American Whitewater’s Deerfield Riverfest
Saturday, August 3, 2002
Description
The Deerfield Riverfest will begin at 2:00pm on August 3,2002 in the large field across the street from Zoar Outdoor on Route 2,Charlemont, Massachusetts. The event focuses on bringing people to the area toenjoy a weekend of outdoor activities, showcase whitewater paddlesport andraise funds and membership for American Whitewater. The festival is anafternoon/evening event providing entertainment for both paddlesport and non-paddlesportenthusiasts young and old. Saturday afternoon on the river features our 6thannual amateur whitewater rodeo. The festival site will be bustling withactivity including a marketplace during the day and in the evening; we roll outthe carpet for our famous chicken barbecue, live entertainment, beer and asilent auction of awesome outdoor gear. Sunday morning features a wild downriver race on the Monroe Bridge section of the Deerfield
The Deerfield River Festival is a critical fundraiser andone of American Whitewater’s premiere events. All proceeds support AW’sconservation and access work in the Northeast. Currently, AW is involved in projects on the Housatonic, Penobscott,West, and the Contoocook Rivers just to name a few.
Come out and enjoy great paddling, exciting competitions,live entertainment, a whitewater marketplace, and the infamous chickenbarbecue
For more information on the Deerfield River visitwww.americanwhitewater.org.
Background
American Whitewater and F.L.O.W. started the Deerfield RiverFestival to celebrate the successful relicensing process that took place in1993 forcing whitewater recreation and environmental concerns to be consideredin conjunction with power generation. The Deerfield River relicensing helped to pave the way for hundreds ofrelicensing projects that have taken place in recent years across the UnitedStates.
Directions
To get here from Boston take Route 2 west. Where Route 2 merges withInterstate 91 in Greenfield be sure to exit again onto Route 2 west (exit 26.)Charlemont is about 17 miles west of this exit. The festival site is in thelarge field just beyond Zoar Outdoor on the left (south) side of the road.
To get here from NewYork take Interstate 95 north to Interstate 91 north. Take exit 26 and followRoute 2 west for about 17 miles. The festival site is in the large field justbeyond Zoar Outdoor on the left (south) side of the road.
Camping
Due to restrictions enforced by the Town of Charlemont,American Whitewater is not able to offer or condone camping onsite. Failure tocomply with this request will jeopardize future events.
There are a number of campgrounds located in close proximityto the river. Here is a partial list:
Campsites
Mohawk ParkCampground (413-339-4470)
Mohawk TrailState Park (413-339-5504)
Savoy StatePark (413-663-8469)
DAR StatePark (413-268-7098)
Country AirCampground (413-625-2996)
Inns
CharlemontInn (413-339-5796)
OxbowResort (413-625-6011)
Giavanni’s RedRose (413-625-2666)
WhitcombSummit Motel (413-662-2625)
Information on camping in the local area is available at
Water Release Information
Fife Brook August 2-4th Releases from Fife Brook Dam
Monroe Bridge August2nd 11:00-3:00pm
August 3rd 10:00-3:00pm
August 4th 10:00-2:00pm
Information on release dates for the Deerfield River isavailable at www.zoaroutdoor.com/schedule.htm
Used Boat Sale
AW will be offering a great opportunity to anyone who would like to sell a used boat at the festival, but doesn’t want to be bothered with the hassel of standing with their boat all night. Starting at 4:00pm at the festival site, boats can be dropped off with an AW volunteer in an area specifically designated for people wishing to sell or buy a used boat. Each boat will be inventoried with an asking price and then the owner is free to enjoy the festival. For each boat sold, AW will receive a 5% donation for members and a 10% donation from nonmembers. The used boat sale will conclude at 10:00pm.
Competitions
All athletes competing at the Deerfield River Competitionsmust be members of AW. One time eventpasses are available for $10 or competitors can purchase AW memberships at a$10 discount for $25. Registration is limited to the first 48 athletes.
Athletes wishing to have their points tracked for theNational Championships are required to be registered with the Tour. Tour registration is also available on-site.
Zoar Rolling Rodeo
Saturday at 10:30am Dragon’sTooth Event Starts @ 12:30pm
Join up with your friends and paddle down the Monroe Bridgesection of the Deerfield River enjoying each other’s camaraderie and competingat five of the Deerfield River’s best play spots. Judges will be stationed at each playspot and competitors willaccumulate scores as they travel down the river.
Play spots include: The Splat Rock, Let Down Wave, Eddy LineMagic, Judy’s Hole, and Dragon’s Tooth.
Prizes will be awarded at the Festival and include somereally cool AW merchandise.
Wilderness Experiences BoaterX
Sunday at 12:00pm
Be sure to checkout the latest and most exciting whitewatercompetition to ever come to the Deerfield. Athletes will be racing down from False Tooth through Dragon’s Toothfive at a time. Racers will be jockeying for position in order to make it tothe final Dragon’s Tooth Sprint. Thisevent promises to be a real heart stopper. Think you have the fastest lines? Or are you interested in knowing justhow many different lines there are through the tooth of the dragon!! Be sure to check out this latest addition tothe Deerfield River Festival.
Boat Restriction:
Boats must be 8’ 6” or less.
Registration ForCompetitions
Pre-registration for Zoar Rolling Rodeo and WildernessExperiences BoaterX is available at http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1010775.
Onsite Registration will take place at Zoar Outdoor Pavillion on Friday between 8:00pm 9:00pm and the Dunbar Brook PicnicArea on Saturday between 8:30am-9:30am.Manadatory competitor’s meeting for Zoar Rolling Rodeo will take place at 9:30am at Dunbar Brook Picnic Area.Manadatory competitor’s meeting for Wilderness Experiences BoaterX will take place at 10:45am at Dunbar Brook Picnic Area.
Competitor’s Donation to AW
Pre-registration Fee (includes entrance into the festival):$25 for 1st event and $5 for the 2nd.
Onsite registration Fee (includes entrance into thefestival): $30 for 1st event and $5 for the 2nd.
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$10 refundable bib deposit required
Teva Tour
For the first time, points earned at the Deerfield RiverFestival competitions will count towards an athlete’s ranking on the Teva Toursanctioned by American Whitewater. Competitions are available to amateurs only. For more information about the Teva Tour and the Teva WhitewaterNational Championships check out www.americanwhitewater.orgor call the AW Events Office @ 828-252-0728.
Silent Auction
Come check out our fantastic silent auctionmerchandise. Bidding starts at 3:00pmand last call will be made at 9:00pm. If you need some new gear this is the place to find it.
Schedule of Events
Friday, August 2nd
7:00-9:00pm Onsite event registration forcompetition is available in the festival field.
Saturday, August 3rd
8:30-9:30 Onsite event registration for Zoar Rolling Rodeo andWilderness Experiences BoaterX
9:30-9:45 Competitor’smeeting
11:00 Rodeo starts with Pod 1 arriving atSplat Rock
12:30 Dragon’s Tooth component of ZoarRolling Rodeo begins
12:00 Lion’s Club Cookout starts inFestival Field across from Zoar Outdoor
2:00 Festival opens
5:00 Competitor Bib return at festivalgate
AmericanWhitewater Chicken Barbecue
6:30 Live entertainment
7:30 Awards ceremony for Zoar RollingRodeo
8:00 Live entertainment
9:00 Final call for Silent Auction
Sunday, August 4th
10:00 Wilderness Experiences BoaterXregistration
10:45-11:00 BoaterXcompetitors meeting
11:30 BoaterX Heat 1 Prelims (afterconfirmed water stabilization)
1:45 BoaterX Heat 2 Semifinals
2:30 BoaterX Heat 3 Finals
3:00 Bib return in Dunbar Brook PicnicArea
Volunteer Request
Volunteers are the backbone of the Deerfield Fest and peopleare needed for the competitions, auction, gate, set up and take down. If you are interested, please contact BobTaylor at bobt@amwhitewater.org.