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April 2008 ENews

Drop in for Demo Daze

Kick off Paddling Season at Demo Daze, when all 60+ demo boats will be available for test-paddling, the roll pool will be open and sample paddling clinics will be free for all boaters! (Choose from a creeking clinic on Saturday and playboating clinic on Sunday.) Also on Saturday, keep your eyes peeled for our enormous "Big Wesser" grill firing up a delicious riverside barbecue. Demo some boats, learn some strokes and enjoy all the hiking, biking and paddling that make any weekend at NOC fun-all while saving 20% on almost everything in our Outfitter's Store. Just in: Two new creek boats in big sizes have been added to our demo fleet: Riot's Thunder and Magnum. Check out the specs, then take one for a spin at Demo Daze!

Special Spring Offer: Nolichucky Dinner Trips

After more than 12 " of rain, this year all our free-flowing rivers are at exciting levels, including the Nolichucky, where you can enjoy an exceptional experience on an extraordinary river! Guests on our new Nolichucky dinner trips will soak in the Noli's Class III-IV rapids and magnificent wilderness while on the river, then indulge in a riverside cookout afterwards. Our guides will prepare steaks, chicken, beans, slaw and more while you, your friends and family relax in our sauna, play horseshoes or take in a riverside sunset. BYOB!

Paddler's Pub & Relia's Garden Open for Season

With a fresh look and new bar menu, NOC's Paddler's Pub reopened just in time for NCAA Basketball Tournament viewing. So far, the most popular entree is the new Fried Shrimp Po' Boy and, for an appetizer, guests love the Pretzels and Beer Cheese. The Pub's new menu gives diners a new on-campus option, featuring classics, like hamburgers, salads and sandwiches with an upscale flare. The décor includes selected drawings from the William Nealy Collection. Relia's Garden opens today, April 1, featuring a new menu full of the area's most delicious cuisine. You haven't really experienced NOC until you've eaten at all our delicious restaurants!

NOC & NARR on West Virginia's Best Whitewater

NOC is pleased to announce a new partnership with North American River Runners (NARR) of West Virginia. This partnership will open up two classic Eastern whitewater runs for NOC guests, the Class III-IV New and the legendary Class V Gauley. NARR is one of the original West Virginia outfitters, with professionalism and culture similar to NOC's. NARR's West Virginia campus offers lodging, dining and other excellent outdoor activities, giving our guests another great venue for a packed adventure vacation. In addition to opening up new rafting adventures, the partnership will allow our renown Paddling School to offer instruction on these gorgeous and challenging rivers.

Knobscorcher Mountain Bike Race

This Sunday, it'll be down and dirty for the longtime-favorite bike race, The Knobscorcher, at Tsali Recreation Area. The race kicks off at 8:30am, with four waves including Kids, Beginners, All Sport and Experts. Come check out one of the Southeast's most popular mountain bike races, or compete yourself! The last day to register is April 4 at 10pm. For more information, visit www.goneriding.com. Base your race weekend out of NOC. Stop in our Bike Shop for last-minute parts and apparel, or treat your bike to a tune-up before the race.

Also, join us Saturday in Relia's Garden for a special pasta dinner to show support for rider Rick Harman who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Dinner starts at 7pm and costs $7 with $2 from each meal going to Rick. All donations are appreciated!

NOC Salutes: Hartwell Carson of RiverLink, Asheville, NC

Hartwell Carson's not just an open boater. He's also a major advocate for one of our favorite rivers. As the French Broad Riverkeeper, he is RiverLink's representative to the Waterkeeper Alliance, which protects more than 170 streams, bays and rivers worldwide. Both Carson and RiverLink work to monitor pollution, to educate watershed residents and to protect the river's wildlife. When he's not "riverkeeping", Carson enjoys canoeing the FB, putting in at Hot Springs and floating into Tennessee. "It's a very scenic section with a few good rapids and great fishing."
Want to protect the river in your backyard? Carson suggests, "If there are no environmental or protection groups in your area, start one up. Or, begin by organizing a simple river clean up." Check out the many ways to get involved in caring for the French Broad at www.riverlink.org .

Know a protector of our rivers, trails and wild places? Nominate an exceptional steward of the environment today. In no more than 250 words, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it us what this person is doing and why you have nominated him/her. We'll salute one individual each month, and feature the honoree in our e-newsletter. We'll also recognize each month's winner with a $50 gift card for our famous Outfitter's Store!