We’re happy to announce the winner of the AT Eddy paddle — Michelle Byers!  Congratulations Michelle!!  Everyone stay tuned for 2011 and the awesome clinics and prizes that await you in the GAP Summer Tour 2011.  SYOTR — GAP Staff

This year AT has generously donated an AT Eddy paddle to Girls at Play to give away to a lucky Girls at Play Summer Tour participant!  Now, not only will you get a stellar day of instruction with Anna Levesque and team Girls at Play for a screaming deal, but you could also win a brand new AT paddle worth $329.00!  The AT Eddy paddle is a light, composite paddle and is easy on your eyes. It is a great high quality option for beginner to intermediate paddlers and for those who prefer non-foam core blades with a durable edge.

The Girls at Play Summer Tour will kick off June 12 and 13 at Green River Adventures in Saluda, NC. Anna and her Girls at Play team will then travel to rivers all over the Eastern U.S. teaching and inspiring through July and August.  All women participating in the clinics will be eligible to win the AT Eddy Paddle.  And, did we mention that participants get to demo Dagger kayaks, AT paddles, Kokatat PFDs and Shred Ready helmets too!

Here are the locations and dates for the GAP Summer Tour 2010:

June 12 – 13 | Girls at Play Summer Tour at Green River Adventures, Saluda, NC| 800.335.1530

June 20 – 21 | Girls at Play Summer Tour at Riversport, Confluence, PA| www.riversportonline.com

July 8 – 9 | Girls at Play Summer Tour at Northeast P.A. Kayak School | 570.325.3432

July 10 – 11 | Girls at Play Summer Tour at Appomattox River Co, Richmond, VA | www.paddleva.com

July 31-August 1| Girls at Play Summer Tour at The Outside World, GA| 866.375.2628

August 7 – 8 | Girls at Play Summer Tour at River City Canoe and Kayak, Louisville, KY | 502.384.3737

Contest rules below…

AT Paddle/GAP Summer Tour Giveaway Rules

1.  Drawing will take place on  August 31st, 2010

2.  To be eligible you must have particpated in a Girls at Play Summer Tour event between June 1st and August 31st 2010.  Click here to check the GAP Calendar for scheduled events.

3.  If you book a spot at a Girls at Play Summer Tour event, but then cancel, you are not eligible.  You must have participated in the full day’s event to be eligible.

4.  You must meet the skill requirements for the event that you book into as outlined on the information page for the specific trip.

5.  The prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded.

6.  In accepting the prize the winner acknowledges that Girls at Play LLC and AT Paddles may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injury associated with accepting or using this prize.

7.  If you participate in multiple Girls at Play Summer Tour events your name will be entered multiple times, equal to the number of Girls at Play Summer Tour events that you participated in, into the contest.  So, if you participated in two days of GAP Summer Tour events then your name will be entered twice.

Good luck and see you on the water!

Ladies on the Lower G kicked off the weekend with a river run down the Lower Gauley on Friday.  We had 20 women participate and raised $500.00 for AW.  It was a sunny day full of paddling, chatting and smiles.  At the end of the day there was a raffle with prizes donated by Kokatat and Girls at Play.  Everyone won a prize!  The ladies left feeling tired, yet energized from the day.   I’m grateful for all of the women who participated and to Kokatat for donating some great gear to raffle off!  I also want to thank Kathy Zerkle, Karen Mann and Anne Conolly for helping out and taking photos.

On Saturday I headed to the festival site to set up the Kokatat booth out of which I also promoted Girls at Play.  It worked out great!  I had samples of the ’09 line of Kokatat gear, including the new Ronin Rescue Vest which is now available in the US.  And new this fall, I also had a few samples of the Girls at Play Limited Edition Ronin PFD — Now available on the site!

Kokatat teamed up with AW to raffle off a new Rogue drytop embroidered with the AW logo. The raffle was open to AW members only.  Members signed up with AW, filled out their ticket and brought it over to the bucket at the Kokatat booth where the drytop was hanging.  The raffle took place around 10:30 p.m. and we had hundreds of tickets to draw from.  I got to meet lots of great people in the process.  The winner was a woman by the name of Erin who was very excited!

Sunday and Monday I spent paddling with awesome friends whom I hadn’t seen in some time.  I had a blast catching up with pioneer female paddlers like  Shannon Carroll, Harriet Taylor, Colleen Laffey and Katie Johnson, among others.  It was great to paddle and enjoy the river with them.  There was lots of giggling…   Here are some photos for you to enjoy.  See you on the river!

Congratulations to winner Paulina Cuevas!!

Kokatat and Girls at Play are teaming up to bring you the chance to win a Kokatat Limited Edition Girls at Play Rogue Gore-tex drytop!  Here’s the deal:  If you book a spot on and pay in full for one of the Girls at Play Women’s Mexico Kayaking Trips by October 31st, 2009 you’ll be entered into the contest.  You’re trip to Mexico may be made sweeter with a brand new, top-of-the-line drytop worth over $400.00!  And making the deal even sweeter, the Rogue top comes in plum and is embroidered with the Girls at Play logo.  So, don’t wait and make sure you book your spot by October 31st!  Click here for more info on the Girls at Play Mexico Women’s Kayaking Trips! Click here to learn more about Kokatat’s Rogue drytop.

How to enter…  call Erika in the NOC Adventure Travel department at 800.232.7238 X7215 and book your spot on one of the Girls at Play Women’s Mexico Kayak Trips and pay in full before October 31st, 2009.

Contest rules below…

Girls at Play/Kokatat Giveaway Rules

1.  Drawing will take place on December 7th, 2009

2.  To be eligible you must have booked your spot and paid in full on one of the Girls at Play Intermediate or Beginner Trips in Mexico for the 2010 season by October 31st, 2009.

3.  If you cancel your trip you are no longer eligible for the contest.

4.  You must meet the skill requirements for the trip that you book into as outlined on the information page for the specific trip.

5.  The prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded.

6.  In accepting the prize the winner acknowledges that Girls at Play LLC and Kokatat may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injury associated with accepting or using this prize.

7.  One entry per person only.

Good luck and see you in Mexico… maybe with your brand new drytop!

Spencer Cooke of Rapid Transit is filming and editing the project that we’ve started shooting on rivers and lakes here in Western North Carolina.  I’m still not sure of the new title, but I’ll be giving periodic updates on the project here and you can look for it in stores and online in the spring of 2010.

I want to send out a big thanks to my sponsors who are supporting the DVD and supporting women in kayaking:  The Nantahala Outdoor Center, Kokatat and Shred Ready Helmets.  Also, thanks to all of the women who are taking the time to come out and paddle for the camera!

Photos by Andy Gates and Jenn Dolch-Martin.

We had a great day on the Nanty with nice weather and high water.  After the river run I helped out with the beginner freestyle competition on the NOC wave.  It was awesome to watch women venturing out on the wave.  It’s a fast wave!

Little did I know that the organizers were plotting to get me there for dinner even if I wasn’t originally suppose to help out at the Festival.  They had decided to honor me with the Boater Chick of the Year Award for oustanding contribution to the white water community and women in boating.  I had no idea when they announced it after the raffle on Saturday night.  It was very sweet and I’m very grateful.

The next day a group of us decided to run the Pigeon River at 3000 cfs (regular flow is 1200 cfs)!  It was big water and some of the biggest water that some people in the group had seen!  There was a bit of carnage — good learning opportunities   Like when I turned around and watched four people follow each other into a big hole on river right.  A few of them decided to duke it out for best out-of-control rodeo ride in the hole.  I’m not sure there was a clear winner… Still, everyone had a blast and was jazzed with the big water experience.  I’m so grateful for the opportunity to catch up with women I’ve already padded with and meet new female paddlers that I hope to paddle with again!  Thanks to the organizers of Boater Chick and to the Sunday Pigeon posse:  Leila, Amy, Jenni, Jenn, Tracy, Mary Frances and our token boy boater Vander!!  Turns out it was the right and perfect timing for my retreat to be canceled!!  I love Divine Timing…

Photo 1: Begin standing with your feet together or slightly apart facing forward at the front of your mat. If your feet are together the big toes should be touching and there should be space between the heels. Arms are down at your side. Upper inner thighs are rotating toward one another, the front of the thighs are pressing back while the tailbone is tucked slightly toward the ground. Chest is lifted, spine is extended and head and neck feel balanced and relaxed. Take a few breaths to get comfortable breathing in and out through the nose.

Photo 2: Inhale, sweep the arms up stretching through the fingertips.

Photo 3: Palms come together, gaze is up toward the thumbs, stretching up toward the sky.

Photo 4 and 5: Exhale as you ‘swan dive’ stretching through the fingertips into a forward fold. If you can reach the ground, great, if you can’t then place your hands on your thighs for support. Don’t let your arms hang down, support yourself.

Photo 6: Inhale lift the head and the chest keeping a straight back.

Photo 7: Exhale and step the left foot back into a wide stance, bring the left knee to the floor and point the left toes so that the top of your left foot is flat on the mat. This is a lunge position. You’ll want to make sure that your right foot is far enough forward so that as you shift your weight toward the front that your knee doesn’t pass your foot. You want your right knee to be directly above your right foot. You also want to ensure that you’re getting a stretch through your left quad and the front of the left hip. To do this your left leg must be at an angle. If it’s straight then you need to bring your right foot forward so that you can shift your weight forward and feel the stretch.

Photo 8: Side view of the lunge — notice that the back leg is tilted forward. Hold the lunge for 5 deep and easy breaths.

Photo 9: Curl the left toes under and step your right foot back into Plank position. In this position you’re attempting to create a straight line with your body. To do this engaging the core is key. This pose is a great core strengthener.

Photo 10: Side view of plank position.

Photo 11: Lower yourself to the mat while maintaining proper alignment — don’t let your lower back sink down first — keep a strong core. If this is too difficult then bring your knees to the mat first and lower yourself to the mat.

Photo 12 and 13: Clasp your hands behind your back and inhale as you straighten your arms as much as possible drawing the shoulders back and lifting your chest off the mat. Hold for 5 deep and easy breaths. Exhale to release the pose

Photo 14: Place your hands under your shoulders, curl the toes under and inhale as you lift yourself up to all fours.

Photo 15: Exhale, keep your toes curled under and press your hips back toward your ankles bringing the crown of your head toward the mat — Child’s Pose with the toes curled under. Hold for 5 deep and easy breaths. This is a great stretch for the feet and the toes. After you’ve held Child’s Pose with the toes curled under you can come back up to all fours on an inhale, exhale and press back into Child’s Pose with your feet pointed (the tops of your feet will be flat on the mat) for a deeper back stretch. Hold for 5 breaths.

Photo 16: Inhale as you come up to all fours, curl the toes under and exhale as you press your hips back into Downward Dog. In Downward Dog your fingers are spread and you’re pressing your index finger into the mat. Your shoulders are rotated away from your ears and up your back with your shoulder blades squeezing toward one another. Your arms and back are straight and your hips are pressing back. Your heels are dropping gently toward the mat. Keep your upper inner thighs rotating toward one another. Relax the head and the face and hold the pose for 5 deep and easy breaths.

Photo 17: Side view of Downward Dog pose.

Photo 18: Inhale as you look forward and step your left foot forward into a lunge on the other side. Your right knee will be on the mat and your right toes will be pointed with the top of your right foot on the mat. Shift your hips down and forward to get a good stretch in your right quad and the front of your right hip. Hold for 5 breaths.

Photo 19: Inhale as you look forward and step your right foot forward. Exhale into a forward fold.

Photo 20: Inhale as you sweep your arms up, stretching through the fingertips. Palms come together as you gaze up to your thumbs, stretching up to the sky.

Photo 21: Exhale and release your arms to yours sides, stretching through the fingertips.

You can hold any of these poses for longer if you like and you can repeat this sequence several times going deeper into the poses. You can also substitute in other poses that flow well and different variations of lunges. If you’re hamstrings are feeling tight you can start out the sequence with two or three forward folds before going into the lunges. Remember to be gentle with yourself and to bring you attention back to your breath when your mind starts to wander.

It’s a really fun way for women paddlers from all over to get together and paddle. Shuttle and lunch are included and all proceeds go to American Whitewater. This year we had fifteen women participate and we raised over $400.00 for AW! Adam Motes, our male Dagger representative, served us drinks and may have given out a few shoulder rubs… Thanks to all of the ladies who participated! American Whitewater is an important non profit organization that secures access for boaters and works on conservation projects. To learn more visit www.americanwhitewater.org If you didn’t have the opportunity to participate this year I look forward to seeing you in 2009! To see photos from Ladies on the Lower G please scroll down.

On Saturday I paddled the Upper Gauley early with Andrew, Corey Volt and Taylor Cote. Taylor is only 14 years old and this is her second year paddling the Upper Gauley. She’s really fun to watch and she does a good job at not letting her nerves get in the way of great paddling.

I set up Girls at Play in the Dagger booth at Gauley Fest where we raffled off a custom Green boat. All proceeds from the raffle went to AW. I believe Dagger raised over $1600.00 for AW by donating the Green boat! The lucky winner was really excited too… Thanks to all of you ladies who stopped by the booth. Some you are signed up for Whitewater Goddess Weekend and other for Mexico. It was great to chat with you.

Sunday I paddled the Upper again with Andrew, our friend Josh and Snowy, the Dagger designer. I paddled the Axiom prototype and I really liked it. I look forward to paddling the production model as well. It comes in four sizes for a wide range of paddler shapes and sizes which is cool. I like how fast it goes, how stable it is and how easily it surfs and stern squirts. For those of you who still paddle the RPM, you’re going to love the Axiom!

Gauley Fest was super fun and I’m looking forward to next year!  Enjoy the photos…

Here are photos from the week:

I was really nervous about surfing the wave and especially about using the rope to get onto the wave. I didn’t remember being this nervous about it a few years ago! I use to surf big waves on the Nile, on the Ottawa, on the Slave…. it was really different for me to feel nervous about playboating. I admit that I was so nervous that I skirted the wave on my way down and made my way into the eddy.

There were only about 4 or 5 people in the eddy which was awesome! Andrew coached me on the rope, but I still missed it my first few times trying. Tiff was totally comfortable right away surfing onto the wave and doing tricks like she had never left. It was really fun to watch. Eventually I made it onto the wave and I was happy to be surfing again! The wave is huge and when you’re at the top about to drop down the face it’s like you’re at the top of a waterfall — literally. Dropping into the wave feels like you’re running a drop and the big bounces that follow are so cool!

The feeling of my first aerial blunt was sweet. My skills and muscle memory came right back and I had a lot of fun. At one point it was just Tiff and I in the eddy! It was also fun to paddle with Andrew and watch him on the wave — he’s so smooth.

At the end of the session I noticed a few shifts that I’ve made in my approach to playboating that felt really nice. The first is that just front surfing the wave felt awesome — I didn’t feel like I needed to pull off a big trick to feel good about myself. So, the big tricks actually came easy because I wasn’t trying so hard. The second is that I got out of the water when I got tired instead of trying to paddle until I couldn’t move anymore (which can also be fun…). I was able to thoroughly enjoy my time there in the moment and was also happy to leave when it was time to leave. I’m grateful for such a fun session with good friends on one of my favorite rivers! The Ottawa is awesome!

The most common problem I see women (and men) have with their roll is that they lift their head up first when trying to finish the roll. Some even have great roll technique up until the very last second, but because they then try to throw their head up, they don’t make it! Here’s a tip that may help you keep your head down and successfully complete your roll.

As you’re finishing the roll try to keep your eyes on the paddle blade that’s coming out of the water. Even better, rotate your upper body along with your eyes to face the paddle blade coming out of the water. Rotating your upper body toward that blade will help you lift your knee and keep your head as the last thing to come back to center. And, by looking at your blade you’ll know that your head is in the right position. If you’re looking up to the sky or to the front then you’re probably lifting your head. This is a simple tip that can produce quick results.

In the photo above the paddler isn’t quite to the finish of the roll, but she’s looking down her paddle shaft as she’s coming up.  To complete the roll she will continue to look down her paddle shaft, lift her knee and end up with her paddle out of the water and her weight in her left butt cheek.