Archive for category: Blog

The following post is by Brian Miller, former member of the US Freestyle Kayak Team and keeper of the stoke for Team Bellyak.

I’ve been trying out the Bellyak this summer and it is a real Blast!åÊ My sons ages 8 & 9 took the Frequency surfing for a week off the coast of SC and they loved it.åÊ The Frequency fit both boys on it quite nicely and they had great success catching an endless number of waves.åÊ They also took it on theåÊ inlet river chasing Dolphins and Shark fishing off the back ofåÊ and loved it; although it was little sketchy whenåÊ they landed a shark onto the Bellyak! åÊ They were able to lay, sit and even stand both on the ocean and flats‰Û_.honestly they could not get enough of it.

Over the past several weeks I have had chance to hone my skills on the Play 35 runningåÊsome big water like the French Broad at 17k, Charlotte White Water Park‰Û_and I have to admit I am getting somewhat hooked!

What I love is that it has changed the OPTICs fromåÊwhich I seeåÊthe river. åÊIt brings me back to that little kid on Christmas Day feeling where everything wasåÊnew and exciting‰Û_.from class II rapids, to surfing waves of all sizes to runningåÊsome stout Class IVåÊsmiling and grinning from cheek to cheek. åÊåÊRemember as a kid body surfing or boogie boarding on an ocean wave and feeling the water vibrating all around your body , pounding and pulsing, foam everywhere and you are plainingåÊout above it,åÊsurfing it, head dry, carving left and right? åÊRemember at the end of that ride you would pop up full of energy ready for the next surf?åÊ That is the feeling I am getting from the Bellyak. åÊIt is almost like that water rushing all around you is infusing energy into your spirit, your soul; almost a born again Riverman type of experience.‰Û_so much different from kayaking. åÊDon‰ÛªtåÊget me wrong,åÊI love my C-1. CleanåÊcart wheels,åÊblunts; that love will never die but the opportunityåÊto take those skills and try to pioneer new tricksåÊand first descents on the BellyakåÊis very cool‰Û_.and yes I can get clean spins kneeling on the Bellyak. åÊIåÊhave seen the current Bellyak World Champion nail with consistencyåʉÛ_blast surfs, 360 shove its, clean 360 spins, kneeling surfs, kneeling 360åÊcleanåÊspins, body varials and superman seat grabs‰Û_.now how cool is that!

The BellyakåÊexperience is so different from hard boating where you are stuffed intoåÊthe kayak and very little of you ever touches or is engaged with the water‰Û_truth be told we boat because we love the water, however in a kayak so little of your body ever engages with the water. åÊOn theåÊBellyakåÊyou are at eye level in the river, totally engaged with the craft and the water, you get to use your hands, feet, rails of the craft, you can lay prone, kneelåÊand if you are good enough, stand.

What is totally addictive andåÊoutright fun are theåÊepic blast surfs you can pull off on theåÊBellyak and running big water at eye level is FULL ON.

Curious if any other boaters have given this a go. åÊWhatåÊI have learned from the Bellyak is that it takes riveråÊruns and features that you are totally familiar with and makes them all new and FUN again. åÊåÊDon‰Ûªt think I will ever hang up the kayak but the Bellyak has been a great surprise, it hasåÊbeen rewarding and exhilaratingåÊon runs I normally would have beenåÊboredåÊon.åÊåÊEven after a big weekend of creeking I found myself on Overflow thinking about the Bellyak. åÊThe utility of the Bellyak is huge and the potential is endless. åÊThat being said off I go to the French Broad River Ledges section for an after work session‰Û_..hope to see you out there!

Author, Brian Miller:

Former US Freestyle Team Member

Former C-1, OC-1 National Champion

2000 C-1 , OC-1 World åÊChampion.

Proudest Accomplishment: Green River Project that raised 10k to preserve access to Green river in memory of Daniel Delavergne.

http://youtu.be/yrhCMx3VbRI

åÊ

Flowing in the shadow of much gnarlier runs, the French Broad is a fine piece of whitewater often overlooked. One section that is infrequently run is Section 6, flowing from our shop in Woodfin to the Ledges Park, approximately 6 miles downstream. The flow was 8800 CFS, the weather sunny, and the water brown. We put in right at the Metropolitan Sewer District…downstream of Asheville. Good thing that Asheville’s shit don’t stink, cause we were about to swim in it. I wasn’t worried, I had on Immersion Research’s new ‘SuperModel’ drysuit, and planned to keep my mouth shut tight. Right after we put on, we had to portage around this, the Brown Curtain.

We were looking for these:

And these:

Swimming in whitewater is fun. Even when it’s downstream of the sewer plant. There were over a dozen great waves in this section (only run at high levels…at normal levels it’s no fun). The Play 35 surfs like a dream, and loves to catch wave holes, waves, eddy lines, whatever. As it’s name implies…it’s for playing.

One of my favorite waves is the Campground wave, just above Ledges Whitewater Park.

What is the point of any of this playing in the river? There is no point. Unless the point is experiencing the freedom that flying on water has to offer ala the Bellyak. Then it’s awesome. Sure. I’m biased. The bellyak is my puppy. I love it no matter what. But so far, I’ve been on this section with kayakers, C1 paddlers, and SUP boarders. And I know, subjectively, I had way more fun than them. If that’s the point, then I won. But the real awesomeness is finding a piece of river that I drive by every day, but never paddle, and finding little gems of waves hidden amongst the high water. That is one of my favorite reasons to paddle…for the sense of discovery. Sure, it’s not Class V, but the experience of “high performance” whitewater swimming on Class III is all the Class V I need after work.

Here’s a shot of the top wave at ledges park, right at the takeout:

For an after work run, at the right water levels (above 6500 CFS) this section is hard to beat.

Team River Runner is an organization who’s purpose is summed up as:

“The Bellyak is a great platform for people to experience watersports.åÊ At our Walter Reed facility, we have amputees(single, double, and even quad) paddle the Bellyak around the pool and even play kayak football on Bellyaks.åÊ Many of our leg amputees paddle both the kayaks and the Bellyaks and like to change up between the two because of the great workout the Bellyak affords–arms and balance when trying squirts.åÊ One patient that is missing an arm and a leg tried the Bellyak and prefers it over swimming because it’s so much faster, easier, and still gives him a good workout.åÊ Another great feature of the Bellyak is it’s very easy to remount in the event of a flip.åÊ The leg amputees cannot climb back into an inflatable kayak without help, whereas the ease of remounting the Bellyak is perfect for games and rough water where flips are inevitable.åÊ We have not tried ocean surfing(only standing river waves)åÊin Bellyaks yet, but I know it would be a fun use of the Bellyak.åÊ All in all the Bellyak offers a comfortable way to enjoy watersports without fear of entrapment(e.g. closed kayak or canoe), provides aåÊgreat aerobic workout, helps with balance–especially in the case of TBI patients, offers more possibilities for people with disabilities, and it’s just plain fun!åÊ Hope this helps and thanks for all your help and support!”

I’m Anna, wife of Adam, and here to tell you what it’s been like watching the development of the bellyak from my perspective. åÊIf you’re interested in polyethylene, foam and fiberglass, you will not be interested in what I have to say. åÊIf you only want to hear about how extreme this boat can be, go ahead and click onto another post from Adam. åÊIf, however, you are someone who is new to whitewater, maybe a little afraid of trying kayaking for fear of being trapped in a boat, or you just want a sweet little love story, read on.

So I’ve always liked water, but notåÊloved it. åÊI know, to all you hard core paddlers out there, you must think I’m weak. åÊIt was just never my thing. åÊI love beingåÊnear the water! åÊTo stand on a sandy beach and look out over the expanse of ocean-like the rest of the Earth is just beyond the end of the horizon-is an unmatched feeling. åÊI grew up in Western North Carolina, 4 miles from the French Broad River. åÊIt always felt like a part of me, like somehow that murky water was in my DNA. However, due to my immense respect for the power of water I was always happy enough to just look at it, watch the waves curl white over the rocky surfaces. åÊMy family would take a rafting trip once a year down the river with the French Broad Rafting Co. åÊIt was great! åÊI loved being on the water…but my exploration ended there. åÊWhat was my next option? Canoe….not interested. I tried a Ducky years later…fun and safe, right up my alley. åÊBut to kayak…this is where my relationship with the river ended. åÊI couldn’t get past the spray skirt. åÊIt seemed like too steep a learning curve. åÊI am HUGELY impressed by all whoåÊcan get in a sprayskirt and learn to roll, or at least face that challenge. åÊBut, so sorry, NOT for me!

Fast forward several years, and I met Adam Masters. åÊ**Cue wedding music** We met, fell in love, got hitched. åÊOhh…how sweet! åÊ Unlike me, Adam has been in and on water his entire life-kayaking since 6 yrs old. åÊWhat does this have anything to do with the bellyak? åÊI’m getting there…

As we develop and test the boats, we have to get them out on the water to feel how they do. åÊI’ve watched and helped Adam develop and design the boats for the past year now from the perspective of someone who is green to the river. åÊFor months, I was the wimp whining, “it hurts my neck! åÊWe need to steepen the curve of the chest cavity.” Or, “I feel too insecure, out of control” helped realize a deeper body cavity to lower the center of gravity and soften the edges of the boat so it was less tippy. åÊI can’t tell you how many times Adam would lead me through a rapid and immediately turn around once through, only to see me getting flipped and dumped on some benign rapid. åÊWhat came out of all this was some perspective of those who don’t know water as well. åÊIt’s definitely an art. åÊThere’s a whole language in how the water moves and as someone without all the experience, it was important that the boats could be ridden by everyone, even us newbies. åÊAnd there’s plenty of us out there! Kayakers are amazing. åÊThey can take a boat beyond the limits of what seems sane, safe, or possible. åÊBut there are also lots of people who simply want to have a fun and safe experience. åÊWe’re hopeful that the boat can provide this for you–especially the Frequency–our more stable of the two models.

What the bellyak has done for me: åÊI’ve taken the bellyak down sections of river I never would have seen before unless in a raft or ducky. åÊNot only that, but the vantage point isåÊentirely different! åÊIt is so much more intimate as the water splashes up and down the body of the rider. åÊIt’s not like sitting up and above the water–you’reåÊin it on the bellyak! åÊThe bellyak has helped me get out and see places I probably never would have. åÊIt has provided me with another way to encounter the water and to go places I likely wouldn’t have traversed. åÊWe live in such an amazingly beautiful and rich planet. åÊTo be out on a river or out in the ocean surf and feel safe is such a gift.

So I encourage all of you who may be too timid to try kayaking to try bodyboating in a bellyak. åÊIt might just do for you what it did for me.