Two of the country’s leading outfitters, North American River Runners and North Carolina’s Nantahala Outdoor Center, have announced a partnership that will provide a comprehensive network of rafting trips on nine of the East’s finest whitewater rivers.

The companies will share marketing and sales efforts, and guide and operational staff during their different seasonal peaks and, combined, serve more than 150,000 guests annually, according to Frank Lukacs, NARR founder and president.

“NARR and NOC have been leaders in whitewater adventures for over 30 years and have always shared a mutual respect,” Lukacs said. “Our reputation for quality has been developed over those three decades, and both organizations intend to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, quality and fun in the outdoor adventures they offer. I feel proud to recommend NOC trips to our guests and am honored to be recommended by NOC.”

One of the first companies to offer whitewater rafting on the New River in 1975, NARR runs world-class rafting trips on the New and Gauley rivers.

NARR has the longest-running kayak school in West Virginia and offers guided smallmouth bass fishing trips.

Known as the industry leader in team-building programs, NARR adventures offer a canopy course, rope challenges, a climbing tower and a two-acre paintball field.

NARR’s headquarters in Fayette County features lodging and dining and offers guests an anchor destination for an extended adventure vacation.

“NARR’s guests now have access to NOC’s seven southeastern rivers and a new headquarters for their adventures in the southern Appalachians,” Lukacs noted.

The Nantahala Outdoor Center, located in Wesser, N.C., about 75 miles west of Asheville, is the nation’s largest whitewater rafting company, rafting seven rivers in the southeastern United States, including the Chattooga, Cheoah, French Broad, Nantahala, Nolichucky, Ocoee and Pigeon.

NOC’s home on the Nantahala River features four restaurants, multiple lodging options, the world-class NOC Paddling School and the NOC Outfitter’s Store named “the best whitewater store in the country” by Men’s Journal.

In 2007, National Geographic Adventure named NOC “one of the best outfitters on earth,” and the New York Times noted NOC’s reputation as “the nation’s premiere paddling school.”

“NOC has always wanted to be in West Virginia,” said Sutton Bacon, NOC’s president and CEO. “This partnership allows both companies to provide new and exciting recreational opportunities to our longtime guests. Because NOC and NARR share a similar culture, we feel confident our guests will feel as at home in West Virginia as they do in Wesser.”

NOC will be encouraging its guests to experience the popular Gauley and New rivers under the auspices of NARR, while NOC’s nationally renowned paddling school can now offer private instruction and group clinics in collaboration with NARR’s kayak school.

The announcement also coincides with the return of Brian Jennings to NARR, Lukacs added.

“No stranger to the company, Brian was most recently NARR’s river manager until he left to become brand manager of Wavesport,” Lukacs said. “One of the nation’s top competitive freestyle kayakers, Brian will again serve NARR as its river manager, managing all aspects of its rafting operations, instructional programs, along with brand marketing and sales efforts.”

For more information about NARR or NOC, visit the companies’ online Web sites at www.NARR.com, and www.NOC.com, or call toll-free at 1-800-950-2585.

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com