Greetings all,

I have been running a stretch of river that has its challenges (3+).

Although I really don't think it's that rough (although it made me
bleed twice and limp for a week) of a ride it is most enjoyable.

I went to give boarding a try in Waterville TN w/ Kevin a few months
back. I must admit at the time of boarding I wasn't that impressed.
(http://www.americanwhitewater.org/rivers/id/1782/?
PHPSESSID=be377cb872d07c13e52239cd29a45731 )

You see I was looking for something on the edge right off the bat :)

Enough about my first run.... let me tell you a bit about 2 guest
that I have taken.

One of my neighbors (Farrel) saw me unloading my gear one afternoon
and thought that boarding was what he was looking for too.

Ferrel runs 30 miles a week and I was certain that he had the
stamina and kicking power needed to run the middle Ocoee.

I called Rock Creek to reserve the demo brd and got a wetsuit held
for him at the local dive shop...I gave him directions to the dive
shop and asked him to run by and get it the night b4 leaving.

We woke up early and hit the road grabbed my gear and his duffle
bag....during the drive we talked about his confidence lvl(swimming)
and the river. We stopped by Rock Creek and rented the brd for
$25.00 .Upon arriving we dumped all the gear
at the put in and off I drove to park and hike back(22minutes my
best rndtrip time to date).

Well we start gearing up and he pulls out a darn shorty O'Neill 1
mill suit. After 10 min's of explaining the dangers of not wearing a
full 3mill+ suit he convinced me he would be fine.

We geared up and I had him wear some one piece knee/shin guards and
then put 2 elastic type knee pads over that...Once he was geared up
he looked pretty safe.

He played in the lake for a bit and familiarized himself w/ the
board.

Ferrel did an excellent job running his first river...class 3+ river
and he walked away w/out serious injury and a rush that has yet to
be matched on water.
(http://www.americanwhitewater.org/rivers/id/1780/ )


Dale (42yrs) was my next guest.... Dale is a 2 pack a day smoker but
yet looks fit. We are the same age and I was most certain he could
hang ....My bad....He made it 1/4 of the trip and I had to beach
him.. I was always close at hand in this run and very thankful that
we didn't get separated... Poor old boy ran out of energy
immediately.

The next day I grabbed a rope and whistle....The entire trip I kept
thinking...what the hell could I really do to save someone...

Now I can Lasso them :D

If you aren't sure about your guests abilities…please take them on a
class 2 like Kevin did for me(thx bud)

Peace,

Ken