Woman and the River

So many voices are being heard on the concept of female empowerment, a subject we Gnar Fairies hold close to our hearts and mission. Unfortunately, the sad truth is that we are still outnumbered in the arena of the great outdoors. So few women choose to fully immerse themselves in the wild ways of nature and learn from what this earth may teach us. We are rarely encouraged by men and even our own sex to pursue this lifestyle and chase our fears down the river. Many ask why this point of empowerment is such a big deal, and the reason is because people are still asking that question.
As women, we face several challenges that stunt our growth as individuals. Even statistics show that as girls hit adolescence their physical activity drops due to becoming more self-conscious of their bodies. This trend continues throughout their lifetimes as long as they are given no guidance or outlets to build on confidence. I was lucky enough to have parents that supported my love for nature and heavily established gender equality between my brother and I. The real world doesn't work that way though. Many go without that kind of upbringing or encouragement and, thus, sexism and oppression remain evident in our society as well as the outdoor community.
We see men and even some women continue to hold the standards that limit the female psyche to what we think others believe us capable. Instead of breaking down barriers, we find ourselves maintaining them by accepting the constraints set upon us due to our gender. I, myself, have run into young male paddlers that have held me back despite my progression in the sport. They would tell me I wasn't ready or they didn't think I had the mentality for more than Class III. To female paddlers who have encountered similar circumstances, my advice is to find new friends. There are so many others out there willing to teach you and allow you to thrive in the environment you love.
We women can be those who influence others and create a safe, non-judgmental   atmosphere for girls to prosper. Female paddlers need to continue to grow as a community and inspire one another instead of hindering our potential. Let us get the adolescent youth involved and show them that they are not alone in this fight for confidence and independence. Even as our numbers continue to grow out there, feed the momentum with leadership and vision.
Do what the river teaches us, to conquer fears and strive for the gnarly. Let the force of the current reflect our strength and power with every stroke. For on the water, there is no distinction. We are all equal in the river's might.

Gnar-Lee

Photo by Tallulah Fest 

Lee (left) and Kim Zamora (right)

My First Boat

A boat. It is the essential tool that all paddler's must have. I mean how can you be a paddler if you don't have some kind of boat to paddle around?! This is the most crucial piece of equipment that a paddler owns. Which also means it is one of the biggest problems a new paddler has to deal with. You can only borrow and rent a kayak for so long before you begin to desperately want your own kayak.  This is what eventually happened to me. I mean borrowing so many different types of boats helped me figure out the make and model I was mainly interested in. However, I needed to start obtaining gear if I was going to begin progressing as a paddler.  And so my boat hunt began. I looked for months trying to find a good first boat. I wasn't going to spend a ton of money on it, because I knew this boat was going to be a beater boat. I mean I am very new to this sport and I am going to screw up a lot before I start to get it right, No sense in spend money on a boat that is most likely going to end up getting pitoned, bent, oil canned to hell, or cracked. That is just asking for heart break.
Eventually, I was led to a used 2012 Dagger Nomad 8.5 on a used gear page on Facebook. (Thanks again Jevon!)  I cannot truly express in words how joyous I was when I finalized the sale with the owner.  I finally felt like I was a kayaker. I finally owned my own boat. I no longer had to grovel to borrow someone's gear.  I now had more opportunities open up for me to go kayaking!
Thankfully Gnar-Lee was able to pick it up in Charlotte for me and weld the crack on the bottom too! (Thanks Lee and Thank you Jevon again!!) I must also admit that when she sent me pictures of my boat on top of her Honda, I did a glorious happy dance in the middle of the App State parking lot. (people starred and I didn't care!)
She was also able to bring it to me In Asheville so I could take it down the river for the first time. I took it down section 9 of the French Broad with a couple of friends. The boat handled great and I only swam once. Which is a huge improvement for me, I generally swim twice every time I paddle. Now I just can't wait to practice my roll in it and continue on my kayaking adventures.
Also, the Dagger Nomad is a great boat. If you are a beginner and want a proven and forgiving design, GET THIS BOAT.

Han-Gnar

Humanity at its Finest

In this day in age, we witness all the hateful things happening in our world and country. The things I see on the television or hear on the radio send me into a whirlwind of emotions from empathy to disgust. It's hard to see what good humanity has to offer, that is, until you get on the river. The comradery, ethics, and attitudes found in the paddling world brings to light the fantastic qualities of which mankind is capable.
The friendships we make on the river are unique. My friend Rob Mock said it perfectly when he told me why he loved to paddle. He said that it didn't matter what level you were at, the people you paddle with will see you at your most vulnerable. In that instant, whether you're getting worked in a hole or swimming, they can see that true moment of fear and human weakness. We form trust and a bond in this distinct way that can only be seen in a community like ours. Whether it's happening to you or you simply bear witness and lend a helping hand, this deep understanding truly is one of the most miraculous elements of paddling.
That aspect of comradery transfers into an area of ethics that seem absent from our everyday lives. It's the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I can't speak for all of us since there are always exceptions, but I have found most paddlers hold this ideal close to their heart. Doug Ammons covers this same standard in his book, Whitewater Philosophy, when he states, "The simplest ethical acts are things you learned as a kid [...] These are respect and care for others. They include going after a swimmer, helping with shuttles, getting lost gear back to its' owner, or making room for somebody in an eddy. The most important of that underpins the others is helping those in need. This feeling, more than any other, forms the bond of the river." I, myself, have yet to have an incident where I have not been helped or that I have not helped another. It's a beautiful thing to feel obligated to assist your fellow man in such an uncertain arena as that of the river. We have all been there. We all understand.
While both friendship and ethics play such a huge part in the paddling experience, it's the attitudes of those you surround yourself with out there that makes all the difference. Yes, we are all serious about what we do, but we are also doing something that makes us the happiest people in the world. All the anxiety of real life melts away and we find nothing but pleasure in the beauty and power of the nature that surrounds us. At the end of the day, we are doing something we love, and the attitudes we have on and eventually off the water just perpetuate that. It's one of the reasons paddling whitewater is the sport I've chosen to pursue for the rest of my life.
So when you are driving home and you've had the worst possible day or people have just been unkind, remember that you belong to a select few that are actually trying to make the world a better place. Our love for paddling and one another makes us one of the best communities among humanity. That means something.

Gnar-Lee

I just want to thank all the amazing people I've paddled with over the years that, in a way, helped me write this. You are all incredible individuals and every day on the water with you is truly a pleasure. I appreciate all that you've shown me.

Photo by Jessica Dawn

No Excuses

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” 
―Eleanor Roosevelt 

As a woman, I read this quote and seek to follow Mrs. Roosevelt's advice. As a boater, I seek to live it. From day to day, life seems to escape from us as we work or attend school. And to what end? Yes, we do these things to secure a future for ourselves, but we tend to also use that as excuse not to pursue what we desire. For myself, my true happiness lies on the water.
I can tell you the exact moment I got hooked on paddling. It was on the Nantahala River and I, a novice still, made my way down to the Falls. At the time, the rapid looked huge. I remember watching the water surge and give me a great big push as I went through the Falls terrified. Of course the boat was quickly flipped over and I leaned forward to pull my skirt. Only my skirt wouldn't come off. Eventually, with some brute leg force I wiggled my way out, but not before the water worked me like I was nothing. It was a bonding experience. In that moment, I understood my insignifance and how my pride could so easily be shaken. The river is always the winner. It is the most powerful force.
It may have been a small swim in retrospect, but I found pure joy in that instant. It wasn't in the actual swim itself that I found this bliss, but in understanding what I was capable of then. It was a challenge. The river asked me if I was willing to let it all go and never come back, or to become its' partner and seek to harness it's power. My choice was easy.
Now as work seems to consume me, I feel anxious and stressed as nothing can compare to how I feel on the water. I find so little time for myself and my pursuits. In the end though, there truly is time for everything. I'm tired of making the excuse that work gets in my way. I can make time for the river when the water calls. When it challenges me yet again.

So this weekend you won't find me at home watching Netflix or reading a book. You won't find me dreaming for more time.

You will find me on the river.

Gnar-Lee 

My First Glimpse of Green

A few weekends ago, I was able to attend my first Green Race.  Even though the roads were icy and snow covered much of the ground, I still made the voyage out to the Green River Narrows to watch the brave, adrenaline fueled, and possibly stupid kayakers race down some of gnarliest whitewater I have ever personally seen.  I mean the Notch has me scared beyond reason!
It might have been cold and a brutal hike down but I was so happy I did it. I got to see some of the best kayakers in the US and the carnage was impeccable! Although, my heart goes out to the long boater who took Gorilla completely sideways and about bent their boat in half. Don't think the boat can be fixed, but, hey, the kid made it in the history books of carnage!
I was especially excited to see each and everyone one of the few ladies who raced that day! It made me feel empowered. I thought to myself, "Maybe one day I will be able to paddle with these rockin' boater chicks and tear up the Green River Narrows." I don't know when that day will come, but I know one day it will.
So all in all, I would have to wrap my first glimpse of Green as a fun, powerful, enlightening, enjoyable, adrenaline filled, and enriching experience.

Gnar Fairy

Han-Gnar

Here Comes the New Kid

October 22, 2014

I guess I should introduce myself, I'm Gnar Fairy Hannah Groves. You could say that water has always been one of my elements. I learned how to swim before I could walk and I was always finding a way to explore the creeks at the park down the road from my house. When I was a kid my Aunt would take me on float trips down the French Broad and I would swim and mess around in her friend's whitewater kayak in branching off creeks. You could say that I was being gently coaxed into the world of whitewater. By the time I was 12 I had experience whitewater rafting on the Pigeon River and Section 9 of the French Broad. I would continue to raft on the Pigeon until I was 15. I wouldn't get back on a river till I was 18.  But during that time I was always trying to find a way to learn how to whitewater kayak and I would dream about the days I would spend on the river with camps, youth groups, or family.
By my senior year of high school I decided to act on my dream of being a raft guide. I tried to apply for a rafting job and failed to find a good starter outpost and sadly had to put my dream off another year. This only fueled my drive even more and in the Summer of 2013 I began my rafting career with Rolling Thunder River Co. on the Nantahala River in Bryson City, NC.  Since then I have been trying to further my knowledge and experience on the water. This past January I began breaking ground on my new adventure of whitewater kayaking. I went to different local colleges an attended their roll clinics, absorbing as much information as I could. After that I continued on gaining experience with another summer on the Nantahala with Thunder and a few more experiences with kayaking.
This past summer definitely immersed me even more in the love of whitewater. I started planning for festivals and fun runs on different rivers so that I could keep it a constant in my life.  It also helped my learn what I want to do for the rest of my life as a career.
This all eventually led me to meet fellow Gnar Fairy Lee Turner at Gauley Fest 2014. We rafted the Upper Gauley together and with mutual friends. We had an instant connection and our paths became woven through some sparkly helmets and the urge to experience whitewater to the fullest.
Yeah, I am an extreme novice when it comes to kayaking but, this crew isn't about experience and skill. It's about being a girl who wants to have an epic time on the water. I am so excited to have this opportunity to increase my knowledge, skill, and integration of my love of art and my love of whitewater.  So stay tuned for the triumphs, the failures, the learning experiences, the boofs, the bails, the art, and the airs!

- The New Kid (Han-Gnar)

My Whitewater Philosophy: Lee's Story

My days on the river began when I was young. Staring at the banks of the New, I had this connection to the water I would not fully comprehend until college. My father, a backpacker, and my mother, a scuba diver, found balance with one another by taking my brother and I to paddle every chance they got. I explored many a river and lake before I hit the peak of boredom. I wanted to go faster. I rowed in high school and college until I embraced kayaking once more. This time, though, it would be on something much more powerful.

At this point in my life I saw whitewater as a tool to prove myself and my worth to others. However, it wasn't long before being on the river became a deeper, more primal need. Whitewater became my home, my sanctuary, and everyone I had tried to legitimize myself to became obsolete. Only through time and experience did I learn to respect those waters that seemed to embrace me no matter my flaws. I paddle for myself and myself alone, striving to discover of what I am ultimately capable. Whitewater gives me a kind of spiritual guidance that I could only hope to share with anyone in the sport.

It's why we started this team. This isn't just something we are doing to pass the time or provide a temporary adrenaline rush. It is the lifestyle I have chosen to lead. A way of life I can pour my heart, soul, blood, and sweat into. I paddle with a fierce love and respect for the river that has given me an extraordinary purpose that I will continue to purse the rest of my days. It will be something I will absolutely pass on to future generations.

Whitewater shows me my possibilities and how they are truly endless. I will seek, find, and conquer obstacles I face as my story continues. I will welcome them with open arms and be the person I would dare to say is

happy.


-Gnar Fairy Lee