July 10-15, 2007
The 2007 ACA Whitewater Open Canoe Downriver National Chamipionships will be held at the lower Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle, PA. The entire race venue will be in Ohiopyle State Park. . The downriver championship races will start at the put in below Ohiopyle Falls and finish approximately 7.5 miles downriver at Bruner’s Run. The Sprint Races are proposed for the loop section around the Ferncliff Natural Area just below Ohiopyle Falls. Competitors will be started at one-minute intervals for the downriver and sprint races. It is estimated, based on past Downriver races on the Yough, that it will take competitors approximately 50 to 70 minutes to complete the downriver course and 10 to 12 minutes to complete the sprints.
Event Chairman: Ed Sharp; 14 Winslow Road; Fredericksburg, VA 22406; (540) 752-5400; e.sharp@att.net
Hosting Organization: Outdoorsman Triathlon Charitable Trust; (540) 752-5400 www.outdoorsmantriathlon.org
ACA WWOC Downriver Chair: Paul Cole, 457 Main Street, Groveland, MA 01834 (978) 373-8961, Paul.Cole@aspect.com
The event will be conducted according to the American Canoe Association Whitewater Open Canoe Downriver Racing Rules as modified March 2000. All Ohiopyle State Park and Pennsylvania State Game and Fishing regulations that apply will be adhered to during the running of the event.
The four days of racing for the 2007 National Championships are Thursday through Sunday; July 12-15. The races will be started in the morning (a tentative starting time of 8:30 AM is planned) before raft traffic on the river begins. The sprints are scheduled for Friday and down river classes for Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The two days (10-11 July) preceding the race days are for practice, although the Yough can be practiced at any time since the water levels are fairly constant throughout the year. We are hoping to have consistent releases at a level between 2.0 and 2.5 feet for all six days.
The river level and water temperature are updated daily, and can be obtained by calling (412) 395-7300 (Monday through Friday between 7:30 AM and 3:00 PM) or by checking the web at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/uv?03081500 .
Event Dates: July 10 to July 15, 2007 (six days, Tuesday through Sunday)
Event Schedule:
Tuesday (July 10) Practice
Wednesday
(July 11) Practice
Thursday (July 12) Downriver Races
OC-2
(10-16/25)
Friday (July 13) Sprint Races
Classes: All
Sprint classes
Saturday (July 14) Downriver Races
Classes: OC-1 (All Male) & (10-12) & (13-15)
OC-2 (All Female)
WWOCD
National Meeting - 7PM
Classes: OC-1 (All Female)
OC-2 (All Male) & (10-12) & (13-15)
The Youghiogheny River is one of the most challenging whitewater venues for open canoe on the East Coast. It is a perfect course for the ACA Whitewater Open Canoe Downriver and Sprint National Championships. The water level is partially dam controlled and is about as reliable as anywhere in the country. The course is all contained within Pennsylvania’s Ohiopyle State Park, and presents a very favorable relationship between technical difficulty, safety, and fun. The WWOCD Nationals have been held before on the Yough in 1978, 1983, 1990, 1995, and 2001.
Sprint Course: The sprint races will be held on the famous Loop section of the Yough, which is located in the town of Ohiopyle. The put in is the standard Park Service put in just downstream from Ohiopyle Falls and the take out is just below Railroad Rapid on river right, which is the standard take out for a Loop run. There is no shuttle for this run, one simply carries their canoe from the finish to a parking area up and across Ferncliff peninsula. The Loop has 6 major rapids, which make for one of the most exciting and challenging sprint courses for open canoes anywhere. This drop/pool, three quarter of a mile course falls a total of 48 feet through named rapids: Entrance, Cucumber, Camel/Walrus, Eddy Turn, Dartmouth, and Railroad. Entrance, Cucumber and Railroad rapids all demand expert moves even when good lines are known. Good sprint times will be around 10 minutes for this course at the normal water level of approximately 2.5 feet.
Downriver Course: The downriver race runs from the standard Park Service put in at Ohiopyle to the standard Park Service take out at Bruner Run, about 8 miles of class II-IV whitewater. It includes the major rapids of the Loop Sprint course plus another six major rapids and perhaps ten additional lesser ones. Named rapids include Dimples & Swimmers, Bottle of Wine, Double Hydraulics, River’s End, Schoolhouse, Stairstep, and Bruner Run. There are no mandatory portages; optional portages can be done at Dimple Rock or River’s End or anywhere else if racers choose. Any portage chosen should be studied since the banks can be rocky and slippery. Both Dimples and River’s End demand expert moves even when in good lines. The named Rapids are rated at III-IV. An expert in a 16% boat, or one who knows the river well would probably rate them as III or III+. In the event of extreme high water the races will be held on the Middle Yough. Races for our younger age group classes (10-12) and (13-15) will be held on a four mile stretch of the Middle Yough (I-II) for both the OC-1 and OC-2 championship races.
River Access: River access is very convenient and is regulated by Ohiopyle State Park. The put-on for the Sprint and Downriver is at the same place in Ohiopyle. River use is controlled by way of a daily quota system. Commercial boating activities are very high on the weekends, and high during the week, so we will be starting our races early in the day. At this time, it looks like we will be starting each day at approximately 8:30 AM. With such an early start it is anticipated that the afternoons will be free for practice. For every race and for every practice run (both downriver and the loop) you will be required to sign in at the launch area with the Park Service. There will be no river use charge for competitors to race or practice, however, at the put-in in Ohiopyle, you must secure a shuttle token for every downriver run (8-mile course that finishes at Bruner Run) including the races. The token is for a seat on the shuttle bus, so each paddler must have one. The token is the only thing that will get you up out of the canyon and to your vehicle at the Bruner Run parking area at the end of the down river run, so don’t start without it. The last shuttle leaves Bruner Run (take-out) at 8:00 PM (do not cut this time close or you will be walking a long way to the parking area). Shuttle tokens are available at the launch site run by the Park Service. It is recommended that you purchase several tokens in case you want to paddle with someone who has none or in case the Park Launch Office has closed for the day, which could be as early as 3:00 PM during the week. Competitors may practice the Loop (sprint course) with out a shuttle token, but a put-on time (sign-in) must still be obtained from the Park Service before launching.
Check-In and Race Facilities: Race headquarters will be located in the Ohiopyle Community Center in Downtown Ohiopyle. Competitor check-in will begin in the morning on Tuesday, July 10. All competitors must be registered the day before they compete. For example, if you plan to race on Saturday, you must be registered for Saturday’s race by close of registration on Friday. Boat inspection will be nearby in the grassy “triangle” area, adjacent to the parking area near the downriver launch site. Because of the State Park and outfitters, access to the river and parking is very convenient. The round trip drive from Ohiopyle to the parking area at Bruner Run take-out and back requires about one hour so make sure you leave adequate time for your shuttle arrangements. There are permanent public bathrooms and showers at the launch site near the parking lots.
AREA ATTRACTIONS: Our racing venue is entirely within Pennsylvania’s Ohiopyle State Park which is a prime out-door recreational area. It offers outstanding hiking, biking (both groomed bike trail and single track), camping, excellent trout fishing, rafting, and whitewater canoeing. The bike trail (Great Allegheny Passage) is spectacular, following the entire length of the Youghiogheny River from Confluence, PA to McKeesport, PA (confluence with the Monongahela River). From Confluence it extends south to Cumberland MD where it joins with the C&O Canal Towpath to form 320 miles of traffic free trail. Bring your bikes, you will be glad you did!
Several establishments within a few walking minutes of the race start provide food, clothing, rafting, canoe, and biking gear. Numerous outfitters in the area are available to take inexperienced whitewater enthusiasts down the river.
Directions: Ohiopyle is in the Laurel Highlands of Southeastern Pennsylvania, about 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. It is close to the corners of both West Virginia and Maryland. Using the Pa Turnpike (I-76) and I-70, take the Donegal Exit (Exit 9) and head south on combined routes 381/711. At Normalville, stay on route 381 toward Ohiopyle. Coming from the south, and southeast on I-68 exit at Keysers Ridge, MD on to Rt. 40 (Old National Pike) heading West toward Uniontown. Take 381 north at Farmington to Ohiopyle. The local area is rural and hilly. Do not count on driving faster than 40 mph on route 381, especially at night. Also, do not plan on doing business in Ohiopyle after 9:00 PM. There is no gasoline available in Ohiopyle, the nearest service station is on Route 40 about 8 miles away so plan accordingly.
While daytime temperatures can be as hot as 90 degrees the humidity is generally low and nights are typically cool. Summer rain and cool periods are common. The water temperature of the Yough remains cool during the heat of the summer.
There are a number of campgrounds, motels and fine restaurants in the area. The Ohiopyle State Park campground (1-888-727-2757 or reserve on line at www.visitPAparks.com ) is located between the start and finish of the race. In addition to the eateries located in Ohiopyle, there are a number of others along highway 40 just 8 miles to the south of Ohiopyle.
Some other camping and lodging accommodations in the area are:
Scarlet Knob (3 miles N on 381) 724-329-5200
Benners Meadow Run (Cabins) 724-329-4097
Tall Oaks (381 S) 724-329-4777
Five Pines (381 S) 724-329-4606
Jellystone (waterslides) 724-455-2929
Outflow (Near Lake) 814-395-3944
Motels:
Yough Plaza 800-992-7238
National Trails Motel 724-329-5531
Mt Summit Inn 724-438-8594
Hopwood Motel 724-437-7591
The Lodge at Chalk Hill 724-438-8880
Ohiopyle House B&B 800-472-3846
Rivers Edge B&B 814-395-5095
Holiday Inn 724-437-2816
Additional Information:
Laurel Highlands
Town Hall-120 E Main St
Ligonier, PA 15658
724-238-5661
Tourist Development Bureau
Fayette County Courthouse
Uniontown, PA 15401
724-438-2501