WWOC Nationals

[Jeff Owen]

News from Colorado

Terry and I arrived in Coaldale, CO in time to join a group just heading out to paddle the race course. Coaldale is pretty far up in the mountains--the scenery is fantastic--and up here the Arkansas River is about the size of Marsh Stream. The water is very clear and still a bit cool compared to Maine's water temps this time of year.

The race course is about 5.5 miles and has three really good rapids--Rock Pile and Upper and Lower Cottonwood. The rest is all fast water varying in depth from 1 to 4 feet with three or four other small rapids. Times are projected to be 35 to 40 minutes. The sprint course goes through both Cottonwood rapids and one other.

Today is the official practice day, with registration and boat jigging this afternoon. It won't be until then that we learn who all has made the trip out. More later.

[Jeff Owen]

A very disappointing number of people showed up for the WW Nationals, 15 total (five of whom were from Maine). That said, there was fierce competition in many of the races. Results will be posted soon and I'll put a link to them from here.

With such a small crowd the trip made for a great family vacation. We were done racing by 11:00 each day (12:00 on the Sprint day), and could spend the rest of the day enjoying the mountains and tourist stops--a day at Royal Gorge, one at the continental divide, and one in some managed hot springs (swimming pools of different temps and a 400' slide into one of them). Big fun for everyone.

Pics by Sue Havens of the two best rapids are available at:
picasaweb.google.com/115385025942179723157

At the annual meeting we left off discussion of the rules in favor of spending the evening discussing ways of raising attendance--most of which focused on youth. Nate Lord, the race director, sent me home with 7 boats to help spur on our efforts here in Maine to get youths paddling. They are covered canoes--some solo some tandem, some wildwater and some slalom. I'll have much along these lines to discuss with the MaCKRO membership at our Annual Meeting in October.

Charley Brackett will be submitting a bid to host the 2011 nationals again on the Deerfield River in Mass. If his bid is successful, we're presented with a great opportunity to bring vans of Maine Youth and trailers of boats to the nationals. It looks to be a great year to continue pushing forward our collective efforts to grow the sport using Maine high schools. More later. Jeff