Esopus Whitewater FunFest June 5 & 6

Beginning in 2010, KCCNY’s traditional Annual Esopus Slalom is being enlarged and enhanced by the addition of a diverse array of other activities for whitewater paddlers, creating the Esopus Whitewater FunFest! This expanded event is designed to engage whitewater paddlers with a wide variety of interests and abilities. Following are some of the highlights of this exciting new event:

44th Annual KCCNY Esopus Slalom
2nd Annual KCCNY Downriver Sprint Race
New “Head-to-Head” Boater Cross Competition
River-Running Clinics (on Esopus Creek)
Paddling Fun & Games!
Saturday Night BBQ Dinner at Claude’s Bistro (cash bar)
Screening of Kent Ford’s “Call of the River” video after the BBQ
FREE raffle for goods & services donated by sponsors such as Immersion Research & Zoar Outdoor
Group Camping at Sleepy Hollow Campground (extra fee)
Register by May 15th and receive a FREE FunFest T-Shirt

Like the traditional Esopus Slalom, all paddling activities of the Esopus Whitewater FunFest will center around Railroad Rapids, a Class II rapid located on Esopus Creek at Woodland Valley Road just west of Phoenicia, NY. While participants in any of the FunFest competition activities should be comfortable negotiating Class II whitewater such as that found on Railroad Rapids, paddlers lacking experience on Class II, are encouraged to consider registering for the less advanced of two river-running clinics and/or the “Paddling Fun & Games.” Non-paddlers are welcome to register for and participate in the FunFest’s non-paddling activities. Payment of a single low registration fee enables participation in all FunFest activities. Participants are responsible for providing their own boat and paddling gear (PFDs & helmets required) for the paddling activities; however, participants do NOT need any specialized competition equipment. All competition and non-competition paddling activities can be entered using standard recreational whitewater canoes or kayaks. Participants using specialized competition equipment (e.g. slalom canoes and kayaks) will compete in separate race categories solely for such craft.

For more information visit:  http://www.kccny.com/0/Racing/Racing.aspx