August 16, 2010
 

Dear Wildwater Racers and Friends:

Congratulations to the 2010 USA Wildwater National Champions! The overall winners are:

• K-1M: Chris Hipgrave
• C-2 M: Colton and Bryson Popp
• K-1W: Tierney O'Sullivan
• C-1M: Tom Wier

Thanks to Tom Wier and The League of Northwest Whitewater Racers for the awesome job that they did hosting the 2010 Wildwater National Championships on the Skagit River in Washington State. This event was also the Team Trials for determining the U.S. Senior Wildwater Team for 2011. You can learn more about the Nationals, including links to the results, videos and photos in the first article below.

The final event in the Canoe Club Challenge organized by the Nantahala Outdoor Center was combined with the 42nd Annual Southeastern Wildwater Championships this year. Both events were held last Saturday. I can't speak for the Canoe Club Challenge, but the turnout for the downriver race was awesome!! There were 86 paddlers in that race, the best turnout for this event in many years. Our second article has more about the race, including the complete results. Thanks to all who made it possible.

For those who are interested in learning what the USACK Wildwater Committee is doing, check out the minutes of our July 31st meeting.

The Wildwater Committee is also pleased to announce the selection of the venues for the following events in 2011:

• The Senior Team Trials (to determine the 2012 Senior Wildwater Team) have been awarded to Jack Ditty. The event will be held on the Russell Fork River near Elkhorn City, Kentucky. The dates are tentatively in Oct. (likely 1-2) or Aug. 20-21.

• The Eastern Junior Team Trials (to determine the 2011 Junior Wildwater Team) have been awarded to the NOC/NRC. This event will be held in conjunction with the U.S. Open on March 26-27 on the Nantahala River in western North Carolina.

• The Western Junior Trials (to determine the remainder of the 2011 Junior Wildwater Team) have been awarded to Denny Adams/Great Blue Herron Canoe Club. Tenative dates are April 16-17 on the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Chuck Brabec
Editor & Webmaster, USAWildwater.com