Nantahala River, North Carolina

The Glacier Breaker is the classic American season-opener for two competitive whitewater disciplines: wildwater and slalom. In the wildwater race, paddlers will navigate a 3.5 mile section of the Nantahala River in a long, narrow craft that sacrifices stability for speed. Meanwhile, slalom athletes, new and experienced, will put their training to the test at the Nantahala Bridge Gates. NOC welcomes the US National Wildwater Team’s training camp for the event. These athletes will be training on the Nantahala Thursday to Sunday.

Paddlers! Whether you’re new to the sport or have been paddling for decades, this is a great excuse to pull on your spandex, dust off your pirouette, and take a stab at some fancy maneuvers. This year’s Glacier Breaker will be held at the Nantahala Bridge Gates, is an unintimidating course ideal for kids and beginners.

The Glacier Breaker is hosted by the Nanhahala Racing Club, a local non-profit organization sponsored by the NOC and dedicated to the development of competitive whitewater athletes in both slalom and wildwater disciplines. The NRC “assists athletes of every age, level and ability in their preparation for national and international competition including US Team Trials, National Championships, World Championships, World Cup, and the Olympic Games.” The club is designated a USA Canoe/Kayak “Center of Excellence,” recognizing its importance and significant contributions to the development of American whitewater athletes.

Wildwater/Downriver Racing
Sprint race on Saturday (usually about a 100 second duration). “Classic” 3.5 mile race on Sunday from Ledges rapid to NOC.

Whitewater Slalom Racing
Slalom races take place Saturday at Nantahala Falls. See the Bank of America US Open page for explanation of slalom rules.

Find the complete schedule of events and details at NRC Events, or email nrc.jean@hotmail.com with your event or registration questions.