Hollie’s liquid  adventure began years ago in a recreational boat, but after several years of thinking “those whitewater kayakers are crazy”, she finally decided to try it out.  (For most of us this moment usually comes after paddling a long stretch of shallow, flatwater in a raft!)  Since she already had a passion for the outdoors, water, and adventure, whitewater kayaking seemed like the perfect fusion of the things she loved.

Nearly a decade ago, she met Tom and began to hone her whitewater skills (a.k.a. “polish the nub”) and teach for Liquid Adventures.  After following Tom down several rivers in the States, Canada and Mexico, Hollie started racing and really getting to know the water.  When she wasn’t racing, she was teaching!!  It didn’t take long for her to discover that she LOVES teaching people how to paddle.  She learns so much from teaching…plus, how could she keep this much fun to herself?!

Kayaking for Hollie is like life.  Her students often hear her say “it’s 99% belief that you can make it…the rest is moving forward and getting up when you flip.”

Favorite Tom McEwan phrases: “Do I know you?” or  “How ‘bout we try this?”

All-time Favorite River(s): Jatate and Salto River (MX), Upper Yough (MD), New River (WV).

Favorite Things to do out of the boat: Everything from Acting to Zumba!!

Finally she has decided to share this project with the rest of the world!  Her blog is honest and candid.  She talks about her frustrations and chronicles each swim. She documents learning to roll, to surf, and paddling under a waterfall.   She also introduces us to river dynamics and to characters from the DC area paddling community.  This is the shared kayaking experience!  Whether you are just getting into paddling or have been at it for a while, you should totally check it out:

Super Inexperienced Kayaker

Cost for after school classes: $200 for 6 classes.

Days:  High School Kayaking meets Tuesday and Friday afternoons at Walt Whitman high school at 2:30.  Often students from other nearby high schools meet us in the parking lot.  Please contact the office to make arrangements.

Middle School meets Wednesday and Thursday.  We pick up at Westland at 2:40 and Pyle at 2:45.

The drop off for all of the classes is Whitman High School at 6:15 pm. Visit our online calendar.

Signup: visit our website: liquidadventureskayakschool.org click register, and create a student account.  You will then be able to select High School Kayaking, After School Pyle or Afterschool Westland.  Note: Scroll down to the heading Youth.

Transportation: is provided for students from Westland, Pyle & Whitman.  BCC students can catch the Metro Bus to Whittier Blvd. and be picked up at the bus stop near Pyle.

For questions:  call 301 229 0428 or email office@liquidadventures.org.

 What to bring:  All kayak equipment provided, including boat, PFD, helmet, spray skirt, spray jacket, and paddle.  On chilly days, students should have one or two layers of synthetic pile or fleece shirts to wear under the spray jacket. Students must have shoes appropriate for kayaking.

About us: Liquid Adventures’ staff ACA certified instructors, known for a love of whitewater adventure. Director Tom McEwan is a long time devotee and coach, having designed both the Valley Mill Camp and Camp Calleva programs and trained numerous Olympic and top-level paddlers.

Ever wonder what happens during the two months of Cheat Training?  Well, the Cheat Youth have been blogging about their adventures on the river …and what it takes to get there.

http://laksyoungracers.blogspot.com/

Feeder canal on a Sunday morning

Last Sunday, during the Slalom for River Runners class, we took some video of our forward strokes.  Everyone improved by the end.  Was it because of Hollie’s amazing instruction?  Or because we finally warmed up?

Mexico 2011: Advanced Waterfalls by Thomas Esch

This race is like no other in that there were rescue teams at 11 different drops along the course.  If someone got stuck in a hole and couldn’t get out,  a rescuer on a tether would jump in, flip him up, pull him out, and send him on his way.  Safety was taken very seriously, thanks to Aventurec’s super organization.

There was quite a little fanfare at the awards ceremony.  The Tlapacoyan band was there with drums and music.  There was a lady who served as MC, who welcomed everyone in their own language, and interviewed people in the audience.  Eric Deguil sat in a corner and was seen being emotional.  The race was the last in the AWP Whitewater World Series, which clinched it for Eric.  He became World Champion in Extreme Kayak Racing.  Spirits were high and the party afterwards lasted until 2 AM.

The results are available on the Alseseca.com website and there is a video of the Alseseca Race on YouTube.

(Photo: Gene at Ocho Topes)

This coming Saturday, January 14th, is the 4th annual Alseseca River race in Tlapocoyan, Veracruz, MX.  Tom is on-site with a group of LAKS paddlers, training to be part of the race.  Anticipating the race, I asked him for the latest news:

“Isaac Levinson,  Eric Deguil, Pablo McCandless,  and Isidro Sobranes seem to be the favorites to place in the race.  Isaac won the Green Race this year in the long boat class, and Eric won the Green Race in short boat class.  Isidro, the highest ranking Mexican paddler, came in second last year.  They are all practicing on the course everyday.  The water level is a little higher then previous years so the times should be shorter.  In the short boat class,  it’s anyone’s guess who will finish in the top three.  There is a lot of excitement at Aventurec about the coming race.”

I’ll keep you posted with news and times.  Here is a link to the Alseseca Race website.