News
USA Wildwater National Championships
will be on the Skagit River July 31st and August 1st, 2010! See http://2010wildwaternationals.wordpress.com
or download flyer for more details.
There's a sprint race on Saturday - 2 races of about 3 minutes each and a classic race on Sunday which will last about 15-20 minutes. But we need more volunteers to make it happen. We need volunteers on both Saturday and Sunday and some on Friday night.
The races are in the afternoon - no need to get up early in the morning! You'll get free lunch! free camping (group campsite across from Goodell campground is reserved and paid for)! free stickers! you'll be eligible for the raffle! (for volunteers only) and you can race in the citizen's race for free!! Saturday night entertainment and dessert are also included. Can't beat that.
Come see some of the fastest paddlers in the US.....maybe even see some excitement in "S-Bend Rapids...."
The schedule and what's needed is as follows - we can use whatever time slots you have available to help us out:
Friday:
Registration - 1:00-5:00 pm
Boat Control assistant - 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Saturday:Shuttle drivers
Parking control
Safety control coordinator
kayak or raft safety boaters
Timers: 12-1:00 pm and 2-3:00 pm
Results person
Runners
Sunday:
Timers: 11:30-1:00 pm and 2-3:00 pm
Safety folks both on and off the water
Shuttle drivers
Parking control
Safety Coordinator
For Timers we need a controller (to call racers to the start), a starter ( who holds each boat until time to go), radio operators, recorders with stop watches and a clipboard (all equipment provided of course!! :-) at start and at the finish and bib collectors at the finish line.
We can also use some help Saturday night setting up for music and dessert in Newhalem, information packet stuffing Friday morning, setting-up for registration on Friday, staffing the info table on Saturday and Sunday and someone who is not racing to help be "in charge" when the entire Organizing Team (Rich, Mike, Jennie and Tom) are racing!!
Salmon La Sac - June 5 -6
The Washington Kayak Club’s 49th Annual Bottoms-Up Regatta will be June 5-6,2010. This is the longest- running- consecutively-held kayak race in the United States! This year, the event, which features slalom and downriver races and fun evening activities, is also the NORTHWEST WHITEWATER CHAMPIONSHIPS! That’s right – it’s THE event of the year.
The NW Whitewater Championships are not just for race boats, either. There are classes for plastic boats and plastic boats even have their own traveling trophies for the top man and top woman racers! It’s also the region’s largest downriver race (class II). In anticipation of a great turnout (because it’s the NW Whitewater Championships), special awards will be given away for all classes.
Directions: Navigate I-90 east of Seattle and exit at Roslyn. Drive
through town (the whole place is a speed trap and stays a speed trap until
you get to the campground: Beware!) to the end of the road, and there you
are at both the race site and campground.
MAY 15-16, 2010 -- Northwest Whitewater Cup Race #4 for Slalom and Downriver!
The Lockaby Downriver Race is May 15, 2010 and the Slalom Race is May 16, 2010 on the Clackamas River about an hour from Portland, OR. Slalom Heat #1 is 11:00 am and heat #2 is 2:00 pm on Sunday. Downriver is Saturday May 15, 2010 at 12:30 pm. See http://www.upperclackamasfestival.org/ for all the other festivities going on! It's recommended you make a reservation for camping http://www.upperclackamasfestival.org/location.php
Bull Run Whitewater Slalom Camp
May 1, 2 Bull Run River
This is to remind you of the clinic/camp/get-together we are having at the Bull Run slalom site (near Sandy, Oregon) this coming weekend. We’ll be practicing, videoing, getting some coaching, and celebrating on Sat and Sunday beginning around 11 am Sat. There are currently about 18 gates and we intend to expand this by adding a few more going down the drop at the end of the permanent course.
The river is class III and its important to have a reliable roll, as there are sharp rocks. But the course will have lots of beginner moves and all are welcome, especially those paddling plastic boats.
Be sure to check the gauge, because there is a real possibility that we will have to cancel, snow pack is low this year. See: http://www.wkcc.org/levels/?P=Oregon.html If the Bull Run at Bull Run is at 500 cfs or above, the clinic will be on. If its lower than 500 cfs its cancelled and we won’t be there. The river goes up and down quickly so check before you come.
Your coach will be ex-US team member Stephen Cameron
Your social coordinator and video-ographer is Rufus Knapp
Your contact person is David Johnson johnsoda7@hotmail.com 503 977 3998
Directions: Take Hwy I-84 east from Portland through Troutdale over the Sandy River and exit #18 (right after crossing the Sandy River). Turn left (at the end of the ramp) go up the Sandy River, past the Tippy Canoe Bar, into Springdale (3-4 miles). As you are leaving Springdale keep to the right onto Hurlburt Rd (there is a sign there for the Bull Run). Stay on Hurlburt Rd for about 3 miles then at a flashing light make a right onto Gordon Creek Rd. Take Gordon Creek Rd 6 or 8 miles before crossing the Bull Run river on a metal bridge, then turn immediately right into the Bull Run power plant parking lot.
Canadian Team Trials
Our Canadian racing friends are looking for volunteers to help with their upcoming team trial races:
The Chilliwack Centre of Excellence is hosting Junior and Senior team trials.
The dates and locations are:
Junior team trials are on the Mamquam in Squamish - May 15/16
Senior team trials are on the Rutherford in Whistler - May 22/23
They are looking for volunteers and will provide accommodation at each location for Friday and Saturday night. Meals will be provided and we ask you to car pool and a gas stipend will be offered. Needed are: judges, start and finish people, and headquarters help.
If you are able to help with either or both weekends please contact and let Elizabeth know what job you would like.
Elizabeth Grimaldi at 604 858-0692 or by email Silveroaks@telus.net
Cowichan Race April 17 - 18
This is a wonderful race on Vancouver Island and well worth the time it takes to get there. This year the race is part of the NW Slalom Cup and so valuable points are at stake. See the Cowichan flyer for more details.
2010 Age Group Nationals
Bethesda Center of Excellence presents the 2010 Slalom Age Group Nationals at ASCI, McHenry, MD, June 27th. For more information: http://www.bce-racing.com
2010 Regional Teams
A program of the Whitewater Slalom Foundation Athletes who race in three regional spring races before June 15th -- in the Northwest Region that would be the Cedar River Race March 13-14, the Riverhouse Rendez-vous March 27-28 and the Salmon la Sac June 5-6 --, and who are ranked in the top two in their age-group and event, are eligible to be named to their Regional team. Those athletes who go on to race in the 2010 Junior Olympics, Age-Group Nationals, or overseas, and whose region supplies matching funds, will each be awarded $200 to offset travel or other expenses; their coaches will each receive $100. See http://whitewaterslalom.us/WSF_Regional_Teams.html for rules and more information and http://www.nrcrhinos.com/events.php for event information.
Please Help!! - Cedar River Work Party
The work party date has been set! Feb. 20th - morning until whenever. If you can help, please call David Zimmerman to find out exact time and what, if anything is needed that you could bring. Or contact the League at theleague@nwwhitewater.org. This weekend he's purchasing the materials and staging a few things. We'll be adding about 4 new wires downstream and one upstream and repairing and trimming the vegetation!
2010 Beginner/Intermediate Slalom Clinics
The Washington Kayak club is offering two slalom clinics on the following dates with instructor Jennie Goldberg. Get yourself ready for the Cedar Race March 13-14, 2010.
These clinics are designed for recreational boaters interested in learning how to improve their paddling with slalom racing skills. Graduates are expected to participate in the WKC Cedar River Race weekend March 13-14! We will offer two sessions: One for juniors fairly new to paddling and the other for beginner/intermediate paddlers. Cost is $10/person payable to the Washington Kayak Club. This covers insurance and a small amount towards gate repair. A third session for those with race boats that are dusty may also be offered. Let us know if you are interested! You must pre-register. Space is limited! Once we have an idea of the number of interested persons, then we'll let you know the time.
Clinic Dates: March 6, 2010
Location: Cedar River Gates at Landsburg
Cost $10.00
Please rsvp to Jennie at: theleague@nwwhitewater.org
2010 NW Cup Schedule posted
Download the schedule in .pdf format or view under NW Cup / 2010
Youth Kayaking class has started in Monroe, Washington!
Donations are needed. Click here for more details. Contact: Tom Wier Email: twier@ymca-snoco.org
SLALOM REVIVAL 2009!
It’s official! Local whitewater racing in the Pacific Northwest has been revived!!
A grand party was held at Matt and Bev's house on November 15, 2008 starting late afternoon and continuing on into the late evening. Seven paddlers ran the river in their race boats and then met others for a session on the gates. Eventually there was a total of about 30 friends laughing, eating and getting excited about the upcoming slalom and downriver racing season.
US Slalom Schedule Posted
You can find the latest national slalom schedule at Whitewater Slalom US