KAYAK instruction & guiding

PRIVATE INSTRUCTION

One-on-one private instruction provides a level of focus and efficiency of learning that is hard to match. Beginner sessions, full days on the water working on river fundamentals, creeking, and playboating are available, as well as roll sessions, flatwater technique sessions and more. If you’re looking for a learning experience that is custom tailored to your needs, click here to take a closer look at all of your options!

GROUP INSTRUCTION

While one-on-one lessons are our bread and butter at Ace and helps us develop an understanding of who you are, how you learn, and what your goals are, group instruction is also a fantastic way to develop as a paddler. Sometimes we are stronger and braver together, and the cross-polination that occurs in a group setting can be profound. Ace has some truly unique experiences available, like our famous Beatdown Sessions, the Work It Series, Self Reliance Training, Self-Shuttle Sessions, and more. Click here to see what’s in store for your group!

OVERNIGHT EXPEDITIONS

At Ace we have a fundamental interest in helping you understand how the boat works and how to see the river as a canvas awaiting your creativity. But the boat is a tool, and one of the great adventures one can have in a whitewater kayak is to delve into the world of multi-day kayak expeditions. We have some great options right in our backyard that are life-changing adventures in their own right, but also training for more serious trips elsewhere. We offer both raft supported trips and true self-support trips where we live out of our kayaks. Click here if you are curious!

SOUTHEAST PADDLING TOURS

Ace’s own Kirk Eddlemon literally wrote the guidebook to whitewater paddling in the Southern Appalachians. Beyond having paddled almost every worthwhile mile of river in the region, he has mastered the art of chasing rain, understands the logistical challenges of each stream, and is an incredible asset to have on a paddling trip in the area. Whether you want to rent a house in a specific region and explore, or dirtbag it from one area to the next on a quick smash and grab, he can show you the best experiences the south has to offer! Click here to learn more.

WEEK OF RIVERS

Carrying on an annual tradition started by Juanita Guinn, who helped found Blue Hole and later Dagger, we run two consecutive, week-long paddling trips in late March/early April every year, based in Rugby, Tennessee. Exploring the Obed and Big South Fork watersheds in the height of Spring is a special experience, and with food and lodging covered at Grey Gables Inn and shuttle by Ace Ocoee Adventures. Juanita and I will show you down our favorite local river canyons each day. What more could you ask for? Click here to get on the waiting list!

PATAGONIA ADVENTURES: CHILE

In partnership with Pucon Kayak Retreat, Kirk is excited to offer guided paddling trips in southern Chile. Intermediate and Advanced weeks will be available every winter (during the Patagonian summer). Paddling in Chile is about as good as it gets, where big volume rivers, pushy creeks and waterfalls pair with Latin American culture, cuisine, and community to create an unforgettable experience. If you’re looking for the ultimate South American paddling vacation, Chile is the place, and we’ve got you covered. 2024/2025 season is booked but click here to get on the list for 2025/2026!

WHERE WE WORK:

Being based in Knoxville is a gift, where a drive in any direction gives access to classic river experiences. We coach our students at a number of venues in the area. Below is a list of locations where we can meet up for a range of experiences, from tuning your technical skills, to forging your mental game, familiarizing yourself with local classics, multi-day experiences and more:

• Obed Wild & Scenic River - An hour northwest of Knoxville, Tennessee’s only federally wild and scenic river provides an unparalleled wilderness vibe, and plenty of sections from mild to intense to facilitate a deep learning experience, such as beginner and intermediate paddles down Clear Creek and the Obed, to more advanced training grounds like Daddy’s Creek, Island Creek, Crooked Fork and more. Overnight paddling opportunities also abound here. The paddling season is November through April and is natural flowing based on rainfall.

• Big South Fork River - Further north of the Obed, the Big South Fork has reliable flows due to rainfall from November through April of most years, and provides a gorgeous setting in which to train and learn what the river can teach us. In addition to lots of friendly tributaries, the Big South offers much in the way of multi-day paddling adventures, which we offer several of every season.

• Pigeon River - Located right off Interstate 40 roughly halfway between Knoxville and Asheville, the Pigeon offers a convenient location to cut straight to the chase, spend less time shuttling and running logistics, and more time working hard on skills, whether on the Class II lower or Class III upper section.

• French Broad River - The south’s oldest river, the French Broad, also has year-round water and provides one of the best teaching sections in the region on Section 9 near Hot Springs, NC. We’d love to help you gain familiarity and confidence on this southeastern staple, as well as tributaries like Big Laurel and Spring Creeks, and other Pisgah National Forest streams like Wilson Creek further to the east. Ace Kayaking is permitted by Pisgah National Forest.

• Ocoee & Hiwassee Rivers - Host to the 1996 Olympics, the Ocoee is THE classic Class III dam-release river of the south, and the nearby Hiwassee River provides the ideal first-time river experience. This area is hard to beat for summer paddling and is the heart and soul of Ace Kayaking School. You’ll find Ace hard at work training our students here when it’s warm and the rain-fed rivers aren’t running.