Bliss-Sticks has two new team members...

Congratulatons to Pete Pickering and Jeff Owen for becoming the newest members of the U.S. team. They both have extensive paddling backgrounds and will be a tremendous asset to the team.

Pete has been paddling for about ten years and has extensive instructional , sales and marketing , big water, and competition experience. He has his sights set on turning his passion for paddling into a lifestyle and a chance to see just how high he can fly in the competition world as well. Here are some pictures of Pete....









Jeff Owen is only new to the Bliss-Stick team. He has been paddling for over 15 years with his career starting on the US junior team and paddling for Perception. He has traveled around the globe in search of the steeps, good times and the best play spots. Like Pete, he has extensive instructional , sales and marketing , big water, and competition experience. He calls NC home and will be at the new whitewater park in Charlotte every chance he gets! He will be the one that is in charge of directing air traffic control. We welcome him with open arms. Here is a picture of Jeff.... you will have to forgive him for the boat he is in. He is currently waiting on on his Super Rad 180!

Chattooga Public Meeting Schedule for July 27th, 2006

This just in from American Whitewater and Kevin Colburn...

The USDA Forest Service will hold a public meeting on July 27th in Highlands, NC to give an update on the Upper Chattooga River visitor use capacity analysis. The meeting will be from 6 to 8 pm Thursday, July 27th at the Highlands Civic Center, 600 North 4th Street (US HW 64), Highlands, NC.

According to Francis Marion and Sumter National Forest Supervisor Jerome Thomas, “The purpose of this meeting is to update the public on where we are in process, share information on data collection methods and explain how the public can assist us in this data collection.” Forest Service personnel and independent contractors will present an overview of the data collection methods and then be available at “interest stations” to answer specific questions about data collection methods and how the public can assist.

Specific topics to be covered at the interest stations include:

Review of existing literature on the Chattooga River and studies of similar rivers.
Field observations of existing uses and conditions within the upper and lower
Chattooga River corridors.
Assessments of trail conditions, campsites, litter, and water quality.
Collection of information on river flows at all four upper river bridges.
Reconnaissance trips down the river at various flow levels with expert panels of boaters, anglers, and researchers.

The USFS also stresses that the boating ban is still in place and that "Any floating on the Chattooga River above Highway 28 may only be allowed by Forest Service permits associated with this analysis." They also clarify that "Activities allowed during this analysis period are only for data collection purposes, and may or may not be allowed in the agency’s final decision."

American Whitewater and several other organizations and individuals are currently suing the USFS over this boating ban. Thus, the User Capacity Analysis is based on an artificial baseline which we believe to be illegal - one in which boating is banned. While our lawsuit continues to seek to remedy this inequity and inherent study flaw, we will continue to participate in the User Capacity Analysis to advocate for a fair and scientific analysis. We encourage paddlers interested in the management of the Chattooga River to attend this meeting and voice your opinions and concerns.


Questions or comments regarding the meeting can be answered by John Cleeves, Chattooga Analysis Team Leader, Francis Marion/ Sumter NF, 803-561-4058....

Please attend to make this happen. We could then add yet another place to the paddling list for the Southeast. Hope to see you there!

Holding its own...

For many weeks now, people have continually asked if I thought that the SCUD would be able to handle its own on the Green River Narrows here in Asheville, NC. For all the skeptics out there, here is some proof. The SCUD does and will continue to go down the Gnars!

Make sure to check out the Bliss-Stick Agent list to find the closest dealer to your area. If you happen to be in Western North Carolina or Tennessee, I am your man. I have a SCUD, Mystic, Huka, and a few of the Rad playboats and will be willing to meet you so that you can demo these boats. I have been traveling to the Ocoee quite a bit with these boats, so if you are in the area and would like to try one, please feel free to email me. Until then...