Monday, August 31, 2009
Whitewater - Center Restructuring
Jeff Wise, executive director has noted that some programs are up, while others are down. Families still come to the center on the Catawba River for rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking and biking, but the local economy has hit many of the families.
Corporate groups rafting have nearly disappeared as those companies are bearing the shame of past wasteful spending. Most of the corporate groups are not supporting company-based recreational programs any longer for their employees.
For more information contact: Michael Barrett at 704.869.1826
Thank you TOPIX and Gaston Gazette for this post!
Labels: corporate rafting, discounts, family rafting, group rafting, outdoors, paddling, rafting, sports, team building, white water, whitewater rafting
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Travel Therapy
For the love lost folks, you are best suited for an extreme adventure such as shark diving, hang gliding or whitewater rafting. Physically demanding adventures will help you to relax through your anxiety or stressful times.
Those in need of a personal reinvention of the mind and soul might want to consider an exotic adventure in an exotic location. For those who are workaholics, Ms. Schaler recommends reconnecting with your family and loved ones on a family-friendly outing or vacation.
Those of us with whitewater rafting companies knew about this "healing" method a long time ago!
Labels: american river, california, outdoors, rafting, rivers, surfing, teens, trips, wet river trips, white water
Friday, February 20, 2009
Extreme Travel, Pop Culture Travel Guide
Now, several rafting and whitewater enthusiasts have taken to the snowy slopes and do just that as a precursor of what's to come for the whitewater rafting season in their own regions. In California, the paddling enthusiasts are already out on the rivers and mountains riding the snow and the water in the rivers.
kjb, Jaunted Contributing editor just posted a story about winter rafting and featured WET River Trips and Blue Heron Whitewater. These two companies have a reputation of early season boating on rivers in their regions. WET, rafting in California, navigates the South Fork American, Middle Fork American and North Fork American whitewater trips. Blue Heron Whitewater offers a similar chilly start in North Carolina on the French Broad River.
River rafting in the winter is highlighted with less crowds, beautiful scenery and a chance to see the river before the summer crowds. Most outfitters that operate in the winter and spring provide wetsuit packages to keep you safe from hypothermia. Look up these two outfitters during your spring break for a chance to ride the rapids!
Thank you to kbj, Jaunted, The Pop Culture Travel Guide & your great post for winter rafting!
Labels: american river, california, french broad, north fork, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, spring break, trips, wet river trips, white water
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Rafting Movies : Land of the Lost : June 5, 2009 release
Several scenes take place on an expedition with white water rafting shots. Even California's Hollywood knows how mainstream whitewater rafting has become for the general public. An irreverent take on rafting through rapids will bring even more of the public to the rivers this summer.
Thanks to CBS Entertainment and Universal Studios for this informative post.
Labels: american river, california, rafting, rivers, wet river trips, white water
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Whitewater Center, Charlotte, NC
The new parkway features whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking on the new multi-channel river. Mountain biking, trail running and climbing are also featured at the center. Conference and meeting complex with restaurant and catering faciliites makes this a perfect site for the official U.S. Olympic training.
Thank you Charlotte Business Journal for this Rafting story!
Labels: american river, environment, outdoors, paddling, rafting, rivers, wet river trips, white water
Monday, January 05, 2009
Australia : Forth River, Tasmania
Brilliant performances by the youthful group show promise for the future. The Australian slalom kayaking championships will run on Thursday and Friday on the Upper Mersey.
The national whitewater titles will be staged this Saturday and Sunday with the finals for the Australian team to compete in the World Cup in October on the Launceston's Cataract Gorge.
Support from Forestry Tasmania, Peter Rowlands who is currently the North-West manager, provided safety and rescue assistance.
Thanks to The Examiner and Rob Shaw for this story. Read the entire story and view the pictures.
Labels: california, north fork, outdoors, paddling, recreation, rivers, surfing, teens, trips, wet river trips, white water
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Cagayan de Oro Whitewater - Philippines
Oro Association of Rafters is composed of all six local whitewater rafting companies. The association will oppose the plan by Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. to construct this bioethanol processing plant. Jerome Garcia, operator of Dome Expeditions Tours has said that the association has already stated their position in public.
The association believes that because neither an environmental impact assessment was done or public hearings before the passage of the new ordinance, that the project should be re-assesed. Garcia encourages that the bioethanol plant be relocated outside of the city to curtail threats of pollution to the river.
Thank you to Sunstar for this update and post from the Philippines.
Labels: conservation, environment, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, wet river trips, white water
Monday, October 06, 2008
River Day - Concord River, Lowell, MA, USA
Story after story were told during the presentation for River Day event hosted by Tsongas purely to celebrate the rivers that connect the Fifth Congressional District.
Plans for a Concord River Greenway was presented by Steve Conant, co-founder and president of the Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust. He envisions a 25-mile path from Framingham to Lowell. The environmental, historical project leaders and builders expect the construction to be completed by 2009.
Educators from all over the country as well as India and China have come to this historical site to learn about Lowell's history and rivers.
Labels: american river, california, conservation, environment, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, wet river trips, white water
Thursday, May 08, 2008
California American River Whitewater Trips
Rare is the day when all three whitewater sections of the American River are runnable. Due to spring runoff and dam schedules, North Fork American, South Fork American and Middle Fork American are rarely flowing at the same time. This past week, The Sacramento Bee, Good Blood Productions and W.E.T. River Trips accomplished a record setting time on running all three whitewater sections in less than 12 hours in one day.
Ryan MacPherson, who works for W.E.T. River Trips as a safety kayaker on the class 4+ North Fork American owns his own video production company, Good Blood Productions. Ryan recently finished working with the documentary, "The Deadliest Catch" on the Discovery Channel. W.E.T. River Trips has given Sacbee.com permission to post the video for their readers.
Congratulations to this California rafting company and the great publicity for all the whitewater companies in the west.
Labels: american river, california, flows, north fork, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, wet river trips, white water
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Rafting News from Second Life - USA
Builder, Tu Dae - Wizard Water & Rock Video
Throughout the virtual world, W.E.T. River Trips has encouraged other sim owners to create rivers, streams, whitewater, waterfalls and other water elements in Second Life.
Recently, the Dutch have announced the creation of a new sim soley based on paddling sports. The marketing relationships with the Dutch were developed in-world through electronic music and owners of other sims.
W.E.T. River Trips is now a concierge level landowner in Second Life. Their female avatar is represented by their domain name RAFTWET. The avatar is a single, business woman created to network with other sim owners and businesses. She has created three major groups for avatars including a builders's group for land development and the paddling sports of rafting and whitewater.
"Our focus is to network and educate. The more the public knows about rivers, the more protection a river will have from the encroachment of civilization and pollution. Countries such as Costa Rica, Mexico, Brasil, Australia, Germany, Turkey, Korea, Japan are already here marketing their outdoor tourism programs. We were concerned that the USA had not discovered this marketing opportunity. We came here to make sure that the USA was well-represented for outdoor tourism and whitewater rafting. And now... we are network partners with the world," exclaims RAFTWET Jewell, the company avatar in Second Life.
As the rafting company celebrates their first year in Second Life, they have taken on a philosophy of sharing and educating the world-wide public to the whitewater rafting and extreme sports networks. "If you build it, they will come" is the mantra of the virtual world builders, and W.E.T. River Trips has taken this to another level in marketing whitewater paddling sports.
Labels: american river, california, conservation, environment, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, second life, surfing, trips, wet river trips, white water
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Siang River, India
Labels: american river, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, wet river trips, white water
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Silver Creek - California
Kayakers, paddlers and media swarmed onto the river at the last days of October 2007. Reviews, kudos and accolades were given on this most precious whitewater resource. Contact AmericanWhitewater.org for more information on how you can influence the water managers of this run to allow for more water releases on scheduled dates.
For more information on California whitewater rafting, please visit the C-W-R.com website.
Labels: american river, california, conservation, environment, flows, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, wet river trips, white water
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
William Nealy - Whitewater Cartoonist
William Nealy's artwork was the quintenssential interpretation of whitewater paddling. His drawings will be enjoyed now even more now that it has it's own place in the most appropriate setting. A grand opening is set for August 31, 2007 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm and will benefit the American Whitewater non-profit organization.
Labels: outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Rafting Forum
W.E.T. River Trips' Rafting News will focus on news that promotes the rafting whitewater industry and other paddling and surfing news. PR pieces will not be given the same role here as a real news item. We will leave it to Topix to gather it all as one source. Check it out and make your comments count.
Labels: outdoors, rafting, recreation, rivers, surfing, wet river trips, white water
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Lim River - Montenegro
The biggest competition came from the Serbs, Crotians and Slovakians. Those more seasoned teams placed first and second in the rankings. Next step comes the preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games in Peking, China.
Thanks to Blaga Bangieva for this informative post!
Labels: outdoors, paddling, rafting, rivers, white water
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Gauley - West Virginia
This fee would help the WVPRO in stocking trout for the river. Since 1990, the association has taken it upon themselves to stock the river with trout using the association's membership fees. This has helped extend the recreational opportunities for the public and the resource.
Each licensed rafting company will collect the monies as a mandatory use fee and submit those funds as part of a monthly report of use. This same concept is used in California on the American River's whitewater sections of the South Fork and Middle Fork of the American.
The Gauley and other rivers already have a use-fee levied for rafting, but this fee covers the agencies that fund studies for economic impacts and developing tourism, carrying capacities, safety issues and overseeing the quality of the rafting trip itself.
The new fees will be earmarked solely for the stocking of trout. This program will help to create a economic base for fishing and extending the Gauley's recreational resources.
Thanks to the Daily Mail for this item.
Labels: american river, california, environment, flows, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
4th of July - USA
Whatever river you are paddling today on this 4th, Rafting News asks everyone to have a proper lifejacket on at all times. Many locales have community programs for families where you can rent lifejackets for all members in your group. Drinking is fine when you get back home to the barbecue, but don't do it on the river. And a word about trash. Pick it up and throw it away into a trash receptacle. Keep the rivers as clean as the day they were formed. Come home tonight safe and sound to your friends and family and keep this July 4th as a cherished memory.
Labels: american river, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Monday, June 25, 2007
Faux River - Maryland
For $50 per person, they plan to take as many people on this faux-whitewater river as an introduction to the sport. From Class I to Class IV, a new paddler will be able to experience what the rest of us have been experiencing all along, except this is a controlled environment with no surprises.
Experienced, professional guides still lead the charge as they help the novices learn whitewater paddling techniques. This new venture will only help to bring new rafters and paddlers to the sport of whitewater river rafting on real rivers!
Thanks to Washington Post for the news announcement!
Labels: flows, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Tuolumne River - California
After two years of extreme high water, the Tuolumne will have great regulated flows though out the 2007 rafting season. Outfitters on the main section of the Tuolumne and the famous Class V section called the Cherry Creek run, should have a near normal season due to dam controlled water releases.
The Cherry Creek run is one of the most difficult Class V rafting trips, and original whitewater pioneer, Marty McDonnell's Sierra Mac River Trips was the first outfitter to offer commercial rafting on this stretch of river back in 1972. "I have a passion for that stretch of river," said Marty McDonnell, "It requires a team of guides who really know the river and we have a group of about six who work together here all summer whose main focus is the Tuolumne. Folks who want to do the river know we do about 90 percent of the trips, and they trust us."
The Tuolumne River was designated to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System on September 28, 1984. The O'Shaugnessy Dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley of Yosemite National Park controls the water releases for the main Tuolumne river.
Thanks to Union Democrat for the quotes!
Labels: california, flows, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Thursday, June 07, 2007
RiverLink - French Broad River
On June 14th, RiverLink hosts the Asheville Associates at Windows at the Park. A festival of music, food, beer and wine tasting, and rafting will raise monies that go directly to RiverLink. Huck Finn Rafting and Southern Waterways will provide the rafting trips throughout the day.
Thanks to the Citizens-Time from Asheville for this news item!
Labels: conservation, environment, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, white water
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Fly Fishing meets Whitewater
First prize winner, Mark Sassi of Edwards won a $1,000 prize and a new Sage fly rod for landing 5 fish in 4 hours. Cody Powell came in second with 4 fish with Jeff Wagner landing 3 fish for the third place finish. Wagner also won a $500 bonus for the largest fish caught.
Thanks to the Denver Post for this news!
Labels: flows, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Friday, June 01, 2007
White Water Media Day - California
The Gorge is an 11-mile stretch of Class 3 to 3+ whitewater river. The section starts in the heart of the Gold Rush town of Coloma, where John Sutter found the first gold. An historic park lies in Coloma preserving Sutter's mill right on the shores of the river. The Gorge flows through several rapids and its moniker emphasizes the steep canyon-like walls near the best class 3+ rapids of the day. The river ends in Folsom Lake, a large reservoir just above Sacramento; California's state capitol.
Each rafting company donates guides, rafts and equipment, vehicles, barbecue, and, even land in order to host this special media event. Publishers of print, television, radio and internet media send their representatives to paddle and river raft the South Fork American, the most popular river in the Western United States.
Labels: american river, california, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Yagatta Regatta - Colorado
A raft flotilla costume competition, live music, beer tasting, food vendors and children's activities round out the kayak competition this year.
For all rafters, meet at 2000 Devereux Road, by 10:30 a.m. Rafts will float from Grizzly Creek to Two Rivers Park, where festival entrance is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger.
Thanks to April Clark at the Post Independent for this info!
Labels: outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Friday, May 25, 2007
Memorial Day Weekend
Rafting News suggests that all paddlers wear a lifejacket and proper gear no matter what river or lake you are floating. Watch and supervise your chldren at all times when near a body of water. Even your teens need to be supervised near any water or river.
Keep alcohol to a minimum or not at all if you are paddling or swimming. Alcohol will impair your judgement and also fool you into thinking the water isn't cold enough for hyperthermia. Use common sense when in the outdoors. Keep hydrated during hikes and rafting, especially in the warmer areas of the country. And remember that spring runoff is cold and fast and should be prepared for appropriately before attempting any rafting trip.
If you love the outdoors, then respect it. That respect will go a long way in preventing vacation time tragedies and will help you to preserve the time-honored memories of Memorial Day Weekend!
Labels: california, environment, flows, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, wet river trips, white water
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
American River - Coloma, California
This charming, rural foothill community just outside of Sacramento, California's State Capitol is also home to the original gold rush. The historical Coloma State Park is preserved there along with a museum and gold panning demonstrations. The community lies on the shores of the South Fork American river, the most popular whitewater river in the western United States. For more information on recreation and paddling, visit coloma.com for an expanded read on valley events.
Labels: american river, california, conservation, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, white water
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Reno River Festival - Nevada
Other well-known names in the kayaking world will be there to offer challenges. Stephen Wright, Bryan Kirk, Ben Guska and Mo Kelleher will challenge the men's titles as Ruth Gordon and 17-year old, Emily Jackson will compete in the women's divisions.
The festival is held in the urban center of Reno on a man-made whitewater park that draws thousands of recreational paddlers each year. This year the festival begins when the Freestyle World Championships on the Ottowa River in Canada ends. There should be record numbers of outdoor paddling enthusiasts there to witness the Reno whitewater event.
For more information, please visit Reno's Visitor's Center for accommodations and lodging.
Thanks to the Sacramento Bee for this information!
Labels: flows, outdoors, paddling, recreation, rivers, surfing, white water
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Arakawa River - Japan
Gondolas carry recreation tourists over the river as river rafters enjoy the river in rafts and kayaks. As is the case everywhere, the rafters are required to wear helmets, lifejackets and use proper gear.
Thanks to Mainichi Daily News for this info from Nagatoro, Saitama, Japan
Labels: outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, white water
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Chattooga River - South Carolina
More and more youth groups and recreational groups are recognizing the value in these types of environmental programs. With rafting, the teens are exposed to a program that highlights cooperation within a group. A positive influence will work to combat negative forces in a teen's life. And in this tumultuous society, a teen needs more of these activities to brighten their hopes and dreams.
Thanks to the CityDebate in Miami Beach for the info on North Shore Park Teen Club!
Labels: environment, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, teens, trips, white water
Friday, April 27, 2007
Cal Salmon River Fest - California
For whitewater rafters who want to go rafting during that time, contact a Cal Salmon outfitter and reserve your river trip now. A listing of Cal Salmon rafting companies is located on the California whitewater rafting C-W-R.com website.
For more information go to Caliproduct for the announcements and times or visit their main website at http://www.caliproduct.com.
Labels: california, outdoors, paddling, rafting, rivers, trips, white water
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Waller Creek - Austin, TX
City Councilwoman, Sheryl Cole, pushing for the tunnel project that would upgrade pumps to move the water in a consistent and regulated flow, has recently created the Waller Creek Citizens Advisory Committee. So far, none of the other ideas from the citizens have considered a recreational white water park (trail) for Austin, but there are many precedents to the idea as seen around the country such as Denver's Confluence Park in their lower downtown along with Truckee Whitewater Park in Reno, Nevada.
Thanks to the Austin Chronicle for this information!
Labels: environment, flows, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, white water
Friday, April 20, 2007
Ocoee River - Tennessee
Spokesperson, Tisha Calabrese-Benton, from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation said, "... some of the diesel fuel has gotten into the river but in a manageable amount."
The TDEC and other local environmental management agencies are attempting to clean the mess and drain the tanker from spilling more fuel into the river.
The white water rafting companies have not started their weekday recreation schedules yet and don't anticipate problems when their weekday trips start in June.
Thanks to Business Week for this information!
Labels: conservation, environment, flows, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
SMUD Relicensing a Gift for Rafters
The agreement is allowing SMUD to manage the water by providing runnable flows on both rivers. On the South Fork American, the operators have designated "dry" Wednesdays in the month of May and June with flows everyday. And in July and August, everyday will be available with only a "dry" Monday.
On the Middle Fork American, the water managers will provide 7-days a week of runnable flows.
Based on this year's dismal snowpack, the agreement and management of the river resource will prove to be a gift for the whitewater rafting public assuring them of boatable flows this rafting season.
Labels: american river, california, flows, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, wet river trips, white water
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Rafting as a Recruiting Incentive
Large corporate giants are developing unusual recruitment techniques to attract young guns into their businesses with wine tasting vacations, whitewater rafting trips, adventure travel, baseball games and more. As competition heats up for the best, employers are developing more creative ways to draw in new employees and keeping them.
All these programs will help to create happier and better motivated employees for their companies. And, what better way to help our whitewater rafting industry to create even more potential rafting clients for rafting companies!
Labels: outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Friday, March 30, 2007
South Fork American - California
Flows on Mondays in July and August will be designated dry days while the flows on Wednesdays will be dry during the May and June calendar. Most California rafting outfitters discount heavily during the week so some outfitters may be impacted based on their promotions. Most will shift their incentives to avoid these dates to accommodate the public on their river trips.
The South Fork American along with the Middle Fork American may be the best rivers to raft this summer season in California. With the flow agreements, paddlers can at least count on the contracted flows on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays.
Labels: american river, california, flows, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Colorado Rafting Trips
Details are being worked out for the exact launch site and a final decision should come by May 1st. According to outfitters that operate on the Blue River trips, the whitewater section will be a fun adventure for the local community as the Lower Blue and popular Arkansas is a bit of a drive away.
US Forest Service is streamlining the permit process by proposing a 10-year permit system instead of a yearly one. This will provide time saving and cost cutting measures for the agency while still providing environmental review.
Contact Cam Meyer, the special use administrator for Dillon District at 970-262-3486.
Public comments are due by April 16, 2007
Thanks to the Summit Daily for this info post!
Labels: environment, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, trips, white water
Monday, March 26, 2007
Rafting - West Virginia
Tourism dollars may end when the slopes clear, but those dollars begin in other regions of the state such as whitewater rafting rivers. "Those industries draw a lot of people's attention, and even if people aren't rafters, they know that West Virginia is a nice, natural relaxing place," said Ms. Wellman.
As visitors arrive, they spend money and support local businesses and regions. Rafting season began earlier this month and the rafting outfitters are looking forward to a very strong year.
Thanks to The State Journal for this news post!
Labels: flows, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, white water
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Irish International White Water Film Festival
A 7pm reception, followed by short feature films about white water canoeing. Directors will be introducing their films. The program will educate the rest of the world on what the Irish whitewater community has to show.
Filming was shot across the globe and features incredible footage of the extreme sport. Whether you’re a white water warrior or not, prepare to be amazed.
Thanks to Mayo Advertiser for this post!
Labels: flows, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, white water







