Aca Collegiate Canoe and Kayak National Championships

OVERVIEW

The American Canoe (and Kayak) Association is hosting the annual national collegiate kayaking and canoeing championships! We are going to take a team to compete in as many events as possible. The races will take place on a 5 mile stretch of the Rappahannock River near Fredricksburg, VA. The events are Men’s and Women’s one-person kayaking (K1), one-person canoeing (OC1), and mixed one-person canoeing on Saturday (OC1). Sunday is a relay for teams of 6 in both canoes and kayaks.

UVA sent a team to the National Champs last fall and to the VA championships in the spring, and represented the club, and our university, quite well. This event is a great opportunity to compete for the Outdoors Club and for UVA.

We will plan to meet at the Virginia Outdoor Center Friday at 6 pm, having departed Charlottesville at 4. We’ll camp the nights at the beach on the river and paddle the days.

Skill level: Some experience in a boat (canoe or kayak) is required, but you do not need to be an expert or have a solid roll. We will be on class II water with plenty of safety set up. However, you must be able to wet exit (i.e. have done it before) to compete in the kayak events, and must have at least basic knowledge of how to paddle a canoe to compete in the canoe events.

There is a $25 fee that only applies if you did not attend the ACA Championships in the fall/spring events last year.

Driving/Friday:
We’re leaving C-Ville around 4 and getting to Fredricksburg about 6 (with pickups and all). We will be going straight to the Virginia Outdoor Center and camping on a beachy area on the river. We should set up camp before then dark and then can grab some food at a fast food place, a Chipotle, a restaurant, or pick up pizzas, or anything else. Friday night we can just hang out and mentally prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead.

Saturday:
Practice run 9am. There should be shuttles running from the VOC to Mott’s, where we are putting in. All the heats Saturday are running at the same time.
Saturday night we will have a cookout with all the teams. A bunch of college kids hanging out around some grills on the river… sounds perfect, eh?

Sunday: The team relay. it is the only race and we will leave early afternoon.

club provides:
gas money for drivers
any equipment/gear you dont have
food..for saturday and sunday… and s’mores. be excited.
some of the best ppl around grounds

What to bring (if you have it bring it, or let me know what you need):
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Tent
Clothing (the nights aren’t freezing, but bring a couple of layers)
Headlamp/flashlight
Clothes you want to paddle in (no guarantees that they will stay dry)
Extra clothes (your clothes wont dry over night)
Towel if you do plan on getting wet or using the outdoor showers at the VOC
bug spray if u have it
Extra money (dinner Friday, and whatever else, it just never hurts)
Water bottle ( always a good idea)

btw… i went to both events last yr. its awesome