It has been said that Onewheels bridge the gap between recreation and transportation, but the freedom that comes with the ride is more than just an adrenaline rush.

​It's a golden ticket to the flow state.

While Onewheels are designed and assembled in California, there's no shortage of them in East Tennessee at USA Raft Adventure Resort.

In an article called "8 Ways to Create Flow According to Mihaly Csikszentimihalyi," Csikszentmihalyi said the highest intrinsic motivation is a flow state where the self-consciousness is lost, one surrenders completely to the moment, and time means nothing.”

Onewheeling combines balance, flow, and the freedom to cruise! There is a sense of community that follows this electric boardsport, where riders can carve all year long. And, there's plenty of room to get sendy~ especially on the new GT.​

Photo By:  Facebook.com/Wheelscorcher

The upcoming ​WheelScorcher at Fire Mountain takes place this weekend June 17- 19 in Cherokee, North Carolina. This downhill, enduro-formatted race brings competitors from all around, ages 14 and up, to compete for the fastest times and move on to Race for the Rail where they will compete for top honors.

USA Raft sponsored rider, Finn Holcomb, will be competing at Fire Mountain this weekend and continues to play a part in evolving the sport.

​Join the community, and demo a Onewheel today at USA Raft Adventure Resort!

Pictured above, Matt Moses tells paddlers of the Beat Nightfall Race, "You're all winners!" These words summarize the feeling of community at USA Raft Adventure Resort.

In 2019, floods changed plans for NoliFest leaving guests on grounds to enjoy fun times by the Nolichucky River or blocked out from the festy fun altogether. Then, with concerns during the global pandemic and keeping guests' safety a priority at USA Raft- NoliFest was canceled for 2020 and 2021.

At Friday evening's Beat Nightfall Race, the crowd cheered on paddlers as they crossed the finish line at the take-out, proving the great return of NoliFest 2022 a success. It was like one big family reunion bringing together Nolichucky traditionalists along with guests who were experiencing the festival for their first time.

Lodging was booked well in advance for the festival weekend at this premier adventure resort. Guests were able to enjoy some of East Tennessee's newest unique lodging experiences along the banks of the Nolichucky River. 

Gabby recently inquired to join the team as a raft guide trainee and did not hesitate to jump right in and help add some finishing touches to the new Noli Loft rentals on-site. Her spirit and hard work, along with the entire USA Raft team, are what ignite the magical experiences that happen here.

Not only did paddlers come out to celebrate their love for the great outdoors, but a new tribe was caught roaming the grounds around the Nolichucky River. Onewheelers.

One of USA Raft's own, Caleb Scalf, showed professional Onewheelers Noah Bild and Finn Holcomb some of the new tracks being developed around the property. These Onewheel athletes are raising the bar for the sport, and Noah's mom Traci was out riding alongside her son and encouraging him to improve his skills. If you haven't tried it yet or are looking to buy, the resort offers demos and private lessons and sells Onewheels at the new Red Banks Outpost location.

This year's festival would not have been possible without the hardworking team members at USA Raft Adventure Resort and sponsors for this year's event. Learn more about USA Raft Adventure Resort here, and happy paddling (and Onewheel) season!

Samm Keys, this year's MTM Festival Director, was tasked with navigating plans for the festival around the pandemic. By expanding the music talent (Uprooted featuring Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root) out to King Commons, this allowed for much more space for festival goers to spread out and Meet the Mountains in a safe, outdoors atmosphere.

The festival also promoted their first online auction this year, where donors like USA Raft Adventure Resort and Trophy Maker Fly Fishing, and several others, contributed items up to bid that would support NETREP. Any Meet the Mountains Festival product or event goes toward NETREP's Outdoor Development Foundation. The foundation's mission is to foster stewardship, education, infrastructure, and economy in Northeast Tennessee.

The festival had over 50 vendors this year with an eclectic mix of local artisans like Tessa Stacy of Wildflower Collective, as well as regional legends like the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association. Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium also made an appearance on grounds this year to celebrate their 50th anniversary!

Folks came out to support the third annual MTM Festival in a family-friendly atmosphere promoting health and well-being by getting outside and learning about all the opportunities in our region. From whitewater boating and mountain biking to Boy Scouts programs and frisbee dogs,  the feeling of community in Johnson City feels stronger than ever!

Friday night wrapped up with some dancing and musical talent from Uprooted featuring Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root.