C-Forum

I have copied here the letter our Committee Chairs have posted on the ACA Open Canoe Slalom Committee Forum today. With the recent cancellation of the California Site we have been fortunate to have Alan Burgmuller step up to the plate with a replacement venue that can host on the same dates. Many of us, myself included can now start reloading vacation plans and travel arrangements. For those of you in the Northeast, I believe Kaz is still planning on hauling a trailer out. Reserve your boat space now if you plan to fly. Nearest Airport is in Missoula. Hope to see you there.

Pat Cleary


From the desk of Connie and Sam, our National Slalom Committee Chairs: As you may have already heard, the ACA Open Canoe Slalom Nationals will not be held in California this year. However, we are very pleased to announce that the ACA Open Canoe Slalom Nationals for 2004 will be held on the Blackfoot river in western Montana July 9th, 10th, and 11th, 2004. The race will be held on the Roundup Rapid on the Blackfoot River approximately 30 miles east of Missoula on Highway 200. Roundup Rapid starts after a long, slow pool, is approximately 500 yards long and builds steadily from slow technical class II -- to faster even more technical class II, to class II+ with the last part of the proposed course solid class III with waves up to 3ft. or more, and some large but friendly holes. The rapid has hundreds of rocks from small to house size. In races held there in the past, it was possible to run the course mostly to completely dry. The river is freeflowing, clean, clear, reasonable warm in early July, with flows for those dates (30 year average) of 2,200cfs to 2,600cfs. Due to are snow pack this year, the flow will be near the lower range. There is no chance of it being too low. The rapid ends just under the Highway 200 bridge, fading into a 100 yard long slow pool.

More information and the official entry form will be available shortly at http://users.bestweb.net/~keech/oc-2004n.htm

We hope to see you at Nationals in Montana,

Sam Montague and Connie Miner
Co-Chairs
ACA Open Canoe Slalom Committee

Does anybody know the reason for the change? I'm moving to CA for the summer b/c of Nationals. Not a Happy Camp...er

Just another grievance. This is Nationals!!! Expert level paddling. Class II is a beginer level. Great of the MT folks to step up and take on this huge last min task, let's go to Big Fork and run the mile. Gates are already in place.

reply for Bob...
Have you ever been to open boat nationals? Of the 4 that I have been to, only the Gull site in 2002 had a difficulty level that was slightly higher than Roundup Rapid on the Blackfoot. I believe the racers will agree it is appropriate as a site for nationals. I have watched the upper slalom at Bigfork and raced in the lower course (too easy, I know) 6 times and even though the water would be lower in early July than it is in May when that race is typically held, I'm not sure it has enough features. Upstream gates were always very few and very difficult. Maybe I'm wrong and it would be a decent site... make your case and put in a bid. I'd be glad to help.
Alan Burgmuller
if you would like to talk some more...
406-363-1199
ACA RACE 2004@hotmail.com

Ok....I'm over it and changing gears to make it to one of the most wonderful places on Earth, Montana. So, since I will now be leaving from CA, if anyone wants to caravan or car pool out, let me know. I will also have some room for boats. Allan, if you need a hand w/ anything, let me know. I will have a small PA system in CA w/ me that I would be able to bring if needed. Bob remoteproductions@yahoo.com

I understand that one can make a slalom course difficult on any type of H2O, but I often hear people's concerns that people are losing interest in OC. I got my butt kicked last year at Nationals, so I know that everyone there is capable of running tougher stretches. All I'm suggesting is in order to keep an interest with current paddlers and to recruit new paddlers we should be putting on a show for folks. To do this, it means that we are competing w/ the likes of what spectators are watching the kayakers do. A good swim is always a crowd pleaser. The everyday spectator does not visually see the difficulty of running gates. The concept of "putting on a show" may be difficult for some to swallow. However, that is what an event is. Without participants and spectators it's just another day on the water with good friends. A day of paddling is a hard sell when you are trying to pickup sponsorships. This is just the opinion of a slalom newby and the 3rd youngest male (27) at last year's nationals. LONG LIVE OCs!!!!!!!

I think the question is not whether this section of the Blackfoot is too easy for national slalom racing or not. The real issue is whether there was going to be open boat racing at all this summer. With the California site going under with such late notice, I think it is very brave of Alan and his volunteers to try to put something together at such a late notice. I thank them for trying.
Last year at nationals, only the California people put together a bid. The issue is not finding the best site. The issue is finding anyone willing to do the work involved in organizing this type of event.

I am not a top racer and don't know their preferences. But from my experience, I enjoy a course that is a challenge, not something you have to worry about taking on water. The St. Francis River southeast of St. Louis is the site of the Missouri Whitewater Championships every March. There is no dam since it is natural flow. The race organizers just have to take whatever water level they can get. This year it was around "zero" inches. It wasn't the ideal level, but the course designer was a master and created a very interesting and challenging course. It was a lot of fun and none of the spectators seemed to mind. I think it was the most fun I have ever had racing. Sure more water could create faster and more exciting runs, but I don't think swimming is necesarily a crowd pleaser.

I plan to attend the Blackfoot races and will be happy with whatever the river and course design holds. I can show up early if you need help Alan. My e-mail is majryan {at- lvnworth {dot- com. (Hope uou can interpret what I just typed.)


BTW, if you haven't attended the MWA St. Francis races, I highly recommend them. Last March was their 37th year and the site is beautiful. It attracts some national racers in both canoe and kayak as well as us average joes. The Boy Scouts perform a community service by hoisting the open boats to the top of the trail and cart our boats back to the starting line. Gotta love those boy scouts!

.....I am definitely coming! Gorgeous.