Showing posts with label kayaking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kayaking. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Whitewater Park UPDATE Conceptual Design North Falls Park Sioux Falls

We are proud to announce another task has been completed for Phase II. We currently had a conceptual design completed. This design is a visual piece of information to show you what the possibilities are for a whitewater park in Sioux Falls at North Falls Park.

Lets start at the beginning of the course which is on the bottom of the design since the Big Sioux River is actually flowing north in this section.

The first feature is where the current low head dam is. Instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to remove this low head dam we are able to modify this section to put in a low flow wave. This wave will replace the dangerous low head dam into a low flow play wave. It will be available to tube and surf. It is for low flows so it can be used for most of the warm season. It will also be a great surfing wave at high flows with possibility of loops and cartwheels. So grab your tube, boogie board, stand up paddle board, kayak, wake board, or kayak and have fun on this feature.

The second and longest feature will be the slalom/rock garden sections. There is a perfect gradual slope to had boulders and boulder wings to provide perfect eddies and small slalom course. This will be a fun section of rapids to go through with your tube. If you are a new paddler, this is a great place for beginners. there will be eddies to hop throughout this whole area. Beginners will be able to use this spot to get used to faster flowing water and build paddling skills with many options to stop in eddies to rest or recoup. This section can be used for classes, soap box races and beginners. With high flows it will fill up more of the river right section which has natural rock ledges to make it fun for the more intermediate paddlers on the right side of the river.

The third and last feature is what will put us on the map for whitewater in the area. When we have low flow at the end of summer and fall we will have a great wave to still use on the right side of this section. It will be engineered for the low flows. When the water is higher in spring and we receive rain the left section will turn into a wave for high flows. This section will be for the more advanced paddlers to surf and plow through some great whitewater.

Throughout the course there sections for prospectors to sit and watch the water or river users. These spots will make a great area to sit and relax with friends and family.

Our hope is to extend Falls Park beauty farther north and also follow the River Greenway Project that have been completed up stream.  This park not only will be fun to use but it will add to the natural beauty of Falls Park and Sioux Falls. There will be more to do in the area and it will be free to use and view.

Here is a little design to show you what we have been writing about.

WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP FOR MORE STUDIES AND DESIGNING:
We are currently hosting a raffle to win some great prizes. Funds will be put towards making this a reality.

The raffle will be completed 03-13-16.

Do you shop on Amazon? Well you can help us make money simply by shopping on Amazon and using our website to direct you there. Simply go to our WEBSITE click on an Amazon banner and start shopping. In return we collect a percentage of your sale, no cost to you!! 
How easy is that to help make this park happen.

BECOME A MEMBER

Conceptual Design

Downstream Wave Feature

Education / Circulation Signage

Low Flow Wave Feature

Recreational Whitewater Wave

Slabstone Terrace River Access

Slalom Course/ Eddy Boulders

Upstream Low Flow Feature and Eddy Boulders
Soft Trail River Access


Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Sioux Falls Whitewater Park Pool Session 2016


We have five pool sessions scheduled for the 2015/2016 winter season.

Dates:
Saturday, February 6, 2016, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
February 27, 2016, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
March 19, 2016, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
April 9, 2016, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
April 23, 2016, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Location:
Sioux Falls Embe Downtown, 300 W. 11th St. Sioux Falls, SD 57104


Skills to practice:
Strokes, draws, sweeps, wet exits, rescues, rolling, bracing, edging, and anything else you want to try in regards to paddling.


 Cost:
 Free for Sioux Falls Whitewater Park Members
 $10.00 pre-sale for nonmembers Sioux Falls Whitewater Park
 $15.00 at the door for nonmembers of Sioux Falls Whitewater Park
 (no refunds <30 days from event)

Memberships and Giveaways

 
Here is an opportunity that you wont be able to resist.

Since its the holiday season we want to treat our members with some great giveaways. For anyone that becomes a member of Sioux Empire Paddlers or renews their membership, we will put you in a drawing for the following prizes. The giveaway will start 12/01/2015 and end 02/15/2015. If you are an existing member you can renew your membership and we will extend your anniversary date a year.



Prizes for membership drawing:

First member randomly drawn - GoPro Hero
Second member drawn - Grand Trunk Double Parachute Nylon Hammock (donated by Great Outdoor Store)
Third member drawn - Black Jawbone Up (large)
Fourth member drawn -  Blue Jawbone Up (large)
Fifth member drawn - BlueAnt Endure Bluetooth Earpiece


On top of these great giveaways, all members do receive the regular member perks:

1. FREE SFWP t-shirt (1 shirt for 1 and 2 year memberships – 2 shirts for family memberships)
2. Free SFWP decal
3. Free Pool sessions hosted by SFWP (five pool sessions scheduled for 2016)
4. Planned trips to whitewater destinations

5. Discounts on ACA memberships and other discounts through our ACA Paddle America Club Membership
6. Option to nominate yourself or someone else to be on our board of directors
7. Option to vote for board of directors\
8. Being a part of getting a whitewater park in Sioux Falls South Dakota
9. Opportunities to teach paddling classes with compensation



Tuesday, November 3, 2015

SFWP Sponsored ACA Kayak Instructor Certification Workshop



Sioux Falls Whitewater Park is proud to announce our first ACA L2 Essentials of River Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop.

With this class you can obtain certification to become an ACA instructor.  Being a certified instructor gives you the benefits of spreading your knowledge of paddling to others. You can conduct classes through SFWP kayaking for kids program, other SFWP kayaking classes or teach on your own.

Please remember you need to be a current ACA member at the time of this class. SFWP is an ACA PAC member so if you are a member of SFWP you can get a discount on this years ACA membership!

If you have questions please "email us"

****2016 Instructor Class****
American Canoe Association
L2 Essentials of River Kayaking Instructor Certification Workshop
$315 per person, includes ACA Instructor Manual
May 20-22, 2016 9-5pm each day

The ACA Instructor Certification Workshop will be focused on a moving water environment up to Class I. Instructor Candidates need to come with a strong paddlesports background, meet the Instructor Eligibility Requirements set by the ACA Safety Education & Instruction Council and be current ACA members.

The Instructor Eligibility Criteria can be found here: 

ACA Instructors teach paddling skills in approved ACA course curriculum after qualifying in various disciplines and at various levels, can teach both skills courses and assessment courses up to their level of certification and are expected to represent and promote the ACA and paddlesports in a positive manner.  Successful ACA Instructors possess a high level of personal paddling skills, understanding of education & learning styles and investment in creating a culture of safety.
Refunds: 100% >30 days, 50% 15-30 days, and 0% <15 days.

**To register for the class please visit our website or click here.


Monday, October 19, 2015

Update: Helping Sioux Falls Whitewater Park by Shopping

Hello,

We have a few updated places you can shop and donate to our organization at the same time.

Simply select any of the links/tabs below to shop at those stores. We will get a percentage for our nonprofit on all your purchases. You can shop for your items and donate at the same time, no extra cost to you.


 

EBay



Thank you for Shopping through these links and helping make a whitewater park happen!


Monday, October 12, 2015

Kayaking and Paddling With Your Cell Phone



Today we are going to go over an item I like to bring kayaking with me, my phone. Well as most of you paddlers know water and electronics don’t go very well together. That is why I use the LifeProof Fre Case for my IPhone 6.


I bring my phone everywhere I go. Just in case of emergency or I want to snap a quick picture of my surroundings. I think everyone has gotten their phone wet at least once. To prevent water damage I use a Lifeproof Case for my phone. I like this case because it doesn’t make my IPhone bulky and I have never had it leak. I also like that you can add a lifejacket to it so if it slips out of you hand, it will float! The case also doesn’t affect my picture quality which is really nice when you are viewing beautiful scenery and want to share it with friends.


You may think it’s costly for a phone cover. But I have dropped this thing in places I don’t want to mention and dropped my phone on rocks, asphalt, and cement (manual says it has a drop height of 6.6 feet). Never had any leaks or damage to my phone as of yet.

Here is some detail about the LifeProof Fre Case for IPhone 6. (Sizes are going to be different depending on what phone you have).

Colors:
White (pictured), Pink, Blue, Camo, Red, and Purple.

Dimensions (inches): 5.84" x 3" x 0.44"

Weight: 1.23oz


Pictures included are from my case I use heavily. You can see a little discoloring on the back side but no big scrapes or gauges from several 4 foot falls.

I recommend this LifeProof Case Fre to anyone that enjoys the outdoors and paddling. Have fun paddling at get those amazing pictures without worrying about getting your phone wet.

2016 Sioux Falls Whitewater Park Board Members



It’s that time of year again! We are looking for board members for Sioux Falls Whitewater Park nonprofit organization. Please email info@siouxempirepaddlers.org to nominate yourself or someone you know.  

Would you like to help with fundraising ideas, help plan regular paddling trips, get involved with the whitewater park program, get involved with our kayaking for kids program, or just want to be part of a great new organization? If you have questions or want to nominate yourself please email us at info@siouxempirepaddlers.org. Members will vote on Board Members in January.


Help donate to our organization simply by shopping from any of the banner links included in this post!
EBay Link



Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Shop Cabelas.com to Help Support our Sioux Falls Kayak Group

We have more great news. Now you can help donate to our Sioux Falls Whitewater Park Nonprofit Organization by shopping at Cabelas.com. You can get all your outdoor gear at this site and donation to our organization at the same time.


Just select our links through our website or blog and you can start helping us.


Thank you again for help out the Sioux Falls Whitewater Park Nonprofit Organization.

Save this link in your favorites for each time you shop Cabela's online.