Spring Fling '25
Description
Spring Fling into Nature with the annual kick off to the adventure season and the Upper Nantahala / Cascades River Releases! Join us for high water, live music, demo boats, Paddlesports Vendor village, Artisan Market, Fishing Village in the Back Yard, Us Open Whitewater Championship, and more! More details below…
Friday April 18th
Freestyle Clinic | 4-5 pm
Join USA Team Paddlers and Jackson Kayak Team Members for a Freestyle Clinic. Whether you are working on your first loop or learning to Phoenix Monkey, come join us for a freestyle clinic from 4-5pm at the NOC Competition Hole. Rockstar V Demos will be available.
Saturday April 19th
River Releases | 10am-4pm
250 CFS
US Open Whitewater Championships | 8am-12pm
This national-level slalom and kayak cross event on the Nantahala is a Southeastern classic. Everyone is invited to compete against the country’s top whitewater athletes, including Olympians.
On Saturday, the slalom course will take place on the Nantahala Falls section of the river. This 18 – 20 gate course should challenge intermediate to expert level slalom paddlers. Participants are encouraged to use slalom specific boats.
(Be sure to sign up before noon on April 18th, same-day registrations will not be accepted.)
Artisan Market | 11am-5pm
Join us at the riverside next to Big Wesser for the local Artisan Market. Shop for local jewelry, pottery, unique creations, and fresh goods from talented artisans and farmers.
Paddlesports Village | 12-5pm
Check out paddling brands Dagger, Jackson Kayaks, Pyranha, KokoPelli, Kokatat, and more!
Fishing Vendor Village | 12-5pm
Sip, Cast, and Win!
Join us in the Back Yard for a free Bell’s Two Hearted tasting and test your skills in our fly-casting game for a chance to snag some awesome prizes!
Also explore the rich history and vibrant legacy of fly fishing with the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians! Whose exhibits highlight legendary anglers, innovative gear makers, conservation pioneers, and modern-day stream stewards. From hand-built drift boats to centuries-old flies and rods, their displays bring the evolution of the sport to life. Whether you’re a lifelong angler or new to the stream, stop by to discover the stories, tools, and trailblazers that shaped fly fishing in the Southern Appalachians and beyond.
Chalk Drawing Board | 12-5pm
Kids and adults, come swing by the Back Yard and add to our large chalk board to create a unique community work of art. You may even spot Scout the Otter for a photo op from 2-3pm!
Strokes and Concepts Clinic with Jackson Kayak | 1-2pm
Come down to the Jackson Kayak Demo Tent for a beginner Friendly Clinic with paddling below the falls to work on ferrying, eddy catching, and downriver strokes. Perfect opportunity to Demo a Jackson Kayak.
Live Music | 2pm-8pm
Enjoy local blues musician Blue at the Main Stage from 2pm-5pm and Log Noggins, 3-piece progressive southern rock band based in WNC, from 5pm-8pm.
Breaking Down the Falls Clinic with Jackson Kayak | 2:30pm-3:30pm
Meet at the JK Demo Tent at 2 to grab a Jackson Kayak boat to demo OR meet at the concrete bridge above the falls at 230 with your own kayak. This clinic will concentrate on catching eddies, perfecting your peel out, encouraging you to try new lines when running The Falls, discussions on group dynamics, and practicing safety techniques when river running.
Sunday April 20th
River Releases | 10am-4pm
350 CFS
US Open Kayak Cross Race | 8am-1pm
The first-ever US OPEN Kayak Cross race is starting at NOC. This event is open to all paddlers who have class 3 river running skills, a plastic boat under 8 feet, and a strong roll! This exciting new Olympic event puts four kayakers in a head-to-head format, racing down a section of whitewater while negotiating several gates and completing a full kayak roll before the finish line.
(Be sure to sign up before noon on April 18th, same-day registrations will not be accepted.)
