Showing posts with label paddling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paddling. 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


Saturday, January 9, 2016

Sioux Falls Whitewater Park 2016


Its that time of year again when our group decides to raise funds for the whitewater park. Last July we had River Restoration from Carbondale Colorado come up and provide us with a feasibility study for a whitewater park. Information from the feasibility study helped us make the decision where to pursue the possibility of a whitewater park in Sioux Falls. Sioux Falls Whitewater Park Board Member and Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation decided this location would be the best opportunity for further study. So now we are raising funds for more engineering studies.

Raffle begins 01/09/2016 and ends 03/13/2016
Drawing will be held at our booth at the Sioux Empire Sportsman Show at 4:30PM

Cost of Raffle Tickets:
1 for $3.00
2 for $5.00
5 for $10.00
12 for $20.00





Prizes:
12 foot Native Badfish Fishing Kayak
9 foot Jackson Rouge (Cross over kayak)
50 Inch LED Flat Screen TV
Patagonia water resistant duffel bag

At 4:30PM March 13, 2016 at The Sioux Empire Sportsmen Show we will draw four winning tickets. These winners will chose their prize in the order they were drawn.  (Example: first drawn ticket will be able to choose one of the four available prizes. Second ticket drawn will be able to choose one of the three remaining prizes and so on....
Good Luck and Thank You for Supporting the Sioux Falls Whitewater Park

Our 2016 Raffle Sponsors!!


















Become a member!!




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.