"Thirty seconds...!"
With my eyes closed and mind clear, I rip through the course imagining every agonizing detail. Each crushing stroke perfectly placed...each gate flawlessly negotiated.
Then suddenly from behind me I hear the timer's monotone voice crackle through the small microphone on the walkie talkie, "Five...four....three... I draw in a deep breath and let it out slowly... two....one....."
There is something special about that excited feeling of anxious anticipation that boils up from my belly when poised at the starting gate. It keeps me coming back to whitewater slalom races year after year... Even if my faint hopes for a coveted spot on the US Olympic Slalom Team dwindled well over a decade ago.
From the moment the starter releases my stern, until I am catching my breath at the finish there is only me, the river, and the gates; Everything else just fades away. It is in these moments that I am truly at peace. It becomes clear why paddling is so addictive and all consuming for some of us. Too seldom in our lives are we totally focused, unable to squeeze in another thought about ANYthing else.
This weekend was The Third Annual Roaring River Slalom on the Clackamas River near Estacada, Or.
Carl Poston, long time member of the Lower Columbia Canoe Club and dedicated river advocate partnered with the Oregon Kayak and Canoe Club, Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe, PGE, and others to make this year's slalom a success!
Carl's persistent efforts to keep slalom alive in the region are starting to take hold. A well attended slalom clinic that I led on Saturday gave hope for future races. With the help of local slalom experts David Johnson, Rufas Knapp, Jim Bolerman, and others this year's race had the best turnout to date including the number 5 ranked C-1 paddler for the USCKT!
Check out the action from this surprisingly fun course designed by Jim Bolerman and set at the roaring river rapids on the Clackamas River last weekend...
Below the pics you will find the times for the race posted.
(Check it out, I actually placed higher in my OC-1 class than in K-1)
If you missed this year's race put the next one on your calendar now because there is no better way to improve your river running skills and technique.
RESULTS:
Class First Run Second Run Best time
OC1
Marc Leonard 195.85 + 0 207.71 + 2 195.85
Paul Kuthe 221.75 + 4 214.64 + 6 220.64
Paul Norman 268.94 +54 260.99 + 4 264.99
Clifford Debride DNF 268.05 + 12 280.05
Laurent Rochette 278.81 + 62 295.52 + 64 340.81
Denis Shure 273.55 + 116 DNS 389.55
OC1-W
Jenny Johnson 270.43 + 56 272.72 + 10 282.72
Kirti Walpole DNF 313.01 + 466 779.01
OC2
C.Poston/ J. Johnson 251.26 + 8 246.36 + 8 254.36
K1 Race (Men’s)
Louis Geltman 137.06 + 0 137.66 + 0 136.06
Ryan Bahn 144.30 + 2 145.92 + 2 146.30
Paul Kuthe 163.21 + 2 152.77 + 4 156.77
K1W
Jennie Goldberg 168.67 + 0 173.64 + 0 168.67
Sarah Bahn 178.08 + 2 181.98 + 2 180.08
K1 Masters
David Johnson 157.11 + 0 156.64 + 0 156.64
Rufus Knapp 164.09 + 2 158.99 + 2 160.99
Marc Leonard 164.67 + 2 166.50 + 0 166.50
Bert Hinkley 165.43 + 6 165.88 + 2 167.88
K1W Rec
Shelly Johnson 281.39 + 52 DNF 333.39
Kirti Walpole 270.00 +112 302.09 + 56 358.09
Dani Hinkley DNF 320.58 + 104 424.58
Sandy Gilliard 290.16 + 356 DNS 646.16
K1 Rec (Men’s)
Bob Loihl 257.09 + 14 DNS 271.09
K1 Rec
Mike Towle 198.45 + 0 198.02 + 0 198.02
Thom Powell 221.77 + 2 208.34 + 0 208.34
Dick Sisson 225.42 + 0 228.90 + 2 225.42
Tren Haselton 232.40 + 4 221.95 + 54 236.40
Don LaGrone 257.31 + 112 255.24 + 152 369.31
C1 Race
Isaac Schmidt 156.39 + 4 158.81 + 0 158.81
C1 Masters
Peter Rummel 196.09 + 2 196.64 + 2 198.09
C1 Rec
Bob Loihl 257.09 + 14 DNS 271.09
C1 Rec Masters
Carl Poston 230.89 + 0 231.57 + 0 230.89
K2
D. Johnson/B. Hinkley (Team Oregon) 215.59 + 4 219.59
Goldberg/Rummel (Team Washington) 253.53 + 4 257.53
Knapp/Knapp 296.45 + 362 658.45
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