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April 14, 2002 -- Ohiopyle, PA
The Nation's Wildwater racers are chomping at the bit with the
first U.S Major open race of the season within sight. The self-discipline
of many who train alone is about to be tested in the qualifying
race to determine who will wear the U.S. Team uniform at the upcoming
World Championships on the Sesia River near Varallo, Italy, and
the World Cup held in Slovenia, Austria and the Czech Republic.
Because of
increased compliance requirements from the International Canoe
Federation regarding equipment, the new airbag and helmet rules
will be strictly enforced, along with the usual checks on boat
dimensions and weight and PFD bouancy. Racers should be prepared
to show airbags to Chris Norbury, who will be conducting these
checks.
Two important
updates for racers include a split selection race for the U.S.
Junior Team and the inclusion of a Masters-level race to be held
at the Junior World Championships site at Bala, Wales. The
Yough races will be used to select the Senior Team and Eastern
Juniors only. Western Junior Team Trials will be held in Colorado.
Contact Scott Overdorf at soverdorf@dawsonschool.org if you are
a Junior training west of the Mississippi for details on making
the U.S. Junior Team. In an effort to encourage more chaperones
to travel with the Junior team, Great Britain's John Handyside
is organizing a masters Wildwater race at Bala. For more information
on this 35-and-up aged category, please contact Ben Sandiford
at bsandiford97@gmail.com.
A competitors
meeting will be held on Saturday April 20th at 10:30 a.m. at the
Falls City Pub on Garrett St. right across the tracks from the
loop takeout parking lot entrance. A complete and finalized event
schedule will be made available at that time. For entry and liability
forms, plus information on lodgings, locations and U.S. Team selection
criteria for 2002, please visit Jess Whittemore's official site
at:
http://www.geocities.com/team_friendsville/usa_wildwater_kayak_trials.html
Tentative
schedule:
Friday
19th:
1700 hrs. Boat and PFD. Inspection, Falls City Pub. All
racers must appear with all equipment at boat control in order
to race.
Saturday 20th:
1030 hrs. Competitors meeting, Falls City Pub
1430 hrs. Classic runs begin Sunday 21st:
9000 hrs. Sprint runs begin
1300 hrs. Awards ceremony and Team member announcement
at the Falls City Pub
1530 hrs. Team race begins
Michael
Beavers is editor of USAWIldwater.com and a C-1 Wildwater racer
training in Atlanta, Georgia. Reach him at
michael.d.beavers@gmail.com.
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Helmet and Airbag Rules