News and Announcements from the Great Falls Foundation

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LOWER YOUGH RACES

Open Downriver Races: April 10
USA Wildwater Team Trials: April 9-10

New event for 2022!

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.

Dates:

Open Category Races: Sunday, April 10
USA Wildwater Team Trials: Saturday & Sunday, April 9-10

Location: Ohiopyle State Park, 124 Main St, Ohiopyle, PA 15470 map
Registration: link here

SPECIAL DISCOUNTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

CAMPING: Any racer or volunteer will be able to get discounted camping at Tall Oaks campground with proof of registration! Discounted camping price will be $9 per person tent sites. This discount is sponsored by our partner, Wilderness Voyageurs.
TRR FREE ENTRY: All Team River Runner (TRR) affiliated veterans can participate in this event FREE OF CHARGE. Contact Tyler Thornton email prior to registering for the discount code.

VOLUNTEERS: Registration link here. Volunteers are a crucial part of any event and those willing to help out can sign up online. We will need volunteers across the board from safety to check-ins and everything in between. Please comment where you would like to be assigned from the list below when you register: Safety, Check-in, on-shore marshal, timer, etc.

RAFFLE: Don’t forget to get a raffle ticket and check out our awesome prizes! Raffle and race results will be announced after all the events have been concluded under the pavilion on Garret Street.

Read full event details here.

Follow the Facebook event page for updates and announcements.

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

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

TOP YOUGH RACE

April 2

Results posted here!

CALLEVA'S 2022 SENECA SHOWDOWN

Sunday, May 1

Our friends at Calleva's River School are hosting their annual Seneca Showdown on the Potomac!

Date: Sunday, May 1
Time: 9:00 am
Location: Riley's Lock, 13015 Rileys Lock Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837 map
Details & Event Info: link here

Registration is live.

The first PWRC race of the spring 2022 season will be held on Saturday April 2nd on the Feeder Canal. Race participation is open to all levels of PWRC whitewater slalom paddlers (Beginner group, Pink group, Intermediate group, and Advanced Group). Race entry is free to PWRC members; cost for nonmembers is $20. All competitors must be active members of the ACA.

Schedule:
Check in begins at 9 am
The Attainment Race starts at 10 am
The Downriver Race starts at 11:30 am
Awards at 1:30 pm at Riley’s Lock

Class ll
Downriver and attainment
Family friendly
$25 for one race, $35 for both

50% of Proceeds to go to TRR

Follow the Facebook event page for announcements.

CCA POTOMAC DOWNRIVER RACE

Saturday, May 14

Our friends at the Canoe Cruisers Association are hosting their annual race on May 14!

The CCA Potomac Downriver Race has been held every year since 1956, making it the Nation’s oldest consecutively run canoe race.

When:
Saturday, May 14, 2022, 8:30 AM until 3:00 PM

Where:
Great Falls C&O Canal NHP
11710 MacArthur Blvd
Potomac, MD 20854
(Angelers if Little Falls Gage is over 5 feet.)

Event Contact:
Risa Shimoda, Race Chair email

Advance Registration is Required
Payment in Full in Advance Only

CCA Members: $20.00 (Fee as of 5/7/2022: $25.00)
Non-Members: $30.00 (Fee as of 5/7/2022: $35.00)

Register here by Friday, May 13th at 5 PM.

ON RACE DAY:
Check in from 8:30-9:30 AM to receive race bib and instructions
   - Check in at Great Falls MD park if water levels below 5 ft
   - Check in at Anglers Beach if water levels 5 ft to below 6 ft
Mass start at 11 AM sharp
   - Water level below 5 ft, start on water at Rocky Island cove
   - Water level at 5 ft to below 6 ft, start at Anglers Beach
   - Water level at 6 ft and above, race postponed to next Saturday
Finish at Sycamore Island by 1 PM
Picnic on-site from 1-2 PM, Awards at 2 PM
All activities should be completed by 3 PM.

By participating, you are agreeing to be responsible for your own safety, which includes being familiar with the race course, and well within your abilities to paddle it at the race-day levels and conditions. This is Class II/III race. It is not an event for beginners.

VOLUNTEER: If you want to participate, but not race, then please consider volunteering: contact Risa Shimoda email.

All on-water participants must wear a PFD (lifejacket), a helmet, and appropriate footwear. Bring water. This is a 7.5 mile race with class II/III whitewater. It is not suitable for beginners.

Film: The River Runner

May 19, 2022

Join the World River Center / International Whitewater Hall of Fame for a screening of

The River Runner!

6:00 Meet Scott Lindgren
6:00 – 8:00 (seated) dinner and drinks – place your order, then chat with Scott!
7:00 – 8:45 pm Scott’s remarks, screening, dinner will continue to be served

Arlington Cinema And Drafthouse
2903 Columbia Pike
Arlington VA 22204
(703) 486-2345

Purchase your ticket here.($15 will go to host Scott in the DMV!)

Proceeds will support the (all-volunteer) International Whitewater Hall of Fame induction in 2023 and beyond.

There’s more (almost) - A virtual auction whose winner will be announced at the screening!
Look for The River Runner IWHoF Fundraiser beginning early May: Auction for a Dagger Code, Palm Equipment drysuit and thermal layers, courtesy of Dagger and Palm Equipment!

Meet Scott Lindgren, Class of 2021 International Whitewater Hall of Fame (Explorer)!
Expeditions • Led the first successful descent of the Tsangpo, Tibet (2002) • Numerous first and early descents in California Sierras including the Upper Cherry Creek, Devil’s Postpile on the San Joaquin, Middle Fork of the Kings (1993-1997) and Upper Middle Kaweah • Numerous first descents and early descents around the world including the Thule Bheri, Upper Karnali and Sutlej in Nepal, White Nile Murchison section in Africa, the Salweeen in China, the Rio Camata to the Amazon in Boliva, and most recently the Rhondu Gorge on the Indus in Pakistan Other Scott’s greatest expedition is one of the greatest and largest of all time, the Tsangpo in Tibet. The Tsangpo was an incredible accomplishment considering the size of the water and the history of the gorge. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/water-activities/liquid-thunder/ Movie: Into the Tsangpo Gorge. Book by Peter Heller: Hell or High Water:SurvivingTibet’s Tsangpo River

But Scott still had one major paddling goal on his list - to paddle the serious whitewater sections of the 4 cardinal rivers coming off the very sacred Mt. Kailash in Tibet - Karnali, Sutlej, Tsangpo and Indus. In 2017 he completed that quest running the Rhondu Gorge on the Indus while waging a battle with a debilitating brain tumor.

Scott’s other filmmaking accomplishments: • Emmy for outstanding cinematography in an outdoor television show (1997) • Produced numerous kayak videos including Good to the Last Drop; Liquid Lifestyle; Liquid Lifestyle 2:Thirst; Liquid Lifestyle 3: Spawning Grounds; Aerated; and Burning Time
Scott has been one of the most accomplished explorers of global rivers of his generation who has pushed envelope to open possibilities for the next generations.

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 12, June 16, and July 14.

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!

Follow the Facebook event pages for announcements.

Photo posted to Facebook by Jim Buley, circa 2013.

NEW EVENT FOR 2022:
MARYLAND CHUTE SLALOM

July 9
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!

Follow the Facebook event page for announcements.

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

2022 EVENTS CALENDAR

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 12
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
August 2
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
August 28
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.

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.

Open Downriver Races: April 10 USA Wildwater Team Trials: April 9-10