FALL RELEASES ARE HERE!! But what does that mean for your back?

by samantharuppelt | Oct 11, 2019 | Creeking, Instructional, Playboating, River Running, WW Disciplines

I love, love, LOVE September. It doesn’t matter how hot it is, all the September releases and festivals put me in to the fall mood. Friends, fam, great paddling, and LOTS of driving.   Though it’s super fun, it’s still a transition from my weekend day trips to...

Hip strength to improve your skills

by samantharuppelt | Nov 15, 2018 | Fitness, Instructional, Video, Whitewater, Whitewater Instruction

To the general public, and new boaters too, the thought is that kayaking is back dominant. It’s not until you start to navigate whitewater rivers and you start spending more time on the water that you realize kayaking is, in fact, a full body activity. Maintaining hip...

What to think about when stepping it up

by samantharuppelt | Jun 14, 2018 | Creeking, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

It’s only natural in kayaking to get a taste of the water and want more. There’s no experience better (in my opinion) than a day on the river. Paddling has not only shown me places that I could never even dream of experiencing, it’s also challenged myself and my...

Back Basics

by samantharuppelt | Apr 22, 2018 | Fitness, Instructional, Video, Whitewater, Whitewater Instruction

You know that moment when you hit a sweet boof… and then you land on a rock? What about that moment when you go to do a splat…. and then just plow your bow straight into a rock and jolt forward? (Oh that’s just me…) What abouttttttt when you go to load your boat on...

Antix Fun!

by samantharuppelt | Apr 15, 2018 | Antix, Reviews, River Running, Video, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

What I love about the Antix is that it allows me to play and creek as much as I want, even on the same river! I have taken it down Tallulah, the Green, the Ocoee, and most recently the Tellico. I can avoid rocks if I want to, I can boof or splat them if I choose. I...

Injury Prevention and Rehab: Shoulder Stability

by samantharuppelt | Mar 29, 2018 | Fitness, Instructional, Video, Whitewater, Whitewater Instruction

Shoulders tend to be the most common body part injured in the whitewater kayaking world. If you haven’t hurt your shoulder and if it doesn’t give you issues then chances are that you know someone who has had or is having shoulder issues. Labral tears, subluxations,...

Increasing Mobility for Better Performance

by samantharuppelt | Feb 17, 2018 | Uncategorized, Whitewater

When I think about whitewater kayakers having good mobility I kind of laugh a little to myself. Unless you consistently work on it, chances are shoving yourself into your boat has taken a toll on your mobility. In order to have the best control in your boat- whether...

Maintenance off of the water- stretching out the spine

by samantharuppelt | Jan 24, 2018 | Fitness, Instructional, Video, Whitewater, Whitewater Instruction

I’ve been seeing a lot of questions lately online about injuries, pain, and tightness in the body and how it impedes performance on the water. In response to this I wanted to do a series on ways to maintain the body while off the water. I, like so many of you, have a...

In the Spirit of Giving

by samantharuppelt | Dec 16, 2017 | rivers, Whitewater

This is the time of year in which we tend to think beyond ourselves. In the spirit of giving we begin to donate to other causes, buy gifts for friends, and become grateful for what we have. While you’re getting into the holiday spirit I would like to remind you not...

Winter is Coming

by samantharuppelt | Nov 7, 2017 | Creeking, Karma, Whitewater, WW Disciplines

Most people I know do not particularly like this time of year. Aside form the holidays which most do enjoy, they hate the cold, dreary weather and everything else winter stands for. I, however, absolutely love the Southeast in the winter. Mainly because of the rain...

Shoulder Injury Prevention

by samantharuppelt | Apr 27, 2014 | Beginner Moves, Intermediate Moves, JK University, Whitewater

  Shoulder Health and Injury Prevention in Kayaking Just about every kayaker knows someone who has injured their shoulder in some sort of way, if that person hasn’t injured a shoulder themselves. What are we doing that causes these shoulder injuries and how can...

Training away from the river

by samantharuppelt | Sep 23, 2012 | Beginner Moves, Intermediate Moves, JK University, Whitewater

  It’s really hard not to be inspired to work on our freestyle skills with 2012 World Cup just wrapping up. The whole paddling community has pretty much been glued to the World Cup coverage, watching their friends and favorite athletes compete. I’m pretty sure...