I See Green People

Before I even got serious about kayaking I had always looked at the Green River Narrows as an incredible river that was far beyond anything I would ever be able to paddle in a kayak. However, over the last year, I have put in many many long days and weekends paddling all different types and sizes of rivers. All of this time spent learning the intricacies of the way water acts and reacts when it falls quickly over rocks culminated in my mind as I was loading up my kayak and gear Friday afternoon.

Brett, John, Billy and I were headed to the Green. The Green River Narrows lies outside the small town of Saluda, NC about 45 monutes south of Asheville, NC. We all met up at various places along I-81, eventually all meeting at a Walmart parking lot in Lexington, VA. Friday evening was spent at John's folks place in Wytheville, VA. The hospitality of super nice people and a really cool converted barn house only slightly helped to calm my nerves as I lay there looking at the wood panel ceiling and recounting the pictures and rapid descriptions of the river we would be paddling the next day.

Brett at Frankenstein


Curt at Boof or Consequences

Racer getting a face full of rock at Go Left or Die

On race day we tried to get out in front of the racers but had some difficulties because the water wasn't turned on until 9am. So we got to Go Left and got out to watch some of the racers come through. Its quite intimidating go through rapids you have never seen knowing that you can't mess it up because there are racers barreling down behind you.

John dropping into Chief

GORILLA!

Racers at Gorilla and Scream Machine

Curt at Nies' Pieces

Billy in the tube at Groove Tube

Curt at Hammer Factor

The Green River race proved to be an excellent show of super-human strength and ability. It was amazing watching the country's best paddlers giving it all they had for 4 or 5 minutes down an extremely difficult and dangerous section of river. Even the pros mess up sometimes and there was plenty of carnage to be had.

Female racer at Gorilla. Photo Ben Edison

Maybe one Saturday in November I too will be paddling my butt off alone down this steep gorge, chasing the clock and ignoring the guy in the chicken costume and the hundreds of other fans yelling and screaming. But for now I will be happy getting out on an awesome creek with my good friends and enjoying some unbelievable whitewater.

Imagine seeing this while headed into a very stiff class 5 drop!