Little Falls Classic, Mather Gorge Sprint Wildwater Races Sunday April 17

[thewildwaterguy]

Come out to Great Falls Virginia, for a fun day of big water downriver races. Sprint and classic format, big water :D , all boat classes welcome. the slalom class is usually very competitive. prizes for top finishers by class, working on gift certificates - amount would depend on how many people show up :rolleyes: . event supported by maximum whitewater performance. Extreme High water may move starts or finish lines or change course. Volunteers appreciated.

detailed information available at:
www.daveyhearn.com Maximum Whitewater performance

www.usawildwater.com

hope to see you at the race
Geoff Calhoun

[thewildwaterguy]

Eastern Mountain Sports in Arlington has genererously agreed to give out gift certificates, some gear, and even a carnage award at The Little Falls Wildwater race this Sunday. Gift certificates will be given out to top finishers by class (organizers excluded) and the amount given away will grow based on attendance. There will be multiple boat classes, so don't be turned off if you dont have a wildwater boat. the slalom boat class was the largest class last year.
Race details and entry information here : www.daveyhearn.com

Eastern Mountain Sports is the only dealer in the Whitewater kayaking industry the Metro Northern Virginia area. They carry Pyranha and Liquid Logic kayaks and will be having a huge sale. Stop on it for come out to the race Sunday April 17 to find out more, and to get free stickers. :D

come on out and RACE!

[scottyb]

How did the race go Geoff?

[thewildwaterguy]

we had less than 10 people for the 2nd year in a row, makes you not want to even put in the effort. I'm going to drop the sprint for next time, just have the classic race at little falls, but i need to figure out how to run a more sucessful event. What would make you want to come to a downriver race?
aside from that everybody raced hard, and Eastern mountain sports gave out great prizes, everybody got their moneys worth (or a lot more) out of it, waterlevels, weather, all perfect. thanks to those who showed up and had fun

So, who wants to make a team for the cheat race? I just found out my entire team wont be able to make it.

[rterry]

Unfortunately I'll be teaching an aca instructor course on cheat weekend, otherwise I would be in. Events are tough, I've done the pool slalom for years, helped a little with the md chute out, worked with some climbing events and am now kickin' it p-fest style. I think for the smaller events the best results have always come with first person contact. Talk it up when you're paddling, tell the people who you know are going to come to bring a friend or two, get some people with a loud voice in the community excited. Think of how many people Colin out at Valley Mill or Joe at Spring River could mention it to. building excitement is key. Just my 2 cents

[scottyb]

I hear what you are saying, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. I had thought of coming down but had to work a double shift that day. I have showed to races before where it was me and one other guy. :Wall DC deffinetly has no shortage of boaters.

Maybe something more unique would be inorder, like an attainment race or how about a biker style poker run, (more of a fun event). It is my theory that many of the new boaters in general have undergone a fundimental "de-evolution" . The competitions are mostly a "look at me" type of affair ala rodeo. The old style race format seems to only work in certain places where there is a bit of history behind it. Examples would be NOC and more recently the Cheat race.

BTW I will be in the Cheat area the weekend of the fest but it is also my wedding anniversary so I most likely will not make the race, sorry.

Don't let this dowse your drive for racing or organizing one. One thing to look at is the timing, holidays and certain times of the year can pretty much garuontee no one will show. Maybe a time or period when not a lot is going on would be worth a try.

If you ever get a chance come up to Harpers Ferry, I like to do attainments in my DR boat and would be happy to share my lines. When the water drops a bit below current levels it gets nice. Shoot me a PM.

Scotty

[JimHubshman]

Geoff,

You might get a bigger turn out if you started promoting the event a few weeks before hand. I only heard about it when you accidentally emailed me a few days before the event. By then it was too late to change my plans, so I didn't get any pictures this year. Sorry!