California and Oregon Rafting

March 22nd, Saturday 1st practice run @10am, 2nd practice run @1:30pm.
March 23rd, Sunday – Races start at 11am.

Class (IV+ – V). 3 miles, mass start by class at Stabler Bridge to approximately 2 miles below Climax. Take out will be river right above High Bridge. Classes include; kayak (all lengths), cataraft, and paddle raft (6 paddlers or less, boats 14 feet or less in length, 3 thwarts), and unlimited.

• To reach the put in, drive north past Carson about 8 miles. There will be a store and a road on your left (This is Stabler). Take a left, cross over the bridge, after about 100 meters take a right, stay right, and follow that road down until it dead ends at the river. Unload quickly, park your vehicle off to the side of this short access road or park back up on the main road. This is a residential area, please be courteous and minimize traffic.
• To reach the take-out, drive north past Carson, take last left before crossing High Bridge, take first right, next right, follow all the way to river (turns into dirt road). The turn off to get the take out is High Bridge Rd.
• Carson has gas, a small store, cafe, camping in the area, and cabins. Stevenson, Washington is about 6 miles away and has hotels, a supermarket, and many restaurants
• The levels to permit good racing will be 5.3-9 feet.
• If below 5.3 feet tyhe paddle raft division beomes an R2 race.

Schedule of activities:

1. Saturday 1st practice run, shove off time 10am. 2nd practice run shove off time 1:30pm.
2. ~ 4pm Saturday; “debrief”, snacks and refreshments near the cabin at the put in area.
3. 8-9am Sunday; race registration at the cabin near the put in. Around $10 per competitor which includes ACA insurance. Starting positions determined by who signs up first.
4. 10am racers meeting at the put in area.
5. 10:15am, safety boaters and camera crews launch. Race coordinators begin boat and gear inspection.
6. 10:30am, begin staging racers. Kayaks first in line, paddle rafts next, followed by the cats and the unlimited crafts.
7. 11am SHARP. Mass start kayak race.
8. 11:05, paddle rafts.
9. 11:10, catarfats.
10. 11:15, unlimited.
11. 12:30pm, all racers gather in eddies and on shore at the finish for final head count. Proceed downstream once the paddlers at the finish match the number of starters.
12. 2:30pm : Begin Chili Feed and Awards Ceremony at the cabin near the put in.
13. 4:30pm : Start headin home.

The 1st Annual Upper Wind River Race is part of the Western Whitewater Championship Series (WWCS) which is coordinated by the Oregon Rafting Team (ORT). All participants are required to be safe, have fun, paddle hard, and support river communities in any way possible. Questions contact USRA President Tim Brink at: nomadyellow@yahoo.com.

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The WWCS was designed to promote the sport of whitewater paddle raft racing in the western United States. All paddlers and supporting boating communities are encouraged to participate therefore kayak, cataraft, and an unlimited category of racers will be amongst the competitors. It is the intent of this series to reward the most well developed overall skill sets of each team and individual participants, while fostering interest and generating cohesion amongst our associative river communities.

Points will be awarded to the competitors for the overall WWCS title in their respective divisions (Men’s paddle raft, Women’s paddle raft, Men’s kayak, Women’s kayak, Cataraft, Unlimited).

March 22 – 23, Upper Wind River (IV+, 4 mile downriver)
Coordinators: Oregon Rafting Team (ORT)
Paddle rafts, kayaks, catarafts, unlimited.
Optional

April 12, Canyon Creek Extreme Race (V, .5 mile waterfall sprint)
Coordinators: Next Adventure
Kayaks, inflatable kayaks, paddle rafts, unlimited.
Optional

April 19 – 20, Upper Klamath River (IV+, 7 mile downriver)
Coordinators: ORT, Northwest Rafter’s Association (NWRA)
Paddle rafts, kayaks, catarafts, unlimited.
Mandatory

May 2 – 3, Cal Salmon River (IV+, 5 mile downriver)
Coordinator : Paul Gamache, Caliproduct
Paddle rafts, kayaks, catarafts, unlimited.
Mandatory

May 16 – 19, Upper Clackamas River (III+, V : 1 mile downriver)
Coordinators: NWRA, Next Adventure
Paddle rafts, kayaks, catarafts, oared rafts.
Mandatory

May 31 – June 2, North and South Fork Payette Rivers: USRA National Whitewater Championships (IV+ 4 mile downriver, slalom, sprint, boatercross, kayak rodeo)
Coordinators: Sam Goff, Bill Driscoll, Payette Boise River Festival (PBR)
Paddle rafts, kayaks, catarafts.
Mandatory (Double points awarded at this event only)

June 13 – 14, Wenatchee River (II, 4 mile downriver, kayak rodeo)
Coordinator: Paul Gamache
Paddle rafts, kayaks.
Optional

October 10 – 11, Burnt Ranch Gorge (IV+, 2 mile downriver)
Coordinator: Paul Gamache
Exhibition. Great event but currently outside of the racing season.

Boats – no requirements but must be deemed safe by event coordinators.

Teams – not to exceed 6 paddlers unless in unlimited division, co-ed teams will be scored in the men’s category.

Safety gear required, at a minimum; Type III-V pfd, helmet, spare paddles or oars for rafts/catarafts, first-aid kit in each boat, rescue rope in each boat.

Race coordinators have the right to inspect all competitors (looking for competent skill level and sobriety only) and their gear prior to the race. If one cannot comply with safety requests they will be dismissed from the competition without refund.

Paddle raft races will be ran in a head to head format conditions permitting. Adherence to International Rafting Federation (IRF) rules will be attempted whenever possible and/or if a dispute arises that cannot be immediately resolved by event coordinators.

For more information, visit the Oregon Rafting Team Web Site.