Comments for What's The Best Rapid On The Lower New River? at http://www.aceraft.com , comment 1 to 10 out of 10 comments http://www.aceraft.com Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:13:16 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.aceraft.com/557-Whats-The-Best-Rapid-On-The-Lower-New-River.html#comment-353 Brianna, I didn't tell you how it was different-instead of swimming all the way up to the Halls of Karma Rock like you do at Thread the Needle, you want to swim about an arms length (maybe 2.5/3 feet) away from the right front corner. when you feel yourself being pulled down the drop, hold your breath. If you time it just right, it will pull you down for a couple of seconds. If you get too far away from the rock, you will miss the whirlpool completely. It is also fun at low levels to stop above and get out of the boat on the rock, walk out to the end, then jump into the whirlpool from above. Very cool and very fun! - Big Wave Dave Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:56:27 +0100 http://www.aceraft.com/557-Whats-The-Best-Rapid-On-The-Lower-New-River.html#comment-352 Hi Rick1, I sent the Gauley blog in a few weeks ago. It looks like it will publish on the 7th. I addressed 3 of the big Vs in particular. Hmmm-good idea about excluding. Maybe you can work on that one...I am going to have to put some extra deep thought into that idea. I have seen people jump off of Prudential, but never done it myself. Brianna should definitely try the Halls of Karma swim! I remember when we did it the first time. I went under and came up under the raft, then caught the second whirlpool too. It was great. This past summer that was one thing that we missed doing since the water stayed high so long (but it was good to have big water during the summer again!). Brianna-You should try the Halls of Karma swim Rick1 wrote about-it is just below Lower Keeneys on the left side. It is different from the Thread the Needle swim though. There is a whirlpool that forms off of the right side of the rock (similar to the one at Thread the Needle) that can pull you underwater for a couple seconds...when you know it is coming, it's big fun! It's only available at lower levels from like 1' down or so. Give it a try! - Big Wave Dave Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:50:12 +0100 http://www.aceraft.com/557-Whats-The-Best-Rapid-On-The-Lower-New-River.html#comment-351 Fine BWD - I'll stop writing my blog "Best of the Gauley" also! Maybe I'll write "The rapid that scares me the most on the Gauley" ;) But if you want to write about the best rapid on the Gauley - maybe we should make it challenging and exclude the "Big 5" since they are all great! And I might add... I love Brianna's perspective about Thread The Needle - good choice. Sometimes we try to climb Prudential Rock and jump off it - very few can do it. What do you think BWD - she should try swimming the Halls of Karma!!! - Rick1 Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:00:00 +0100 http://www.aceraft.com/557-Whats-The-Best-Rapid-On-The-Lower-New-River.html#comment-347 To Rick1 (from earlier), I have a sister blog coming out soon-What's your favorite rapid on the Upper Gauley. I'm looking forward to hearing what yours is. Stay tuned! - Big Wave Dave Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:09:09 +0100 http://www.aceraft.com/557-Whats-The-Best-Rapid-On-The-Lower-New-River.html#comment-346 Hi Alyson, I was not that big a fan of URR after swimming it a few times, but this past summer I came to enjoy it. Oddly enough not as much as the hole in itself, I enjoyed deciding what to do with Chicago and Detroit after the big URR hit. They make for some interesting hits of their own at the right levels. To split them or not...rock spin? And there is that fun wave train below that has some good hits on the way under the bridge to choose from too. - Big Wave Dave Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:03:40 +0100 http://www.aceraft.com/557-Whats-The-Best-Rapid-On-The-Lower-New-River.html#comment-345 I like Upper Railroad most days because it's one of the first rapids and it will usually let you know what kind of day you're going to have. It's fun for me to see the rapids change and I get a chance to "play" with my approach. - Alyson Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:53:36 +0100 http://www.aceraft.com/557-Whats-The-Best-Rapid-On-The-Lower-New-River.html#comment-342 Hi Brianna! Most of the ACE guides call that rapid "Thread the Needle" because the adventure route takes you in between those 2 big rocks down there. If you look at the first big rock (we nicknamed it Prudential-like the life insurance company symbol) one can see a hump in the water if you look at the water that is right up against its face. This hump indicates that it is not undercut because of the way the water builds up and billows around the sides of that big rock. When we swim up to the face of the rock, suddenly the water "billowing" around the side is what pushes us sideways and around instead of pushing us all the way up against it. Seems like a natural reflex to want to swim away from it, especially as it gets closer and closer and bigger and bigger! Have you ever caught the little whirlpool just around the corner of the big rock? It can twirl a swimmer around and around for a couple of spins before you go past the second rock. It's a great choice of rapid with fun features. Good post! - Big Wave Dave Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:23:07 +0100 http://www.aceraft.com/557-Whats-The-Best-Rapid-On-The-Lower-New-River.html#comment-340 I'm not a guide, so my perspective is different. I have a soft spot for Swimmer's Rapid (the one just before Fayette Station). I love the view of the Bridge, and I enjoy the swirlies as I'm floating on the other side of the rock. Lower water levels, of course. There's nothing like the feeling of "AHH I'M GONNA SPLAT AGAINST THAT ROCK!" as the water rushes me right toward it - and at the last moment I'm SAVED as I'm whisked around the rock. - Brianna Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:56:24 +0100 http://www.aceraft.com/557-Whats-The-Best-Rapid-On-The-Lower-New-River.html#comment-338 Hi Rick, Yes many people like Lower Keeneys, Double Z, or even the Surprise Rapid at the right water levels, but I enjoy Millers Folly at every water level from low like 1,000 cfs upwards of 24000! It never disappoints. Some people call Bonsai the twisting hit at the top center "The Cloud Chamber" (because it feels like you are falling from the clouds into a puff of white) and the big waves below it Colgate and Dentyne (because they will clean your teeth!). Those other rapids are great too though. Its hard to choose, but I just like Millers! I wish I was there and running it right now! - Big Wave Dave Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:13:13 +0100 http://www.aceraft.com/557-Whats-The-Best-Rapid-On-The-Lower-New-River.html#comment-337 It's funny Dave - I had a blog coming with the same title and the same rapid featured! I totally agree - Miller's Ferry, also known as Undercut, is a great rapid. At 17,000 cfs it has what I consider one of the best waves about halfway down that will stand a raft up on end. At 12,000 cfs Bonsi, the top hole, river left of the main chute will torque your raft like a pretzel. And what can I say about Bloody Nose... a rocking hit (hence, the name!)and below 5,500 cfs it is my favorite surf on the river! - Rick1 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:50:20 +0100