Tuesday, September 27, 2011



After a very successful first season, the NOC Youth Paddling Team is proud to announce the opening of it's second season application period!

Please take a moment to read over the following information about this year's team.

Due to popular demand, the NOC YPT will be increasing it’s size to welcome a larger number of youth paddlers. The 2012 team will consist of a small elite level team and a larger junior team that will work together to help more youth paddlers get the skills they need to safely enjoy whitewater paddling as well as meet other youth paddlers in their area.


2012 Junior Team-


The Junior Team is designed to encourage youth participation in kayaking throughout the paddling community for all skill levels. Junior Team members will get special training from some of the sport's top paddlers in all disciplines and levels of paddling. Serving also as a social networking tool for both youth and parents, our Junior Team rendezvous will help you meet other paddlers from your community and get out on the river!

Members will receive an ID card that entitles them to 10% off purchases in restaurants, the store, and on Paddling School programs.


Membership dues: $50



2012 Elite Team -


The current 8 member elite team will be increasing in size to 20 members divided into: Freestyle, Racing, and a Junior Instruction Team. The goal for the upcoming season is to help aspiring youth paddlers focus on the discipline that is most attractive to them.

Membership Dues: $200

The layout for 2012:

Freestyle Team - 8 members


In 2013 the World Freestyle championships will be held on the Nantahala River. It is our goal to give the freestyle team the tools needed to compete in this event. In addition to competitions throughout the year participants will have access to regular coaching/training sessions to develop their skills and competition mind. 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 Worlds.

Racing Team - 6 members


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 water available 11 months per 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 Youth Paddling Team will be focusing six of it’s members directly with slalom, wildwater, and/or downriver racing.

Junior Instructor Team - 6 members


For youth not interested in the competitive side of the sport we will also support six 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 other youth. The focus of this team will be on hard paddling skills, leadership, teaching skills, soft skills development, technical rescue, and first-aid training. This team will be a great way to earn a possible future position as an NOC instructor.


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If you are between the ages of 6-18, and love the sport of whitewater paddling we highly encourage you to apply. Applying is free, easy and 100% confidential.