40th Annual Southeastern U.S. Slalom & Wildwater Championships

The GCA is sponsoring its 40th Annual Southeastern U. S. Slalom & Wildwater Championships on Saturday and Sunday, October 4-5, 2008, on the Nantahala River, in Wesser, North Carolina.  The Wildwater Championships will be on Saturday beginning in a mass start at 3pm and will run the full 8 miles from the rafting put-in just below the Duke Power Powerhouse to Finish Rock near the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC).  There will be a gala party Saturday evening to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Southeasterns, the oldest slalom and wildwater races in the Southeast and perhaps the oldest slalom races in the country continuously held at one venue.  The Slalom Championships are on Sunday beginning at 1pm and will be held just downstream of the NOC Store as we did last year.

All are invited to participate by racing, spectating on or off the river, and/or volunteering  to help with the races.  There will be the usual classes in both slalom and wildwater for recreational boats as well as for racing boats.  You can win $100 if you break the course records in the Wildwater: K-1 – Terry White, 42:04.85, 1981; K-1W – Kathy Bolyn, 45:20, 1989; C-1 – John Pinyerd, 46:43, 1997; OC-2 - Bill Baxter and Les Bechdel, 50:06, 1983; C-2 – David Jones and Mike Hipsher, 45:11, 1989; OC-1 – Angus Morrison, 50:12, 1983.  Also special awards are given for these wildwater winners: Charlie Patton Award – C-1 (or OC-1 if faster); Julie Wilson Award – fastest female; Ramone Easton – OC-2.  And the name of the fastest overall, usually a K-1, also gets engraved on the old Southeastern Trophy.

Come join the fun!  For further information contact Racemaster Roger Nott at 770-536-6923 or 678-316-4935 or at ocapaddler@charter.net.