The full story.
Since 1972, when NOC founders Payson and Aurelia Kennedy and Horace Holden opened a small rafting company on the banks of the Nantahala River, NOC has had a leading role in the outdoor recreation industry. That same year, whitewater slalom made its Olympic debut in Munich, Germany. The growth of whitewater paddling has been exponential over the past few decades, and NOC has seen it all. We've been home to many Olympians and Olympic hopefuls, and, in the playboating world, NOC staff have taken leading roles in designing cutting edge products. An Olympic history
NOC athletes have always been at the top of their sport. Our location in the heart of a pristine wilderness area with unlimited recreational opportunities entices people to visit, and then to stay. In particular, our relationship with the prestigious Nantahala Racing Club has allowed Olympic-caliber athletes to train right here at our facility. Former NOC president John Burton (now owner/operator of nearby Nantahala Village Resort) was a member of the original 1972 Olympic slalom team. His teammate Angus Morrison, currently head guide for Nantahala Guided Trips, was also on the Olympic team that year, as well as in 1976 and 1980. More recently, Olympians Lecky and Fritz Haller, Horace Holden, Wayne Dickert, and Scott Shipley have all trained with NRC, right here on the Nantahala River. The only Americans to have won top honors in whitewater slalom were NRC members: Scott Strausbaugh and Joe Jacobi took home the Gold in C-2 in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Most recently, the Nantahala Racing Club trained the newest crop of slalom paddlers for the 2004 Athens games, and many of these athletes find a home as well at NOC. Whitewater connections
The relationship NOC has developed with whitewater manufacturers has much to do with the staff from NOC who have gone on to take leading roles in these other companies. Homer King founded legendary Silver Creek Paddles while working as an NOC guide. Liquidlogic founder Shane Benedict worked for NOC as a Chattooga guide and kayak instructor for years. Back in his NOC days, Shane could often be found at Nantahala Falls, carving foam and sticking it on different parts of his kayak as he worked on boat designs for Perception. Another former top instructor, Tom DeCuir, used his days off from NOC instruction to create now legendary Grace Under Pressure with co-worker and current head instructor Joe Holt. Staffer Phillip Curry saw a need for a lifejacket made specifically for whitewater kayaking; he founded Lotus Designs after testing prototypes on his friends and co-workers. And freestyle C-1 world champion and NattyShred founder Barry Kennon-back in his NRC racer days-used to wash dishes at River's End Restaurant. Wayne Dickert, head of NOC Instruction, was a key player in the creation of Dagger's GT series. Seeing a need for all-around boats friendly to novice kayakers, Wayne collaborated with Dagger to create designs that weren't made just for advanced playboaters. Turn over any rock in the whitewater world-or look into any eddy-and you're likely to find some folks who used to work at NOC. Kent Ford, Charlie Walbridge, and Chris Spelius are all NOC alum who still keep in touch. It's no surprise that paddlers find their way to our doors, and that our staff become enthusiastic, proficient paddlers. What some boaters call the "NOC style" of paddling combines the best that we have: the posture and form of slalom boaters with the grace and technique of experienced playboaters. Watch one of our instructors paddling on the river, and you'll recognize three decades of Olympic paddling and industry leadership. BACK TO ABOUT NOC MAIN PAGE TOP |
