French Broad Photos: Playing the Ledges

A few cold, clear mornings this week and fun surfing sessions on the French Broad.

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The waning moon hangs over downtown Asheville.

 

DAY 1

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Mr Smooth, Chris Manderson schools us on clean cartwheel technique.
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Adam Masters – Bellyak surfing in the kneeling position, similar to a c-1, canoe or kneeboard style.
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Myself – Bellyak surfing in the kneeling position.
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Adam Masters – Bellyak surfing in the prone position, just like paddling a surfboard.
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Adam Masters – Bellyak surfing in the seated position, similar to blasting in a kayak.

 

DAY 2

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Another day on the ledges with lots more water. Rob Peerson joined us for a brisk play session.
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I’ve been using IR’s Royale Skirt lately and am very excited about this product.
– It’s totally dry due to IR’s proprietary “fin” rand, along with the apron/flange construction.
– The fin-rand combined with grip-strips makes for a virtually implosion-free skirt. Put it this way; you can put the skirt on a boat, air-seal the tunnel and jump up and down on the deck, sans implosion.
– Like IR’s old Special-K skirt, the Royale has a Kevlar reinforced rim for amazing abrasion resistance.
– The Royale would be applicable for 98% of boats out there, which would have a polyethylene (plastic) construction.
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With the luxury of a high-water day, 10,000 CFS, Chris Manderson showed us some very fun playspots above the ledges park.
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Manderson showing the appropriate emotion for the day’s events.
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Rob Peerson blunting the right corner of the play hole.
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Adam knee surfing the Bellyak.
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Rob surfing hole number 2.
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Adam drops into the ship rock wave at the top of the ledges park.
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Rob and I scouting the ledges rapid from the center eddy.
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Half-moon over pack square in Asheville

– Spencer Cooke, Effort Inc.

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