News

Floating in Style in Hardy County

By Jodi Witmer

Chris Gyurisin, Charlottesville, Va. resident, floating on a stand up paddleboard with camping gear on the South Branch of the Potomac River in Moorefield, Saturday, June 27. Gyurisin and a small group of friends floated 16 miles from Brighton Park, Moorefield to the Trough General Store, Romney, with an overnight stay along the river to break up the long float.

Stand up paddleboarding offers a different perspective of the river and brings another level of challenge to paddling. Rapids can be difficult and require good balance and agility.

“If I want to relax, I can sit on the deck and paddle similarly to if I was in a kayak,” said Gyurisin.

Gyurisin has floated the South Branch of the Potomac River annually over the past decade and looks forward to paddling through the Trough section of river every year.

“It’s a breathtaking stretch of river that I never get tired of seeing,” said Gyurisin.

When asked if he flipped during the float trip he replied, “I’m happy to say that I didn’t flip at all that day, but I did jump off a few times to try and beat the heat.”