Outdoor School
NOC Youth Paddling Team Programs |
| Do you have what it takes to be a 2012 YPT member? Apply now here! Application deadline for the 2012 Elite YPT has passed. However, enrollment to the 2012 Junior YPT is ongoing and applications are accepted year round. |
The 2012 Youth Paddling Team
YPT is expanding its size for the 2012 season to welcome a larger number of paddlers. With the increased team size, we are creating multiple tracks and options that will allow team members to develop their specific interests while maintaining a strong leadership component. These paths are freestyle, racing, professional and recreational paddling and will all be supported by one of the world's best kayak instruction programs. The 2012 YPT will consist of a small elite level team and a larger junior team. These two teams will work together to help more youth paddlers gain the skills they need to safely enjoy whitewater kayaking as well as building relationships with other youth paddlers in their area.
YPT Junior Team
The Junior Team is designed to encourage youth participation in kayaking throughout the paddling community and is open to all skill levels. Junior Team members will get special training from some the sport's top paddlers in all disciplines and levels of paddling. This team and their parents will participate in weekend rendezvous in which you will meet other paddlers, learn more about the sport, experience unique opportunities and get out on the river!
YPT Elite Team
The current eight member Elite Team will increase in size to twenty members divided into three focus areas: Freestyle, Racing and Junior Instruction. The goal for the upcoming season is to help aspiring youth paddlers, that have already excelled in paddlesports, focus on the discipline that they are most interested in pursuing.
Click to view the 2012 YPT Elite Team Calendar and 2012 YPT Junior Team Calendar.
Freestyle Team
In 2013 the World Freestyle Championships will be hosted on the Nantahala River. It is our goal to give these eight members of the YPT Freestyle team the tools neccessary to compete in this event. In addition to competitions throughout the year, participants will have access to regular coaching and training sessions to develop their skills and competition mindset. This branch of the YPT is open to youth dedicated to pushing themselves not only on the river, but also in their everyday lives while training for an event such as the World's.
Racing Team
In the past decades dozens of Olympians have trained and been directly associated with NOC. As a training center, NOC is an ideal location with consistent water flows available eleven months out of the year, a vast wealth of knowledge and experience, and a direct partnership with the Nantahala Racing Club, an organization that supports all ages in their journey as a competitive paddler. New for 2012, the YPT will be focusing six of its elite members directly with slalom, wildwater and/or downriver racing.
Junior Instruction Team
For youth not interested in the competitive side of the sport, we will also support six elite team members whom are interested in becoming a professional in the paddling community. Instructing for a paddling club, camp, outdoor program or the NOC Paddling School can be a great way for youth to earn money while sharing their passion with others. The focus of this team will be on hard paddling skills, leadership, teaching skills, soft skills development, technical rescue and first aid training.
