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NWSC Explanation of 1997 Race Series

This page has some short explanation of the various race series which take place around the country. Eventually it'll probably be replaced with links to pages for each series, but I wanted to be get some basic information online as soon as possible.


Northwest Cup Series

This series consists of six races held throughout Oregon and Washington. Racers must participate in at least two races to be eligible for points; awards go to the top three point earners in many different classes. Class include K-1, K-1W, K-1 Junior, C-1, C-2, K-1 plastic, K-1W plastic, K-2, open boat, etc.
Mar 15-16Cedar River Race
Apr 5-6West Trials Qualifier/State of Jefferson Championships
Apr 19-20Middle Fork Snoqualmie Race
Jun 7-8Salmon la Sac
Jul 12-13White Salmon Race
Sep 20-21Cheakamus Fall Classic
Please note: further details on these races are available on the
schedule page. But for the real scoop, you should check out the web site for the Northwest Cup Whitewater Slalom Series 1997.

Contact: Jennie Goldberg, (206) 933-1178, League of Northwest Whitewater Racers Jennie.Goldberg@ci.seattle.wa.us


New England Cup Series

This is a series for A/B decked boats, generally held in class III-IV water. Well, it's actually two series: slalom and wildwater. The slalom races are:

Apr 12Mascoma SL
Apr 19Rattlesnake SL
Apr 27North Trials Qualifier/Snyders Mill SL
May 4T'ville SL

The wildwater races are:

Apr 5White River Wildwater
Apr 13Mascoma Wildwater
Apr 20Westfield Wildwater

Classes are: K-1, K-1W, C-1, and C-2 for both open and juniors; other classes can be offered if there are three or more entrants. Awards will be given for each race, with the New England Cup awards at the last event. Points will be 0 for 1st, 2 for 2nd, 3 for 3rd, etc., 10 for 10th and any other placing, and 11 points if you do not enter. The New England Cup will be based on 3 races; classes need to have three or more competitors in order to count for the New England Cup.

Race entry forms should be sent to the appropriate race chairman at least one week before the race date. In order to cover insurance at these races, you need to be a USCKT and/or ACA member, or there will be additional charges upon entering.

It's easier on the competitor and race chairman if entries are sent well in advance of the race. However, most races will allow late entries until 9:30 on race day. In general, slalom races will have a racers' meeting at 10:30 and begin at 11:00. Wildwater races will begin at 12:00 noon. The ICF has passed new rules for slalom and they will be in place for the above races. The new rules are 2 second penalties, combined scores, and no official practice runs.

Please note: further details on these races are available on the
schedule page.


New England Slalom Series

The New England Slalom Series is a set of whitewater slalom races for open canoe and unranked or C/D decked boaters. There are 29 classes offered including recreational (ABS and plastic) and kevlar race classes for cadet, juniors, open classes, and masters. The difficulty of water varies from race to race (class I-class III). You may enter as many individual races as you like, but to qualify for a New England Slalom Series Award you must participate in at least 5 races with 3 in the spring, 1 in the fall, and 1 more of your choice. Points are tallied from each race with the Farmington Slalom as a tie breaker if needed. New England Slalom Series award ceremony will follow the Farmington Slalom. This year's races will be sponsored by the generous support of ADVENTURE QUEST, MAD RIVER CANOE, MILLBROOK BOATS, AND MITCHELL PADDLES. You are automatically registered for the Series with YOUR first race. Additionally, we will again have the special participation award for anyone who completes at least one race run in each race of the series. Race dates are as follows:

March 23Salmon Slalom
April 6Punch Brook Slalom
April 19-20Blackwater Slalom Festival
May 4Fiddlehead Slalom
May 18Covered Bridge Slalom
June 15Amoskeag Slalom
Sept 7Riverfest Slalom
Oct 4-5Esopus Slalom
Oct 18-19Farmington Slalom
Please note: further details on these races are available on the
schedule page.

If you do not receive a complete race packet by March 1, 1997 and would like to participate in the series, send a SASE to:

NESS
c/o Sam Montague
55 Darton St.
Concord, MA 01742


Pennsylvania Cup Series

The Penn Cup is a fall series of five races designed to introduce paddlers to the sport of slalom racing. Races are held on Sundays, with Saturdays reserved for course construction, practice, and clinics. Clinics are taught by experienced racers -- usually A-B ranked paddlers -- and provide a way for beginners and intermediates to learn from some of the best. Some of the races include special activities; for example, there's a downriver race at Riversport and a pot luck dinner & paddler's market at Bellefonte.

Awards are presented at each race, and overall series awards (earned on a point system) are presented after the final race. Overall series awards are given in the following classes: K-1, K-1W, C-1, C-1W, C-2, C-2M, OC-1, and OC-2. Additionally, competitors representing regional paddling clubs contend to earn the coveted club trophy. And if that isn't enough, there's also a Child/Adult Participation Award, which is presented to any child/adult team which competes in at least two of the five races.

There are many, many classes available at each race for open and decked boats, solo and tandem boats, juniors, cadets, masters, and well, just about everyone. (For example, the Fiddler's Elbow race usually has K-2 and K-1 squirt classes.) The emphasis is on fun and learning, and so the races in this series make an excellent introduction to the sport.

1997 rules for Penn Cup: the 2 second penalty will be used for touches, and the better of two runs will be used for individual race results and series rankings. Combined times will be reported for national rankings. Legal race boats must be used in Penn Cup runs, i.e. cruising boats that are less than 4 meters in length don't count toward the Cup.

Race dates, sites and contact phone numbers are as follows:
WhenWhichWhereWhatPhone
Aug 30-31Riversport SlalomConfluenceMiddle Yough814-395-5744
Sep 13-14Little Lehigh SlalomAllentownLittle Lehigh610-559-9595
Sep 20-21Codorus SlalomYorkCodorus Creek717-428-2295
Sep 27-28Fiddler's Elbow SlalomHummelstownSwatara Creek717-545-0450
Oct 13-14Bellefonte SlalomBellefonteSpring Creek814-238-2362

Additional info on the Little Lehigh race can be found on the web pages of the
Lehigh Valley Canoe Club. Additional info on the Fiddler's Elbow race can be found on the web pages of the Canoe Club of Greater Harrisburg. Additional info on the Bellefonte race can be found on the web pages of the Penn State Outing Club Whitewater.

Please note: further details on these races are available on the schedule page. Contact the ACA to get an entry packet for the whole series, or individual race organizers to get into one event. Enter races early to make sure you get in!

If you have questions that aren't answered here and you can't reach race organizers, you can always try e-mailing me, because I've been doing the Penn Cup series for six years.


Buttercup Series

This is a series of five races held in the midwest. Enrollment in the series is automatic for anyone paddling in at least two of the races; trophies and awards are given out at a banquet after the final race. Racing classes include the usual classes plus recreational boats.

Apr 12-13Missouri Whitewater Championships
May 11Apple River Slalom
Jun 21-22Wisconsin River Slalom
Sep 6-7Taylor's Falls Slalom
Sep 13 or 20Last Ditch Slalom
Please note: further details on these races are available on the
schedule page.


Contact: webmaster.