Georgia Canoeing Associations continues its tradition of suppporting whitewater racing with its 35th Annual Southeastern U.S. Slalom and Wild Water Championships.
GCA has been a longtime supporter and one of AW’s oldest affiliate clubs. Last year, GCA demonstrated its belief in AW as an organization by giving a substantial financial gift. On behalf of AW, please thank GCA for this wonderful gift and support their time honored event.35th Annual Southeastern U.S. Slalom and Wild Water Championships
The 35th Annual Southeastern U. S. Slalom and Wild Water Championships will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, 2003, on the Nantahala River near Bryson City, North Carolina. The races also include the American Canoe Association Dixie Division Decked Boat Championships. The event is sponsored by the Georgia Canoeing Association with the assistance of the Nantahala Outdoor Center and the Nantahala Racing Club. Race headquarters will be at the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
The slalom course will take racers through the class III Nantahala Falls. The wild water runs are
8 miles and include class III rapids Patton’s Run and Nantahala Falls. There is also a 5-mile Down River Fun Race, from Ferebee Park to above Nantahala Falls, which does not include any rapids above class II. Skill levels of competitors typically range from persons making their racing debut in the Fun Race to nationally ranked paddlers honing their techniques in the slalom or wild water races. There are separate classes for: men, women and mixed (tandem); adults, juniors and masters; kayaks, decked and open canoes; and championship (racing) and cruising (recreational) designs.
This year the slalom championship classes for both decked and open boats will be held on Saturday on a challenging course, and the cruising/recreational classes for both decked and open boats will be held on Sunday on a “toned down” course.
Awards will be presented in ceremonies at the end of Saturday’s Championship races for the top three finishers in each class. The Southeastern Cup will be awarded to the paddling club whose members accumulate the most race points. On Sunday, we will present awards when the Slalom classes end (hopefully before lunch). The awards for the downriver races will be awarded separately. We hope to have more recreational racers if we can help the racers get on the road earlier on Sunday!
In addition, there are three special awards in the wild water race. The Charlie Patton Award is presented to the fastest canoe racer in the wild water race. The Julie Wilson Award is presented to the fastest female competitor in the wild water race. And the Ramone Eaton Award is presented to the tandem team turning in the fastest OC-2 wild water time.
The Southeastern Championships provide a weekend of fun and excitement for competitors, race workers and spectators alike against the backdrop of the Nantahala National Forest. All racers and race workers receive a race T-shirt. In addition, there will be a raffle with lots of paddling prizes. There will be a barbeque dinner at basecamp at NOC on Saturday evening. Dinner reservations and tickets are necessary.
Racers may register by mail or in person on the afternoon before the race. There will be no late registration on the day of the race. If you register by mail, you will receive a race registration package, which contains an entry form, description of fees, waivers and other race information, To register, send your name and mailing address to Knox Worde, Race Registrar, 625 Glendalough Court, Alpharetta GA 30004, or e-mail your request to playboatn@aol.com.
Race volunteers are needed to help with course construction, judging, safety, scoring, timing and hospitality. We start on Thursday morning (April 24) with course construction and race headquarters set up and will end on Sunday afternoon (April 27) with course breakdown. The GCA provides breakfast and lunch for the volunteers on Race Days. NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED!! We will have phone numbers for several campgrounds that the volunteers can use. To register as a volunteer, please call Virginia Balbona at 404-226-8579 or e-mail her at Virginia_balbona@emory.org. You can also reach me at 404-226-8363 or gwminc@mindspring.com.
We look forward to seeing all of you.
Gina Johnson, Racemaster