Pine Barrens Functional Freestyle Workshop

[Marc Ornstein]

At our recent Canoe Symposium, in Ohio, several folks raised questions as to how the upcoming, Pine Barrens Workshop would be different from all the others.

• First off, the focus is on FUNCTIONAL use of the techniques, in real world situations. Exhibition or interpretive freestyle will be downplayed.
• At other symposiums, most students concentrate on one quadrant, participating in 3, three hour classes on a lake.. At the Pine Barrens Functional Freestyle Workshop, most students will work, the first morning, on specific forward and cross forward maneuvers that will later be used on a Pine Barrens stream. That afternoon, there will be coaching sessions, tailored to each, individual student's needs. The second day, most students will spend on a beautiful, Pine Barrens River, putting their new found skills to use. River groups will be small, with adequate instructors and assistants to help each student further develop their technique.
• Friday evening, there will be a "Chalk Talk" that all participants are highly encouraged to attend. We will use various visual aids and demonstrations to introduce this unique paddling discipline and to foster an understanding of why we do, what we do.

Please, come to the Pine Barrens Functional Freestyle Workshop and learn what a world of paddling pleasure you've been missing.
Below is a link to a short video, put together by John Powell, showing paddling in the Pine Barrens and featuring some of the instructors who will be at the workshop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILZwqq5dF1g&feature=youtu.be

A full description of the workshop and registration materials are available at www.freestylecanoeing.com

 

[yellowcanoe]

The practical involves limbo logs, log scramble overs, negotiating twisty rivers with current while avoiding hangover branches Also the monster beaver dam.. with six choices. Pick the five wrong ones and you will have a dilemna..
Leave your double blade at home. This is all about maneuvering in tight spaces.

Tis for those who can paddle and accept Gods bounty of twigs in their boat also.

alas I will not be allowed near the water then.

 

[Marc Ornstein]

There is still time to register for the Pine Barrens Functional Freestyle Workshop (Oct. 14-16). The workshop will be held in Medford Lakes New Jersey, in the heart of the Pine Lands National Reserve. Instruction will be offered for all canoeists, from novice to expert. The goal is to present or refine precision canoeing techniques in a real world setting. Friday evening, we will discuss the whys and hows of what we do, in a comfortable, indoor setting. On Saturday morning, we'll learn and practice the techniques on beautiful Lake Stockwell . Saturday afternoon will be devoted to personalized coaching sessions. On Sunday, most participants will spend the day traversing a Pine Barrens stream, putting their new found skills to use, under the watchful eyes of our instructors and coaches. For those wishing to extend their paddling opportunities, there are typically impromptu trips, arranged by the participants, in the days following the workshop.

Below is a brief taste of Functional Freestyle Paddling in the Pine Barrens. The video was put together by John Powell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILZwqq5dF1g&feature=youtu.be

Registration materials and full information about the event are available at www.freestylecanoeing.com

 

[Eidolon]

I just got back from the Functional Freestyle Workshop. Everyone that paddles with a straight stick should take this course! The Instructors and Coaches are unbelievable. No matter how long you have been paddling there is always something new to learn. They teach you boat control techniques that make paddling effortless (almost). Following one of the instructors or coaches up or down the rivers and watching them just move their boat effortlessly wherever it needs to be must be experienced. On my river trip I was able to follow and mimic my instructor, then be followed and coached on technique and everything taught the previous day just fell into place. I can't wait until next year to do this again, there is so much to learn!!

I can't thank my Instructors and Coaches enough, their patients with an old C-Boater went above the call of duty!!
Kindest regards,
Jamie

 

[yellowcanoe]

How were the water levels? Too low and scrambling over logs or having to put your boat in between logs exactly? Or too high? Or perfect.. Last year the levels were low an if you missed your line an inch you were grounded..
Pine Barrens Precision Paddling.. I saw the music video at night and also I think the moon was awesome..Evening paddle under hunter Moon?

I hope to be back there next year/

Did you do like I did and have an option of five places to breach a 10 foot tall Beaver Dam and pick the wrong one! LOL!

 

[Eidolon]

I guess dropping would be the best description at least on the Oswego. Mullica and Batso seemed to be holding. Lots of everything I love about paddling, so I guess all of the above, had way too much fun! No Beaver dams where I paddled, have had ample experience with various versions where I paddle in the Adirondacks. I never get to paddle with other canoeists so being there was great fun, being able to paddle with this calibre of paddler outstanding!!!