Mark your calendars!

We've planned a robust line-up, including several exciting new events for 2022. Follow announcements on the Foundation's website, Facebook page and Instagram feed.

Attainment Race
Saturday, February 26
Potomac, MD | Event Page

Top Yough Race
Saturday, April 2
McHenry, MD | Event Page

Lower Yough Race & USA Wildwater Team Trials
Co-Hosted by Wilderness Voyageurs
April 9-10
Ohiopyle, PA | Event Page

Earth Day River Cleanup
May 1
Bethesda/Potomac, MD | Event Page

Potomac Chute Out #1
May 19
Potomac, MD | Event Page

Potomac Chute Out #2
June 16
Potomac, MD | Event Page

Maryland Chute Slalom
July 9
Potomac, MD | Event Page

Potomac Chute Out #3
July 21
Potomac, MD | Event Page

Little Falls Race
July 31
Potomac, MD | Event Page

Great Falls Race
August 13-14
Potomac, MD | Event Page

Potomac Festival
August 13
Potomac, MD | Event Page

Diversify Whitewater Community Float
Date TBD
Bethesda/Potomac, MD | Facebook Page

Beaver Festival & King of New York Race Series
September 2-5
September 3: KONY : Raquette - Stone Valley Race
September 4: KONY : Beaver - Eagle Valley Race
Colton, NY | Facebook Page

Lord of the Fork (Russell Fork) Race
October 29 [tentative]
Elkhorn, KY | Event Page

All participants will be required to sign an ACA liability waiver for each event.

JT STANTON JOINS BOARD

Join us in welcoming JT to the GFF Board of Directors!

John-Thomas (JT) Stanton joins the board of directors after serving as the Foundation’s Volunteer Coordinator and Secretary for the past several years. JT began kayaking in 2016, mostly on a whim and a desire to try something new. Despite growing up in Leavenworth, Washington, he had never tried whitewater kayaking and thought it would be cool to learn to paddle only Class 1 or 2 moving water. Five years later, JT has become a diehard whitewater kayaker and has been sending rivers up and down the East Coast (plus a trip through the Grand Canyon) while meeting some incredible people along the way (shout out to his river fam!). If you haven’t met him in person, chances are pretty good you’ve already seen him on the Potomac, as he is also completely brainwashed that attaining is fun (it is!). If he isn’t kayaking though, he can be found spending time with his wife Brittany and their incredibly adorable dog Garnet, while they eagerly await the birth of their first child this winter!

KEITH KIMMEL JOINS BOARD

Join us in welcoming Keith to the GFF Board of Directors!

Keith Kimmel joins the Board of Directors after serving several years as the best Great Falls Race Starter in Foundation history. Keith began kayaking in earnest in 2005 while living in Colorado. After a quarter century as a travelling vagabond, Keith finally settled down in Cabin John in 2015 with his wife, Stace, and daughters Maddie and Jackie. He can be found beatering on the Potomac, but is more likely to be seen driving his daughters to the Falls or the Feeder for slalom with PWRC. He has given up any hope of keeping up with either of them. You’ve probably seen him picking up a slalom boat from the side of the road along MacArthur. He is obviously excited to be joining the Foundation, giving back to the local kayaking community and furthering his legacy as the most talented manual starter on the East Coast. His dog Lulu does not bite.

THANK YOU, JOHN HARDING!

Thanks for three years of service to the Foundation!

John Harding served as a member of the Great Falls Foundation's Board of Directors from April 2018 to November 2021. John also served as our Treasurer during that time.

We appreciate John's many contributions to the Foundation's activities over the past three years. In particular, John managed the Foundation's finances as Treasurer, and kept us on the right side of the IRS rules and regulations for 501(c)3 charitable organizations. John's support facilitated the many events we are able to offer to our paddlesports community.

We look forward to continuing to see John out on the river!

THE CHUTE OUTS ARE BACK!

Freestyle returns to the Potomac!

The Chute Outs were a Potomac River staple for many years, providing freestyle competitions throughout the Summers. They were open to all, and every skill level. Low key, fun, friendly competitions where the participants do their best tricks in a sets of rides on whatever feature happens to be in at the river level for that day.

With permission from Valley Mill Camp, we are bringing the Chute Outs back! We plan to host the freestyle rodeos on the evenings of May 19, June 16, and July 14 (third Thursday of each month).

We will meet from 5:00-6:00pm in the Anglers lower parking lot to sign up for the competition and then head out to the best feature for that day's river level. Points will be scored in accordance with ICF standards and competitors will be ranked by their best score of two rides.

All paddlers with an interest in playboating are encouraged to come out and give a ride, This is a relaxed and fun event to help grow the love of rodeo here on the Potomac.

Registration will be free!

Photo posted to Facebook by Jim Buley, circa 2013.

NEW EVENT FOR 2022:
MARYLAND CHUTE SLALOM

Community Slalom

New for 2022, we plan to host a free community whitewater slalom race and grill-out at Maryland Chute on the Potomac River.

On Saturday, July 9, registration will remain open from 9:30am - 4:30pm on the island next to Maryland Chute. Participants may join throughout the day. The event will run from 10:00am - 5:00pm.

All skill levels and types of boats are welcome. A minimum of three boats to form a class. On-site registration only. And we'll be grilling lunch for you out on the island!

Stop by, take as many runs as you want or come watch and cheer!

More details coming soon.

Photo from https://www.strayoutdoors.com/.

LOWER YOUGH RACES

USA Wildwater Awards Team Trials to Great Falls Foundation & Wilderness Voyageurs!

More new events for 2022, including a kayak/raft race on the Lower Yough!

We have teamed with Wilderness Voyageurs to co-host a weekend of events on the Lower Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle, PA during April 9-10, 2022. The 2022 USA Wildwater Senior Team Trials will be the marquee event during a larger festival weekend.

Saturday, April 9:

Wildwater Trials - Sprint Course: Start on the beach river left at the top of Cucumber Rapid (Class 3+), end by passing between two rocks on the river left of Piddly (Class 2+). [approx. 0.3 miles]

Sunday, April 10:

Wildwater Trials - Classic Course: Start on the rocks river left above Dimple Rapid (Class 3), finish by passing between two rocks at the bottom of Bruner Run Rapid. [approx. 3.5 miles]
Open Race: Whitewater races on the Lower Yough for all boat categories, including kayaks and rafts. Course TBD.

Finally, April 9-10 is Wilderness Voyageurs’ opening weekend for commercial operations, including trips on the Yough and Cheat.

Details to be announced soon!

Photo from usawildwater.com and the USA Wildwater Facebook page.

MID-ATLANTIC WHITEWATER CALENDAR

All Great Falls Foundation events, along with many other events around the region, are updated regularly on this calendar (or here).

You may integrate this calendar into your own by clicking the + in the lower right corner, or simply check our page frequently for dam release dates, races, festivals, and other whitewater events.

And if you want to see an event listed, please send us an email!

AMERICAN WHITEWATER

Join AW today!

As you well know, we would not have the level of access to whitewater and the protection of our favorite rivers without American Whitewater. As a whitewater paddler, your AW membership is critical.

AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION

Join the ACA today!

All of our events are sanctioned and insured by the American Canoe Association. The Great Falls Foundation, and indeed most whitewater event hosts, would not be able to offer these events without the ACA's support.

TEAM RIVER RUNNER

Donate to TRR today!

Team River Runner continues to support our veterans and their families. This is a fantastic organization, and one of our favorite partners. Please make a contribution to support TRR's mission.

The Great Falls Foundation is a 501c3, non-profit charitable organization dedicated to promoting an active and outdoor lifestyle by collaborating with land and water resource managers, producing adventure sporting events and competitions, and fostering the safe recreational use of our natural resources.