2014 USA Wildwater Nationals

March 18, 2014 -- Hershy, PA by Chris Norbury

Date: May 3rd and 4th 2014 Race Organizer: Chris Norbury and the Codorus Wildwater Club. Contact: CWC at https://www.facebook.com/groups/361525160599599/       Nationals Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/events/732185073482991/?ref=br_tf       USAwildwater facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1415134168713813/ Location: Cheat River, Narrows Section Class 2-3.       Average gradient 20 feet/mile, maximum gradient 30 feet/mile       Details of the entire run can be found at www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River_detail_id_2346 Schedule and Course The Sprint Race will be Saturday May 3rd 9:30 – 11:30. The course is 350 meters long through the Wind Rapid, and will take approximately 60 seconds, depending on water level. Rescue will be in place for all race runs. The Classic Race will be the morning of May 4th at 9.30am and is approximately 3 miles long, finishing at Lick Run (identical course to 2007 Team Trials). The winning K1 time will likely be between 15 and 17 minutes depending on the water level. Parking is readily available at both put in and take out, with upstream put ins available for warm up. Rescue will be available at Calamity Rock Rapid and other rapids depending on water level. Individual National Championships will be awarded for Sprint and Classic races. Nearest Towns: Albright, WV and Kingwood WV (each less than 10 minutes drive). A 20 minute drive from Interstate 68, 45 minutes to downtown Morgantown WV and less than 2 hours drive from Pittsburgh International Airport. Lodging: Camping in Albright (10 mins), and at Coopers Rock (25 mins) . Cabins available at Terra Alta (10 mins) and Bruceton Mills (20 mins), Hotels available in Kingwood and at Bruceton Mills. Links to all accommodation are on the Nationals Facebook page. Race Meetings: Cheat Festival site in Albright (TBD). Cost: $25 for sprint and $25 for classic per Racer plus $10 bib deposit for registrations received on or before Monday April 28th; $30 for sprint and $30 for classic plus $10 bib deposit thereafter until registration closes at 5pm on Friday May 2nd. Checks should be made payable to Christopher Norbury. Registration form is available HERE and on the Nationals Facebook Page. Mail registrations to arrive prior to April 28th to:   Dr. Chris Norbury   Dept of Microbiology & Immunology, H107   Penn State College of Medicine   Hershey, PA 17033 If there is a chance that your entry will NOT arrive prior to April 28th you turn in your registration form on site. Practice Time Unlimited, although rescue will only be set for the times of the race. Notably Calamity Rock is a prime spot for squirting during the weekend of Cheat Festival, so please be aware when paddling through this rapid. Average weather: Average High 69/70, Average Low 49. Record High 88, Record Low 34. Local Wildwater Racers and events Nationals will be run in conjunction with the Cheat River Festival, a yearly River Conservation Festival run by the Friends of the Cheat Organization on the first weekend in May. The festival starts at noon on Saturday May 3rd and runs until 11 pm in Albright. http://www.cheat.org/our-work/cheat-river-festival/ The Cheat Canyon race, a mass start 12 mile run through Class II-IV rapids, is Friday evening May 2nd at 5:30 PM. http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/2347/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheat-River-Race/112774948751124