Great Falls Race

2010 Great Falls Race Results

Welcome to the 2010 Potomac Fest Great Falls Race.  Tom McEwan and the staff and students of Liquid Adventures Kayak School will again organize the race.

Please note the following:

  • Racers this year will run in order of bib # within their class, this is to help shorten the interval between racers.  The next 3 racers should be on deck and ready to paddle.
  • Classes will run in the following order, long boat, c-1, women’s, and then short boat.
  • Three boats are needed to make a class.  If there are less than three boats in say women’s or C-1 those times will be counted in the short or long boat standings as appropriate for their boat size.

As always the actual course will be finalized the day of the event and will be determined by water level.  However, we should have a decent idea on the likely course on Wednesday or Thursday before the race.

Pre-register for the event.  All racers will need to check in at registration before proceeding up to Great Falls on the MD side for the competitors meeting.  You must be at the competitors meeting, with a bib, and registered in order to race.  Attempts at last minute registration hold up the event unnecessarily, postpone the start time, and makes results harder to tabulate.  It is also rather inconsiderate to the race organizers, Potomac Fest coordinators, and the rest of the racers.  Please make every attempt to pre-register, it saves everyone time and frustration and you $$.

We look forward to seeing you all, thank you for coming out to race to support American Whitewater.

Liquid Adventures Kayak School

Event Locations 

(dependant upon level at the Little Falls Gauge)

Maryland Lines (<2.8 ft. and 3.1 - 3.2 ft.) 

Course starts on river left shore just left of the large rock in the middle of the channel above Pummel. Racers will navigate Pummel and then choose to either go through Pencil Sharpener or Z-turn. Racers will then navigate Horseshoe and finish as the bow of their boat touches the foam-pile of Horseshoe wave.

Virginia Lines (2.8 ft.- 3.0 ft.): 

Course starts on the river right shore at the large vertical slab rock. Racers then choose from the three lines on the entrance rapid of the VA lines and then navigate S-bend. Racers complete the course after they have navigated the Spout and reached the furthest downstream point of the flake.

Center Lines (3.3 ft.- 3.8 ft.): 

Course starts on the river right shore above the VA line entrance rapid at the large vertical slab rock. Racers will ferry across the inflow to the VA lines and navigate Grace Under Pressure. Racers then navigate the rapid leading to the middle finger and the middle finger. The finish line is the rocky outcropping on the flake about 100 ft. downstream of the streamers.

Fish Ladder (3.9 ft. - 5.5 ft.): 

Course starts in an eddy/cove upstream of the first slide on river left. Racers navigate the first slide and then either choose to run the second slide or the tight quarters channel. Racers then navigate slides three and four and finish as their boat clears the hole at the bottom of fifth slide.

Note: Course start and finish dependant on water levels and volunteer logistics. Descriptions of the particular start and finish line are intended as a guideline. The final details of the race will be presented at the competitors meeting. The race will be cancelled when Little Falls Gauge is above 5.5 ft.

Classes 

Competitors may compete in two classes, classes will run in the following order.

  • Men's Long Boat Class 9 ft and above
  • Women's Class
  • C-1 Class
  • Mens Short Boat Class 8.11 ft  and below

All racers must be able to attest to their experience paddling class V white water and be familiar with the lines on Great Falls.

Check-in shall open at 7:00 AM near the Great Falls Tavern, MD side. You will sign a waiver, get a numbered bib.

A competitors meeting will be held by the Race Director in the Great Falls Maryland parking lot at 7:30 AM. Course, levels, safety, event layout, schedule, and media needs will all be covered at the meeting.  Race starts at 8:20.

All racers will complete a timed run with race order determined by class and then bib number within that class. The top 10 in each boat class will get a second run, which will be counted as their final time. Final runs will go in the same order.  A minimum of three boats is needed to make up a class.

Racers will start as soon as the course is clear of racers and the next racer is ready to go. The next 3 racers in order should be on deck and ready to paddle. Racers will be held in place by the stern of their boats by the Starter's Assistant at the starting location. The Finish Line Coordinator at the bottom of the course will countdown from 5 over the radio which will be held next to the racer by the Starter. On Go!,  the Starter will let go of the racers stern and the time will start. Time ends when you hit the finish line target.  Racers will wait on the next racer to finish before hiking back up to keep an eye out on safety.

Any grievances regarding results (timing, judging, etc.) must be brought to the attention of the Race Director, who can be found near the start, immediately following announcement of top 10. Anyone with a grievance must be able to substantiate their claim, or original results will stand. The Race Director will make a final decision based on the facts at hand and commence the final runs.

Final results will be published on this website the day after the race with the winners announced at the P-Fest Party.

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