A Two-Day Stage Race
March 18, 2011 -- Asheville, NC
2010 saw the inaugural French Broad Classique in Asheville, NC, a two day stage race. It was such a success, that it's back bigger and better on April 23rd and 24th, 2011.
The race is the idea of adventure sports athlete Andy Kluge, an avid paddler of the French Broad: He organized the race as a way to get people out onto one of his favorite sections of the river. "I've been paddling this section of the French Broad for the last six years, and about a year ago I decided to organize this race because I'd been to a lot of other races, I've seen how they are organized, and I thought, 'This section of the French Broad would make a great race,'" Kluge said.
The two-day-long canoe-and-kayak race starts at the French Broad "Blantyre" put-in and goes north through Henderson County to the finish line at "Westfeldt River Park." The first day of the race takes participants through a scenic, 18-mile section of the French Broad that meanders through open forests and farmland north of Asheville. No whitewater but plenty of current. Day two and the French Broad picks up a bit of stream with the first rapids. Todays stage starts at the "Westfeldt River Park" and finishes at "Asheville Outdoor Center," 16 miles later.
Complete details and entry forms at http://fbcanoeracing.org/indexclassique.html.