Fred Ruddock - Former ACA Certified Level 4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor; Current freelance instructor/video boater/raft guide!
This resume was created in the beginnning to provide relevant information for future clinics and personal first descents of rivers and creeks. This page will likely never be completely finished but is periodically updated. Since completing ICE and becoming an ACA Certified Level 4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor I have updated my river info less. I strive to paddle at least 100 days each year on class III or above. This resume is grossly out of date and unlikely to be updated it is missing many rivers and countries.
Current Boats (3/2010-Present):Liquid Logic Remix 69: I bought this boat new from Green River Adventures on March 20, 2010. The Remix is fast and boofs well. Liquidlogic Stinger and Braaap.
First Boat (9/2007-3/2010):Pyranha Burn M: I bought this boat as a used demo boat from Green River Adventures on September 29, 2007. I had a lot of fun in the Burn but it wore out.
Paddle: 197 cm bent Werner Powerhouse: My second new paddle.The first Powerhouse gave good service from November of 2008 through June of 2010. However it lost a lot of surface area to normal wear and tear.
Advanced Paddling Clinic: First Descent
Presented by Carolina Canoe Club (CCC)
Instructors: John Zadrozny and Lisa Birskovich
Rivers: Cranberry Creek at 4' and New River at 4.6'
Dates: May 29 and 30, 2010
Swift Water Rescue Clinic (Refresher)
Instructor: Edgar Peck
River: Nolichucky
Dates: May 15, 2010
Advanced Paddling Clinic: Creeking
Presented by Carolina Canoe Club (CCC)
Instructors: Kurt McKissick and Milton Wicker
River: Wilson Creek at -6" and -3"
Dates: April 24 and 25, 2010
Advanced Creeking
Presented by Green River Adventures
Instructor: Tim Bell
River: Upper Green and Lower Green Narrows (Base of Sunshine to Fishtop Access) at 11"
Dates: November 1 and 2, 2009
Advanced Paddling Clinic: Paddle Smarter Not Harder
Presented by Carolina Canoe Club (CCC)
Instructors: Mark Thompson and Larry Ausley
Safety Boater: Robin Pope
River: Middle Ocoee
Dates: August 1 and 2, 2009
Swift Water Rescue Clinic
Instructor: Edgar Peck
River: Nolichucky
Dates: July 18 and 19, 2009
Advanced Paddling Clinic: First Descent
Presented by Carolina Canoe Club (CCC)
Instructors: John Zadrozny and Lisa Birskovich
River: Chattooga Section 3 and 3.5 at 2.3 ft
Dates: June 1 and 2, 2009
Mean and Ugly Ocoee
Presented by Carolina Canoe Club (CCC)
Instructor: Kurt McKissick
River: Upper and Middle Ocoee
Dates: June 13 and 14, 2009
High Intermediate Paddling Clinic
Presented by Carolina Canoe Club (CCC)
Instructors: Kurt McKissick and Milton Wicker
Rivers: Middle Ocoee and Wilson Creek
Dates: May 2 and 3, 2009
Novice Intermediate Paddling Clinic
Presented by Carolina Canoe Club (CCC)
Instructors: John Zadrozny and Lisa Birskovich
River: Nantahala
Dates: May, 2008
Intermediate Paddling Clinic
Presented by NOC
Instructor: Randy Riddle
Rivers: Nanty, Tuck, Chattooga Section 3
Dates: four days in March 2008
Rivers
Green River Narrows Class IV-V+
Levels: 8", 7", and 6.5"
Dates: September 12, 19, and 25, 2010
October 3, 2010
Notes: My fourth trip was rougher than my first three. The river demands respect. Below are the first two entrance rapids and boogie water.
Lower Green River Narrows aka Greenlite Class IV-V
Section: Base of Sunshine to Fishtop Access
Level: 11"
Date: November 2, 2009
Notes: The river seemed really pushy at this level.
Watauga Class IV-V
Level: 240 cfs
Date: April 2, 2010
Notes: Prefect day on the river with clean lines. Opted to walk Hydro due to a tree in the rapid. This river has many fun boofs and a few mandatory boofs. This river is a nice step up from Wilson Creek.
Chattooga Section IV Class II-IV+
Level: 1.7' on bridge gauge
Date: April 5, 2010
Notes: This was not my best day on the river after a screwed up weekend. Sunday's run was aborted after my pal wrecked less than a mile from the boat landing while running shuttle. Things finally came together Monday. I opted to walk three of the five falls after an enormous backender at Corkscrew. Apparently my mind was elsewhere and I blew my line to the left. Next time I will focus and paddle more aggressively.
Cheoah Class IV-V
Levels: 1,200 cfs, 1,550 cfs, and 1,250 cfs
Dates: June 20, 2009 at 4.71'
May 8, 2010 at 5.04'
June 26, 2010 at 4.77'
Notes: This is a really fun river with plenty of offset holes, boofs, and holes to punch or surf. My third run was a dry hair run.
Wilson Creek Class III-IV+(V) beta/virtual guide
Levels: -6", -5", -4", -3", -1", and 1"
Dates: May 3, 2009
11 runs thus far in 2010:
March 7, 8, 14, 20, 21, and 27, 2010
April 24 and 25, 2010
March 12 and 13, 2011
New River Gorge: Cunard to Fayette Station Class III-IV
Level: 4.6'
Date: May 30, 2010
Notes: Really big water compared to riviers I previously paddled.
Tellico Ledges Class III-IV
Level: 1.6'
Date: May 1, 2010
Nolichucky Class III-IV
Levels: near 2,000 and 1,160 cfs
Dates: December 19, 2008 at 2,000 cfs
April 23, 2010 at 1,160 cfs
Cranberry Creek Class III-IV
Level: 4'
Date: May 29, 2010
Upper Ocoee Class III-IV
Dates: July 3, 2010
6 runs thus far in 2009
May 24, 2009
June 14 and 27, 2009
July 11 and 12, 2009
August 15, 2009
Notes: This run is a good warm up for the Cheoah. If you enjoy Roach Motel you will likely have fun on the Cheoah.
Middle Ocoee Class III+
Dates: 71 runs thus far in 2010
April 17-18, 2010
May 2 and 22, 2010
June 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, and 27, 2010
July 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, and 31, 2010
August 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, and 30, 2010
September 4 and 5, 2010
October 9, 10, 16, 23, and 24, 2010
30 runs during 2009
May 2, 23, and 24, 2009
June 13, 14, 27, and 28, 2009
July 2 and 11, 2009
August 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16, 2009
September 6, 2009
October 1, 2, 3, 4, and 31, 2009
Notes: The Ocoee is a really fun river that can be easily ran multiple times in a single day. There are plenty of great boofs and eddies to catch. However be careful where you park along the river.
US national Whitewater Center Class III-IV
Dates: July 23, 2009
August 6 and 29, 2009
September 5, 2009
Notes: This is a fun place to run multiple laps for exercise or play in the holes. The rafts add to the fun and challenge as you may need to dodge them at the bottom of the comp channel or wait in swirling eddies while they surf. The are also great places to practice rolls in class III/IV current devoid of any real hazards.
Saluda: Mill Race Rapid Class IV
Level: 6,000 + cfs
Date: January 10 ,2009
Notes: Nice play holes and really meaty holes too but this is no place for a novice or low intermediate.
Pigeon Class II-III+
Date: June 14, 2009
Notes: The Pigeon is a fun and easy river. This river is a good place for a safe experience on class III big water. Unless you plan to run multiple times in a single day don't waste your gas. Once you run the Ocoee you may never return.
Upper Green Class II-III+
Dates: April 26, 2008
May 25 and 31, 2008
June 8 and 20, 2008
August 2 and 9, 2008
September 6, 14, 27, and 28, 2008
October 10 and 26, 2008
November 8 and 29, 2008
December 21, 2008
January 4 and 25, 2009
February 1, 8, and 15, 2009
March 8 and 21, 2009
April 3, 5, 6, 10, and 11, 2009
May 9 and 10, 2009
June 6, 7, 19, and 21, 2009
July 1, 5, 6, 24, and 26, 2009
August 15, 16, and 30, 2009
September 4, 6, 12, 13, 26, and 27, 2009
October 10, 11, 24, and 30, 2009
November 1, 8, 14, 21, 26, 27, 28, and 29, 2009
December 12, 2009
February 8 and 13, 2010
May 25, 2010
Notes: I like to catch the three eddies between the two major drops of Pinball. I am very comfortable leading first timers down the Upper Green. I enjoy the 0.6 mile hike out. Next to the narrows this is a very scenic river. Bayles' Boof has many possible lines.
Chattooga Sections 3 and 3.5 Class II-III+(IV)
Levels: 2.4 ft, 2.2 ft, 1.7 ft, 1.4 ft, and 0.9 ft.
Dates: February 20, 2010
Middle Tellico Class II-III
Level: 1.6'
Date: May 1, 2010
French Broad Section 9 Class III-IV
Levels: 4,100 cfs, 3,500 cfs, 2,500 cfs, 900 cfs, and 750 cfs
Notes: At 3,500 cfs I find it more fun to punch/melt the hole at Frank Bell's rapid rather than run the classic line to the right of the hole.
Dates: January 1, 2010
Nantahala Class II+(III)
Notes: Other than the falls this run is strictly class II. I cannot be convinced that Patton's is more than class II. Rather than run this river I'd rather park and play at the falls.
Tuckasegee Section 3 Class II(III)
Notes: This is a really easy river similar to the lower green.
Tyger Class II(III)
Notes: The rapids are hardly worth the long flat water sections.
Lower Green Class II
Notes: Only hazards are drunks in tubs. Please don't litter or kill any snakes. I find plenty of glass in the river in addition to beer cans from folks breaking the drinking laws on this section that crosses my backyard.
Races
Millrace Massacre
River: Saluda
Level: 6000+ cfs / Class IV
Date: January 10, 2009
Result: 32nd with a time of 7:38
Notes: Being my first day on this section of the river I took a wrong turn during the race and had an extended surf in a large hole with over ten feet of backwash. Considering it was my first kayak race I am just happy to have a time rather than DNF.
Upper Green Race
River: Upper Green
Level: 100% / class III+
Date: October 24, 2009
Result: 12th with a time of 2:00
Notes: I ran the boof line rather than the faster slide line at Bayles.
