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Tag >> Lower New River

The Russians Are Coming, To Raft

Posted by: Leah in Whitewater Rafting, West Virginia, rock climbing, Mountain Biking, Lower New River, Gauley Season, Bridge Day, ACE Adventure Resort on Feb 22, 2010

Leah

I have been guiding now for 10 years and have had many memorable guests in my boat. However, one particular crew wandered into my boat and my life. You may have noted their names on the ACE blog before (New Jersey Likes Rafting?). We affectionately refer to them as the "Russian Girls" (they are actually from Kazakhstan). In no particular order, Naira, Alla and Yuliya (Julia) first came to ACE with a bunch of friends to do the New River, got addicted as people do and came back to do a whole weekend during Gauley Season.

They ended up staying four days, doing an Overnight, a Double Upper and a Marathon. I just happened to be river boarding on their third day on the river and they stopped and talked to me that day. Not thinking much of it, I got a good night's rest before the Marathon the next day.

I was trip leading that day and what appears before my eyes at 6 a.m. at check-in but the Russians. They wanted to be in my boat. Thinking to myself, three small women, oh yeah, and they can't swim very well, on a Marathon - this should be interesting.

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What's The Best Rapid On The Lower New River?

Posted by: Big Wave Dave in Whitewater Rafting, River Guides, New River Gorge, Memories, Lower New River on Aug 26, 2009

Big Wave Dave

Of all the rapids on the Lower New River, I think I love Miller's Folly the best.

As a raft guide, I like to ask my guests which rapid they liked the best several times during their trip and see if it changes throughout the day.  Interestingly enough, it is not always the class V rapids people like the most.

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When Rafting Meets Romance

Posted by: Alyson Smith in romance, River Guides, Lower New River, ACE Adventure Resort on Aug 25, 2009

Alyson Smith

I was looking for some blog inspiration and I found it — wearing a plastic helmet and P.F.D.  Her name is Sharon.

She brought her adult son and daughter, as well as her slightly-nervous-son-in-law on a Premier Lower New trip.  We met at ACE's put-in, made brief introductions, and headed for the current.

On the surface, Sharon didn't appear to be the perfect blog inspiration.  She was enthusiastic, but enjoyed letting her kids do more of the talking.  They had interesting lives and stories, but pieces of information about their mother kept coming to the surface.

When her daughter, Sarah, talked about her mother providing venison (deer meat) for the family, I couldn't resist some prying.  It turns out that Sharon is an avid hunter and fisher-woman.  She enjoys those hobbies with her boyfriend.

And here is where the "Rafting Romance" enters the story.

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Making The Grade, We Give ACE An A

Posted by: Cheri Barkley in Whitewater Rafting, West Virginia, Rafting Blogger, Lower New River, Gauley River, Blog Team, ACE Adventure Resort on Aug 13, 2009

Cheri Barkley

Let me start by telling you a little about myself and how it all began.

Originally from Florida, transplanted to coastal North Carolina, I'm a 24-year veteran educator, who finds herself always learning something new. This time however, it wasn't in a traditional classroom, but through experiencing some of the best whitewater in the world!

In mid-July, a few years ago, my husband and I decided to take our first whitewater rafting trip with ACE.  We were hooked!

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Guest Post: Even Armenia and Kazakhstan Love ACE

Posted by: ACE Blog Team in zipline canopy tour, White Water Rafting, West Virginia, Upper Gauley, River Guides, New River Gorge, Mountain Biking, Memories, Lower New River, Guides, groups, Gauley River, friends, Family Vacations, Extreme Whitewater Rafting, Adventure Vacations, activities, ACE Adventure Resort, ACE on May 23, 2009

ACE Blog Team

Hey, to all those who are looking for the adventure of a lifetime and ways to spend great time with friends and family: You found it. ACE is the place to be.

My sisters and I have been around the globe and found bliss at ACE. Biking, canopy, climbing, duckies and rafting, rafting, rafting! Did I mention rafting?

We have been loyal customers going on our third season, and as Susan Mitchell (one of the best guides on the river) says, we are senior rafters. We go rafting 30 trips a year.

What brings us back besides the majestic Gauley River, the best time ever, and exciting vacation?

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Which ACE Super Fans Won 30 Years Of Free Rafting?

Posted by: ACE Blog Team in YouTube, Whitewater Rafting, White Water Rafting, video contest, Party, Lower New River, Free Stuff, Family Vacations, Facebook, Birthday Contest, Anniversary, Adventure Vacations, ACE's 30th Birthday, ACE Adventure Resort, ACE on May 19, 2009

ACE Blog Team

If we could only see the faces on these folks when they learn they’ve won practically a lifetime of free rafting!

Seven different individuals and groups submitted videos for ACE’s 30th Birthday Video Contest, and we have good news for all the contestants.

First, though, let us say that we had been eagerly looking forward to announcing the results of the contest at our Birthday Bash over the weekend.

The bad news is that it rained cats and dogs while we trying to have our little shindig. The good news is that, even though we couldn’t show the videos on the outdoor screen, at least the rain kept the rivers flowing for some great whitewater rafting!

Back to the news you’ve been waiting for: The free rafting winners. We’re giving 30 years of free rafting to the “ambassador” of each contest entry. So, our winners are, in no particular order,

  • Michael Oyler, of North East, Pennsylvania
  • Parker Thomas, of Commerce, Michigan
  • Marcy Helmick, of Staunton, Virginia
  • Bill Hoopes, of Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Dawn Steinhauer, of Sanford, Florida
  • Naira Aslanyan, of Guttenberg, New Jersey

Now, since everyone was a winner, we decided to take the contest one step further and vote on a Grand Prize Winner. There were some mixed opinions by our judges, but in the end the interpretive synchronized swimming routine by John Gebhardt, of Dayton, Ohio brought home the gold.

The Grand Prize includes more than $200 in gift certificates for activities and the Adventure Store and a travel survival kit for their next trip to West Virginia.

Thanks again to each and every contestant. You all made us feel quite warm and fuzzy on our birthday, and we hope the feeling is mutual.

Thanks also to all the friends and families of the contestants who helped our judges decide on the winners by voting here on the blog. We hope you’ll continue to check out the blog.

We encourage you all to take a look at the contest videos — here on the blog in previous posts, or on the ACE page at Facebook or the ACE channel on YouTube.

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Be A Good Child: Take Mommy Rafting

Posted by: Christy in White Water Rafting, West Virginia, Upper Gauley, Reunions, Rafting Blogger, rafting, New River Gorge, Memories, Lower New River, Gauley River, fears, Family Vacations, family, Extreme Whitewater Rafting, challenge, Adventure Vacations, ACE Adventure Resort, ACE on May 19, 2009

Christy
Working in the whitewater industry we get a few perks, such as being able to offer our families the opportunities to raft with us when they come to visit their kids who have defected from the North.  


I’m one of those kids, and my mom comes at least once a year to raft with us.

My mom is fit, attractive, has a killer wardrobe, and swears that broccoli can cure any and all ailments.  She’s also always up for trying new things, even if it does make her a little nervous.  

My mom’s first rafting trip was on the Lower New River. She was all for it, and very excited.  I would never use the word clumsy if I were to describe my mom, but that is exactly what I will use when describing my mother while whitewater rafting.

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