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March 19, 2007 -- Ohiopyle, PA
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Get Ready to Race!
Come race with us at the 2007 USA Canoe & Kayak Wildwater Senior Team Trials on the Youghiogheny River on April 14th
and 15th, 2007. Paddle for fun, fitness or compete for a spot on the USA Wildwater Team. The Team will represent the USA
at the 2007 World Cup events in Europe later this year.
Team Trials Information For Racers
Note - This information may change as the need arises and at the discretion of race organizers. Check back at
www.usawildwater.com frequently for the latest updates.
Race Format - Team Trials will consist of two sprint races – (both on Saturday April 14th, 2007, where the times will be
combined for a sprint result), and a single classic race on Sunday April 15th, 2007. Saturday's sprint course will start just below
Ohiopyle Falls and end at the base of Cucumber Rapid. The first Sprint event will begin at 9:00 AM. Sunday’s classic race will begin
just above Dimples Rapid and finish below Bruners Run Rapid. This race will start at 9:30 AM. A map of the Youghiogheny is available at:
www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/maps/ohiopyle_rapids.pdf. A complete event schedule, including locations, will be made
available on this site shortly.
Race Meeting - A mandatory competitors meeting will be held on Friday, April 13th, 2007, at 6:00 PM. The meeting will
take place at Wilderness Voyageurs’ place of business.
Classes - The classes will be men's kayak (K-1), women's kayak (K-1W), men's single canoe (C-1) and men's tandem canoe (C-2).
Other classes will be added if the need arises. Team Trials entrants may race in no more than two (2) classes.
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Rodney Rice at Ohiopyle Falls, Courtesy of Boater Photo |
Team Selection - All paddlers are encouraged to race, but in order to be selected for the USA Wildwater Team you must meet
the official team selection criteria as established by the USACK Wildwater Committee and the International Canoe Federation. These
criteria are available on www.usawildwater.com and
www.canoeicf.com.
| All athletes competing at Team Trials must be current members of USA Canoe & Kayak (USACK). If you wish to enter the
2007 Team Trials, and are not a member of USACK, you need to become one. Please contact USACK at (704) 348-4330.
Click here for the USACK Application Form.
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The USA Senior Wildwater Team that will race at the 2007 Wildwater World Cup Events in Europe will be selected as
follows:
- Athletes must declare their intention to compete in the World Championships and/or World Cups prior to competing at
the Team Trials. There will be a tick box on the registration form to declare your intentions. There will also be a show of
hands at the competitors meeting.
- The first and second place boats in each class (K1, K1W, C1, & C2) during each race (sprint & classic) will earn a spot
on the USA Wildwater Team. However, the winners in each class must still be within the minimum percentages as described below.
- Per ICF rules, a total of six boats per class will be selected to the USA Team. Remaining spots on the team will be selected
by combining the percentages off of the winners from the Sprint and Classic. Those with the lowest combined percentage will fill
the remaining team positions. In simple terms, the racers with the lowest combined percentages will be eligible for selection.
However, the boats being selected in each class must still be within the minimum percentages as described below. Please check
the updated USA Wildwater bylaws regarding selection.
- To be eligible to fill any team position, a competitor must finish at least one of the races (sprint or classic) within a
minimum percentage off the fastest boat at the event. These minimum percentages are listed below and also available on
www.usawildwater.com.
| CLASS | MIN % (percent off of the fastest boat at the event) |
| K-1 | 23% |
| K-1W | 33% |
| C-2 | 38% |
| C-1 | 38% |
Safety - The Youghiogheny is primarily a Class III River, with a few rapids stretching into Class IV, especially
at higher water levels. The Race Organizers will be providing on-river safety support, but all entrants should be capable of self-rescue.
Boat Inspection – Wildwater boats, pfd’s and helmets will be inspected prior to the race. All boats will be checked for
adequately installed and inflated airbags per ICF rules. Additionally, equipment will be randomly re-inspected during and after
the race to ensure ongoing compliance. Be sure your equipment qualifies before you start! Boat specifications and rules can be
reviewed at the ICF Wildwater site (www.canoeicf.com). It is the racers responsibility to
familiarize themselves with the ICF rules and make sure that their equipment meets all standards. Failure to meet these
requirements will result in disqualification. Boat and equipment inspection take place on Friday, April 13th, between 3:00 PM
and 5:00 PM. There will be no day-of-race equipment inspection.
Airports – For those planning to fly to the Trials, the closest major airports are Pittsburgh (2 hours away) and
Washington, DC (4 hours away). Please bear in mind that airline travel with wildwater boats can frequently be unreliable.
Consider ground shipping your boat ahead of time. Contact Old Dominion Freight Line (see www.odfl.com).
Accommodations – Though it is still early in the season, the Ohiopyle area could be crowded, especially if the weather
is nice. Make your lodging and/or camping reservations for as early as possible. A fairly complete list of alternatives may be found at:
www.wilderness-voyageurs.com/accomodations_hotels_resorts.htm.
Rafts - Though race organizers will be working with area companies, some raft and private boater traffic on the Yough
may be unavoidable. Please anticipate some raft traffic
Shuttles – Shuttles will not be provided by the race organizers, so please plan your own. For those not familiar with
the Yough, the Sprint course will be run on “The Loop.” It is quite manageable to walk, with your boat, from the Loop take-out
to the put-in. A vehicle would be easier, however. The Classic course will certainly require a vehicle.
Registration - To register for the race, print out the registration and waiver forms at
www.usawildwater.com/news/2007/US_Team_Trials.pdf.
The Entry Fee for the 2007 US Team Trials is $25. Registration forms, with entry fee, should be delivered to Trials Race Director,
Seth Eisner. Details may be found on the registration form. Please bear in mind that all registration forms must be submitted
by 3:00 PM of Friday, April 13th.
Volunteers - Got a friend who is coming with you? Race organizers would be grateful for any volunteers who can help
out race weekend. Help is needed with timing, boat handing, shuttles, and miscellaneous race logistics. A Volunteers Meeting
will be at 4:00 PM on Friday, April 13th. Location has yet to be determined.
Team Dinner – Wilderness Voyageurs is hosting a dinner for entrants, including family and friends, Friday April 13th,
at 7:00 PM. This will take place over at Wilderness Voyageurs in Ohiopyle. Thank you, Wilderness Voyageurs.
The race organizers look forward to seeing everybody at the Yough in April.
Seth Eisner
2007 US Team Trials Race Director
EMail: sether@seanet.com
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