Aca Virginia Kayaking Championships

OVERVIEW

The American Canoe (and Kayak) Association is hosting the first annual Virginia state 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.

We sent a team to the National Champs in the fall, and represented the club, and our university, quite well. This event is designed as warm up for the national champs next fall, and is another 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. If you have no experience in either craft, feel free to come along for the party! (But contact me first, we can get you up to speed if you really want to compete)

There is a $25 fee that only applies if you did not attend the ACA Championship in the Fall.

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. Drivers: You will get reimbursed for gas. We will fill up before you leave and then fill up when you get back. Take the second receipt to get reimbursed. We’ll meet you there and we can hang around until all have arrived and then go grab dinner somewhere. I’m thinking we should set up camp before then dark. We 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. I’m going to buy food Friday for us to eat throughout the weekend, aka coldcuts, bread, bagels, cream cheese, grapes (or something). Let me know if you have preferences or problems with anything (this would be a great time to let me know you are allergic to wheat, or are a vegetarian, or that apples are your absolute favorite fruit ever)
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 relay is today, so that will be the only race and we will leave early afternoon.

What to bring (if you have it bring it, 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 perhaps
Clothes you want to paddle in (no guarantees that they will stay dry)
Extra clothes
Towel if you do plan on getting wet or using the outdoor showers at the VOC
Extra money (perhaps dinner Friday, whatever else, it just never hurts)
Water bottle (that’s just always a good idea)