GalasportUSA Canoe Club Challenge
June 16, July 21, and August 18, 2012

Canoe Club Challenge

Summer fun on the slalom gates

Whitewater slalom is about precision paddling and pushing your skills to the next level. Looking to mix up your regular paddling routine? We have just the thing: a challenging course set on un-intimidating whitewater and a fun, social atmosphere.

Come by yourself, with your club, or with a couple of friends. The Canoe Club Challenge is open to everyone, and you'll have so much fun, you won't even notice all the new skills you're learning.

Following the Canoe Club Final, we award a grand prize to the club with the most points. This year's grand prize is a Plastic Slalom Toro, donated by the event's title sponsor, GalasportUSA! We'll have a couple of these boats available for demo at the event, so hop in and feel the difference for yourself!

See below for more information about points system and scoring.

2012 GalasportUSA Canoe Club Challenge Events Schedule

Please Note: Event Schedule will be the same for June 16, July 21, and August 18th, unless otherwise indicated.

Activity	Time	Location
Downriver Race Registration August 18th ONLY	10-10:30am	Wayah Put-In
Downriver Race Start August 18th ONLY	11:00am	Wayah Put-In
Slalom Race Registration	12-1:30pm	Slow Joe's Café
Slalom Race Competitors' Meeting	1:30pm	Slow Joe's Café
Slalom Race Start	2:00pm	Slow Joe's Café
Awards Ceremony	7:00pm	Slow Joe's Café
Live Music	8:00pm	The Pourover Pub

Registration

Race registration is FREE and will be held at Slow Joe's Café from 12:00-1:30pm. All competitors must complete a waiver and registration form, and are limited to participation in two classes. Classes are subject to a minimum of three athletes. Registration will be followed by a mandatory pre-race competitor's meeting. Walk-ons and late-registrants will not be scored.

Canoe Club Challenge Slalom Race Details

Slalom Race Rules:
Paddlers can make up to five runs per class through the slalom course. There are no penalties for hitting a gate, but paddlers must pass through each gate in the correct order for their run to count in the final scoring. Each completed run earns points toward the Canoe Club Challenge Trophy.

Note that you need not be an official member of a paddling club to participate. Boaters can "team up" with clubs at the event, and many teams are eager to recruit more paddlers for the day (thereby boosting their run tally). You are also welcome to make up your own club just for the event.

Also, you don't have to attend multiple events to get points and prizes. NOC will award individual class prizes on an event-by-event basis, and your runs will count to your club's combined point-total for the three events.

Finally, note that the Canoe Club Challenge is more about having having a good time, meeting other boaters and improving your paddling skills than winning runs. Come prepared to have fun on the water with friendly area paddlers.

Class Order and Logistics:
Open canoes will start first, and Kayaks will follow once the OC classes have finished. There will be no start list, and competitors in each class are welcome to start whenever they're ready. All competitors must wear their assigned bib to start. Each competitor can run the course up to five times max per registered class.

Warm Up:
The course will be open for training prior to the event, and competitors are encouraged to take a couple practice runs.

Prizes:
Awards Ceremony will be held at Slow Joe's Cafe at 7 pm. Organizers will hand out prizes such as gear, gift cards and freebies.

Music:
The event will end around 6pm, giving paddlers plenty of time to change, eat and relax before the awards ceremony at 7 pm. Then, stick around to hear the band; free live music will start at The Pourover around 8pm.

This year, NOC is pleased to announce:

June 16th: Hip Bones: "A unique sounding instrumental trio (sax/bamboo flutes, bass, drums) with a heavy-grooving jazz funk dub sound."

July 21st: Chawla: Calling all reggae lovers: "guarranteed to get you in a summer dancing mood."

August 18th: Jonathan Scales Fourchestra: Jazz-fusion quartet - "Refreshingly original with a plentitude of harmonic, rhythmic, melodic and spiritual depth."

Canoe Club Challenge Downriver Race Details

NOC will host a late-morning downriver race on August 18th, for the Canoe Club Challenge Final. Register and start at the Forest Service Launch Site on Wayah road. See race details below:

Registration Time: 10-10:30am
Competitors Meeting: 10:30am or shortly there after
Race Starts: 11am

Race runs from Forest Service Put-In to the Founder's Bridge at NOC.
Competitors will line up in their boats in the eddy at the Forest Service put-in.
Race will begin with a mass-start for each class. from the eddy at the Forest Service put-in.
Classes will start in reverse-seed, with the fastest boats (Wildwater kayaks) going last.
Logistically, it is possible for competitors to race in one downriver class only.
Downriver race results do not count towards Canoe Club Challenge Final Scores, but times will be posted on the results board at Slow Joe's Cafe, as well as on the events page, following the event.