NOC Spring Fling
Date: April 28, 2018
Time: All day
Price: Free
Age: All Ages
Celebrate spring in the Smoky Mountains with a free, family-friendly event in the Nantahala Gorge. Don't miss the NOC 8 Ball Race and gear raffle, demos, and specials at NOC's Outfitter's Store. You can earn raffle tickets for participating in demos or taking a ride on the free NOC shuttle to the Cascades and Upper Nanty!
This year's Spring Fling will feature a carnage-filled 8 Ball competition! We will run competitors in heats of six from the NOC Founder's Bridge to the Old Highway Bridge on the NOC Campus. There will be three 8 ball paddlers scattered along the course trying to stop the racers progression downriver. We will take the top competitor from each heat and run them all against each other in the final heat to determine the top 3 paddlers and champions of the NOC Spring Fling 8 Ball Race. The awards ceremony will take place after the final heat is completed.
To read more about what an 8 Ball Competition is all about, click here.
Scheduled releases of the Cascades and Upper sections of the Nantahala River round out this Bryson City weekend. Free NOC shuttles will run from the commercial Nantahala put-in from 9:30am - 3:30pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Earn a raffle ticket with every shuttle ride!
Retail Deals & Demos
Join us in the NOC Outfitter's Store for deals on the industry's best whitewater products.
Gear Giveaway: Free Raffle!
- Werner Paddle
- Astral YTV PFD
- IR Shockwave Skirt
- Predator Shiznit & FR-7 Helmets
- Shred Ready Full-Face Helmet
- Kokatat Blast Shorty Top
There will be a separate raffle for a Pyranha 9R Kayak. All proceeds from this raffle will go to the Maria Noakes Foundation.
Event Information
NOC 8 Ball Race: A fun, but competitive race, where there is sure to be carnage. Test your paddling skills in this race to the finish!
Cascades & Upper Nantahala Release: 250 CFS Saturday & 350 CFS Sunday *Free shuttles both days from 9:30am - 3:30pm*
Registration
NOC 8 Ball Race: Register on-site Saturday, 4:30 - 5:15 pm @ Big Wesser BBQ Event Tent
Click here for online registration
NOC 8 Ball Race Schedule
| Saturday, April 28 | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Ball Race Registration | 4:30 - 5:15 pm | Big Wesser BBQ Event Tent |
| 8 Ball Race Competitor's Meeting |
5:15 pm | Big Wesser BBQ Event Tent |
| 8 Ball Race STARTS | 5:30 pm | Above Founder's Bridge |
| 8 Ball Race Awards | 7 pm | Big Wesser BBQ Event Tent |
Event Sponsors
Directions
Nantahala Outdoor Center's main campus, the Nantahala River Outpost is located in far Western North Carolina on US Highway 19. 12 miles from Bryson City and on the south side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the outpost is nestled in the Nantahala Gorge. If you are on a Rapid Transit rafting/train excursions, the meeting place is in Bryson City at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot.
From Asheville, NC: Take I-40 West towards Knoxville, TN. Take exit 27 onto US 74 West towards Waynesville. Stay on 74 West, the outpost is 50 miles down this road. 8 miles past Bryson City, the 4-lane will split into two 2-lane roads. Stay on 74, the left lane. You will enter the Nantahala Gorge and after 5-miles you see the Nantahala River and NOC's Nantahala Outpost.
From Gatlinburg, TN: Take 441 South through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and through Cherokee. Just past Cherokee, get on 74 West. After 15 miles, the road will split into two 2-lane roads. Stay on 74 W, the left lane, and continue the 5-milts to the NOC Nantahala Outpost.
From East Atlanta: Take I-85 North to I-985 North. At Gainesville, take 365 North to 441 North. Just past Dillsboro, NC, 441 merges with US 74. 8 miles past Bryson City, the 4-lane splits into two 2-lane roads. Stay on 74, the left lane. Continue 5-miles and arrive at the NOC Nantahala Outpost.
From West Atlanta: Take I-75 North to I-575 North. I-575 becomes State Hwy 5, and then Hwy 76. Stay on this road until Blue Ridge, GA where you turn left onto Hwy 60 towards Mineral Bluff, GA. In Mineral Bluff, turn right onto Hwy 60 Spur. Follow it into North Carolina to US 74 East, turning right towards Murphy and Andrews when the road ends. Stay on 74 East, NOC's Nantahala Outpost is 20-miles past Andrews. You will follow the Nantahala River for the last 8-miles.
From Chattanooga, TN: Take I-75 North towards Cleveland, TN. Take the 1st Cleveland exit, the US 64 Bypass Exit. Go 6-miles and take the Ocoee Exit onto US 64 East towards Murphy, NC. In Murphy the road number changes to US 74. Stay on 74 East, NOC's Nantahala Outpost is 20-miles past Andrews. You will follow the Nantahala River for the last 8-miles.
