Middle Williams, Cherry, Elk, Birch, Paint, Greenbrier, and Coal...likely forgot something. Probably depends on your goals and how deep your pockets are.
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Hello!
Jun 19, 2020 8:11:41 GMT -5
Post by James Reeves on Jun 19, 2020 8:11:41 GMT -5
I've paddled my XP10 extensively; it's ideal for multi-night trips on something like the Greenbrier or New, but I doubt I'd ever use it again on daytrips: Too heavy and too hard to make precise moves in ww, but it is stable and a plow. I've had it on the Upper New, Top Gauley, Middle Williams, Cherry, Elk, Birch, Paint, Greenbrier, and Coal...likely forgot something. Probably depends on your goals and how deep your pockets are. That tax free deployment money is real! Already been thinking about picking up something a little more suited for day trips after I get a little more experience. Expensive hobby to get into, and it seems pretty addicting.
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Post by Tony Daniel on Jun 20, 2020 4:13:37 GMT -5
xp10 is a very stable and very forgiving boat, it is just really big (especially around the cockpit) so it is hard to get a good fit- I tend to be really loose in the boat. I nickname it "boating for dummies" because it is so stable. It is very versatile- however as Tim said it plows in flatwater. That same bow that plows also surfs great if you develop that skill. Seat is comfy but lacks back support (the back of the seat scrunges down) so it is hard to maintain a good paddling posture. As far as where you can take it, that really depends on your skill level. For the boat you should get a triple x deck size for the sprayskirt. The one they reccomend is really too small (a 2x).
culvert dam/bridge right above the ballfield has been breached for a number of years now- the breach gets wider with each flood, there is sort of a sneak route (sliding over some rocks on far river left , that would be your left facing downstream) or you can carry over it on river right (your right as you are facing downstream looking at the bridge/dam) left center is runnable and gets easier with more water (rocks are covered up)
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Hello!
Jun 20, 2020 7:20:54 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by James Reeves on Jun 20, 2020 7:20:54 GMT -5
Very much appreciate the feedback on the XP10! I'm looking forward to getting some experience in it, and picking up something else later on. I feel like this is another of those hobbies that definitely requires a few boats in the inventory to choose from. 😁
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Post by Tim Broughton on Jun 20, 2020 8:26:58 GMT -5
Canoe, 2- rec boats, XP10, XP9, Zen, 2-IK’s. Done...for now.
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