If you think the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte only offers kayaking and rafting you are wrong. You can also learn to Stand Up Paddle in whitewater! 

If you have experience Stand Up Paddleboarding and would like to take it to the next level this is the place to do it. 

For information on classes and instructor certification courses check their website for dates and pricing. The instructor courses are offered through the American Canoe Association. In order to take the ACA Whitewater SUP Course (which is the Level 3 certification) you must already have your ACA SUP Level 2 Certification. Not ready for SUP on whitewater? No worries they also offer flat water lessons as on the Catawba River. Below is a link to photos from the ACA Instructor course this weekend. This is just another way to stay active while enjoying the outdoors. 

I had no idea that there were so many benefits to being a member of the American Canoe Association. By joining the ACA as an individual you receive a wide variety of benefits which are listed on the ACA website (link below). These include reduced admission to hundreds of ACA sanctioned events and races. By being a member you are supporting the nation's oldest paddlesport organization which has now developed programs, certifications and events for the Stand Up Paddle Community. 

There are additional benefits to Certified Instructors including ProDeals with well respected brands. This week I spent three days fully immersed in the ACA SUP Level 1 & 2 Class. I learned invaluable skills related to teaching stand up paddleboarding. The course was at the U.S. National Whitewater Center which is a perfect environment for this type of training. If you are interested in any courses offered by the ACA you can find a list on the website. Here are a few pictures of our class this weekend....to see full album click on button below the gallery. 

Great weekend during Tuck Fest at U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. Obstacle course races, Flatwater SUP, Whitewater SUP, Mountain Biking, Music and food and more! Congrats to all who participated in the races! 

My favorite part was watching the incredible athletes who have mastered whitewater Stand Up Paddleboarding!!!

I have to say thanks to Dave Hepp and Eric Condrey for putting together such a great class for the newest members of the flatwater paddle sports team at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.

What a jam packed day of water sports AND fun facts about the Whitewater Center (though we aren't sure that Dave H. didn't make some of them up....he added in some history, geology and even a little ornithology.....he was quite possibly "winging it" no pun intended. :) Either way I never thought a "class" could be so fun. If you or anyone you know is considering joing the team at the Whitewater Center I can assure you it is the perfect environment for those who love working with people and are outdoor enthusiasts. There are so many avenues you can pursue including flatwater sports, whitewater sports, mountain biking, canopy tour group, food and beverage, customer service, marketing, etc.

I promised the group today that I would post my "green" pictures. Coincidentally our class happened to be on the day they turn the water GREEN. VERY VERY GREEN. Take a look at these from our class and you can see more on my facebook page. I look forward to working with my new friends this summer and to introducing more in the Charlotte and surrounding areas to Stand Up Paddleboarding and the idea of incorporating PaddleFit into their workout routine. PaddleFit is a unique fitness system that combines land and water fitness. More to come on that!!

What a beautiful day at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. Yes....the river is running! Some of the Olympic team were there toda....if you haven't watched these athletes you really need to. It blows me away to see what they can do and seeing it up close puts a whole new perspective on it.

At the Whitewater Center you can literally get a "front row" seat and watch them in action. There are so many fun events coming up for people of all ages and areas of interest to particiapte in. Tuck Fest is just one of them. Tuck Fest is a 3 day "festival" that includes a wide variety of competitions including Stand Up Paddleboarding, Biking, Running, Obstacle Courses, whitewater events and more. Put April 19,20 and 21 on your calendar. There will also be food and live music day and night for three days!

I feel the need to mention the great food at the River's Edge Restaurant. It is really, really good. Seriously not what you'd expect at an outdoor facility. To check out their healthy/delicious menu go to http://usnwc.org/play/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/2013_Menu_Winter.pdf. Today I was testing out my new Cannon Camera so thought I'd share a few pictures below.