OC Slalom Nats

[semdoug]

Not really Doug... do you know Jim & Jan Bollerman from OR?

http://ocs.whitewater-slalom.us/oc-reps.htm

I'd highly consider traveling out there and making a vacation out of it. That's kind've how many of us do it... the problem during the dead of summer is... there's not much to nothing else to paddle in most regions this time of year. Granted there might be other things to go do and see but... well... you know boaters. When Rob (aka the California Kid) was going to host the race in CA way back when there actually seemed to be quite a bit of interest. Locally speaking there were plans to possibly even have two or three people drive out with a truck and trailer full of boats to share and the others would fly out there. Could this happen in your region? My guess would be yes due to more rivers and far more to see and do other than paddling. I can think of at least 100 things to do and see between here and there.

Which brings me to this point... would I drive out there to spend five days just hanging out on the race course? Nope. Would I drive out to spend about three days on the course and then be able to do other things with like minded and fun people? It's more than likely I would. For me this pretty much applies anywhere Nationals would go... for me. On the regret meter of Nationals I've missed the two that stand out would be Jonquiere and Montana... but I had other personal/family things goin' on that held bigger priorities at those times. For me (with a wife and child) summer is actually the worst time for this event... there's just a lot less going on at our homestead in the late spring and early fall.

I'd encourage you to get in touch with Jim & Jan and at the least explore some possibilites for hosting it... they've been to a lot of Nationals all over North America, they're long time OCS committee reps and they should be able to give you a better sense of what the dealio is.

Hi Craig,

No I don't know the Bollermans. I'm talking myself into at least exploring the possibility of having Nationals out here. In the next few weeks I'll contact the Bollermans along with a few local clubs and racing organizations to see what the interest level is. What year are we talking about? 2011?

Yes, I think Nationals could happen out here but there may be some concerns. The good beer and food would be an added bonus for those making the journey from back east. There are a number of annual race sites in WA within two hours of Seattle where they could be held. Not sure about OR, I only know of one race there. Also, BC has a race site not far from Vancouver near Chilliwack, BC. The beauty of places like Wausau is the downtown or urban nature of the race venue. I would imagine you have spectators who just happen to discover the race or see it advertised and come check out the action because it is in town and convient. If we look at races as more than just racing but additionally as a way to promote the sport then that aspect may be missed here. I'm not sure of the urban race possibilities here. I think Spokane and Bend, OR may have in- town whitewater but don't know if there is a race scene in those locations.

I'm hoping other NW boaters on the forums more actively racing than me can provide some input on this. I bought a C1 slalom boat last year and have been unable to actually make it to a race due to other commitments, being a 47 YO, middle aged returning college student doesn't help either.

Good luck at the Wausau Nationals.

Steve

[cbcboat]

As for spectators, how much of a concern is it really? I get the growth of the sport aspect, but don't really think that if someone just stumbled upon a race they would say to themselves 'wow that looks fun I think I will go buy an OC'. The growth of the sport comes more from within the paddling community already- flatwater folks getting into WW or K boaters trying the C. I know very few if any paddlers that didn't already paddle before they started WW. My point is, yes its great to have an in town venue but I don't think its necessary, though the big bonus would be sponsors or maybe lack thereof if the race isn't close enough to a town that may have interest in supporting such an event. I've heard of but never been to the Chilliwack course, don't they do the Junior CA nationals on that course? Probably a great site. In MT we don't even have a paddle club that really exists, especially not a canoe specific club.
B

[semdoug]

I guess my experience is atypical. Happening upon a race is exactly how I became interested in whitewater and slalom, though mainly C1 thanks to Lugbill and Hearn during the early 80s.

I agree that considering the spectator aspect is not a major concern but only something to consider. By no means a deal breaker.

I went up to the Chilliwack course last year for a few hours to watch some of the Tamihi Five O OC slalom. There is a forum member from BC that I think had a hand in organizing it. I believe the course is maintained by the Chilliwack Center of Excellence. I think this would be a good location. Not sure but I think there are two alternatives; an upper harder course and a lower easier course on the same stretch of river.

Steve

[yarnellboat]

That's me. I organized the Tamihi Five-0 OC slalom last year at Chilliwack, BC, an hour east of Vancouver. This year (Sept 19-20) will be the 2nd annual.

The logistics of the race are put together by the racers from Chilliwack Centre of Excellence slalom club (affailiated with & insured by Canoe/Kayak BC). The participants - we had about 30 in year 1, but expect to grow this year - are mostly weekend-warrior class II+ river runners from the local canoe club, but some others, like the Bollerman's from Portland, did come by with race boats, which was great.

Steve, you should've said hello and grabbed a boat!

Tamihi is a permanent course that regularly hosts a variety of organized slalom races. It's probably easy to Google images of it.

Depending on water levels, they can set a variety of configurations for length and difficulty. I ran Tamihi yesterday, but at July levels I couldn't concern myself with gates - we do the canoe race for rec boaters in September when there's not much flow (and also right before the Nooksack race of the NW Racers League, hoping some of us from here would here would then go there).

The idea of the T50 race is just to do something fun, promote ww canoeing around Vancouver, and hopefully to get more people in the Pacific Northwest region paddling together. It doesn't have anything to do with actual racing.

However, the nationals would get some spectators from that crowd, and possibly some participants in citizen races or other rec events. There is a ww canoeing community to tap into. So, the Chilliwack is probably a contender site. But I didn't vote for it in the other thread, because it only matters if the racers are willing to show up.

Pat.

Here's the T50 website, such as it is (i.e., if it works for you). Any webmasters out there who want to volunteer to re-do the buttons and fix some table-width issues? Learning/doing the web stuff was the hardest part of organizing this race.

http://www3.telus.net/~soloboat/

[Craig Smerda]

Here's the T50 website... http://www3.telus.net/~soloboat/

I'd suggest posting some pictures/video (youtube links or embedded) of last years race and when it's over... this years race on the website. If people can see the course and what there is to offer... it might stir up enough interest.

[philcanoe]

seems to me the problem isn't as much the length of boat, although two lengths (over-n-under 4meters) would help some, but more so about rating the paddler.... instead of REC and RAC (recreation and race) I'd like to see the winner of a REC class booted on up to the RAC class... cutting races to two days for slalom would be nice, and a downriver run on Friday would make it easier to host a 3day event... allowing three classes a day, you still go home tired... and maybe allow a 7th event - if you do the combined - that might help with generating some extra capital

[Craig Smerda]

FWIW... this years OCS rules meeting was the best one I've ever been to... well run, constructive, calm, rational and productive.

Much thanks to everyone involved!

[cbcboat]

I've only been to a couple of Nationals, but of those I've been to this one was top notch. Well run, awesome course, pretty good weather ad the team races that were put together at the last minute were a blast. And the fact that the downriver wasn't a flatwater race was great. Well done Midwest crew, and thanks a ton for all the effort to make it a memorable year! Now to just win that boat
B

[Louie]

Upper Green, people who don't race or even wouldn't watch it could have something to do and yet still see some people they never get to see. Ocoee runs Green runs Hiawassee runs Nannty runs that is in a dry year and all with in 2 and a 1/2 hour drive of each other max. This year on the race weekend everything but the really super small and mirco creeks ran. If people only go to race have it where ever you want, if you want to make a multipurpose road trip and have it in the dead of Summer sound to me like it is either the Southeast with quite a few river to do and close to most of the raceheads or Colorussia or Califorina, where there is hardly no raceheads or single stickers and the river are a long way apart from each other.
As far as the number of classes and type of boats, lenghts and all that. Well you stick racers can fight it out amongest yourselfs. However from a totaly casual observier, it looked like there were more classes than they were racers

[Louie]

Or you could have it on the narrows and everyone who made it to the bottom would be a winner........................ Andrew would proberly stop and hang out in the cave below chief.

[Mikey B]

It sure seems like the Yough area would be a great choice...there are a lot of nice runs near from mild to wild for interested parties.

[Craig Smerda]

The quest for the "Cast Iron Bathtub" class.



After numerous adult beverages at an undisclosed location directly across the street from a cheese factory in central Wisconsin during the summer of 2007 Johnny Kaz and myself secretly began plotting to add one more additional class to the ACA OCSlalom Championships that would open up the doors to an exciting new craft for slalom racing, to challenge the competitors, the safety personnel, conventional thinking... and to bring the number of availible classes to an even "40" which just sounds so much better than "39" does.

We began by testing existing bathtub designs that we were able to procure from homes that were being torn down or remodeled and we made quite a few friends within the local plumbing community. We were also fortunate enough to get a tour of the R&D lab at the Kohler factory. The fine folks at Kohler Fixtures were even kind enough to allow Kaz and myself to use their on site wave pool, water slides and lazy river. We were even allowed to give one of their tandem models a shakedown session together. I must admit... Kaz is quite the tandem partner in a bathtub and if you ever get the chance to join him don't miss out on the opportunity. It was quite the experience and we both gained a tremendous amount of knowledge into which hydrodynamics would be ideal for racing these beasts... and how to keep them and ourselves sparkling clean.

Please don't think for even a moment that there wasn't a great deal of debate between Kaz and myself on how to get this class added or what type of tubs should be allowed to race in it. I was more inclined to keep the class open only to commercially availible production cast iron tubs while John was pushing me hard for lightweight materials like titanium and a variety of alloy's being allowed... but that's Kaz for you... he hates things that are heavy... even conversation. John finally caved in when I implied to him that the ladies actually enjoy the elegant feel of the fine ceramic coatings that are availible in soft earthen hues from most manufacturers and that for the unsponsored privateer it would be far too cost prohibitive to duplicate in one's garage or workspace. We literally bickered for months over tedious little issues such as the amount of required minimal flotation and whether or not the tub must maintain it's original fixtures or not and then there was the "specs"... oh those darned specs!!!

After arduous months of emailing, faxing and calling we settled on the following specifications for class OB1 to present to the ACA OCS Committee for approval at this years race. Below are the rules we submitted.

An OB1 (Open Bathtub Solo) can be any length, width, or weight, made of cast iron, and made by any manufacturer. Rodeo bathtubs that meet the specifications for open-bathtub rodeo competition are allowed in the OB1 class.

All fixtures such as faucets and grab handles and all flotation used for the race not including paddles, soap or shampoo containers, unattached portage yokes or other removable equipment such as a rubber drain stopper are allowed but not required.

Depth shall not exceed 36 inches at a point within one foot of the center tub length, measured vertically from the highest point to the outside bottom, not including the claw feet. The gunwale shall form a smooth curve or series of compound curves and be sexy.

Width of the gunwale and tumblehome shall not exceed 1.5 inches (plus or minus 1/4th inch), measured horizontally from the extreme outside of the hull or outwale to the inside of the inwale. (This does not apply to handicapped accessible hand rails or devices that would allow participation of those with physical limitations)

Width of the outwale shall not exceed 4.5 inches measured horizontally from the adjacent hull to the outside of the outwale. Width of the inwale shall not exceed 1.5 inches measured horizontally from the adjacent hull to the inside of the inwale except where it merges into or is under possible decks.

Length of decks: decks (soap and shaving trays) cannot be longer than 36 inches measured from the end of the faucets, or closer than 24 inches to the center of the tub. Combined length of both decks cannot be more than 46 percent of tub length (54 % of bathing tub length must be open). No part or attachment (such as soap dishes, rubber ducks, washcloths or bath toys) may extend more than one inch above the tubs gunwale or decks.

There shall be no devices to remove water other than bailing scoops, wash cloths or sponges. Pulling the drain stopper is not permitted.

There shall be no devices to assist portaging other than carrying yokes, pads, tumplines, and bow and stern lines. Adding caster wheels to the tubs feet is not permissable.

Flotation is used to protect the paddler, the equipment, safety personnel and bystanders who may offer assistance, yet should not be so excessive that the open bathtubbing tradition is compromised. There must be enough permanent flotation (air bags excluded) to float the tub horizontally if the tub is full of water. Flotation shall be no more than six inches from the centerline of the tub. Side flotation may be installed under possible inwales for added comfort (maximum 1.5" thickness). Flotation shall not be arranged to impede the flow of water toward the bottom of the tub. Airbags that extend beyond possible decks must be deflated such that the entire top surface of the bags remains below the inwales. Air bags under decks can be inflated up to the deck.

The tub shall not be covered by any device or material such as a shower curtain other than the tubs normal seats, thwarts, decks and flotation as limited above.

There shall be no attachment to the exterior of the tub between the waterline and the gunwale other than safety lines, grab handles or shower heads.

Safety lines of at least 3" diameter and 60ft of length, or grab-loops made of rope of at least 1" diameter stainless cable that an average adult hand can easily slip into shall be attached to each end of the bathtub.

Length of the bath tub is measured along the centerline of the hull... which really doesn't matter because there is no minimum or maximum length rule.

It is not permissible to make the tub meet the unrequired dimensions by the addition of taped-on extensions or by similar means. The tub should be designed to and remain within, the unrequired dimensions. To be permissible, corrections must be of a permanent nature except where applied to repair damage during an event, and must in no case constitute a potential safety hazard.

Competitors who have personal sponsors may display commercial publicity on their bathtubs and accessories.

That dark and stormy night during the rules committee meeting John and I sat there quietly and patiently until it was time to bring up "new business". John quickly fired up his Mac and flipped on his power point while I set up the screen. We showed the committee our brief pointed proposal, our demographical analysis showing how adding the class will improve the number of competitors the event could potentially draw and we closed with a short two minute video highlighting our exploits and travels from around the globe narrated by James Earl Jones showcasing extreme creek bathtubbing, freestyle bathtubbing and bathtub polo. The committee was shocked... jaws were dropped... they were utterly speechless. John and I both smiled... John gave me a wink... I blew him a kiss. The committee's chair promptly asked us to leave the tent so they could convene and discuss what they had just witnessed. We sat silent at the waters edge... waiting... wondering... and hoping. John said a brief Hindu prayer. I crossed all of the fingers on my good hand and most of my toes. A small child was sent from the tent to fetch us. John and I walked back into the tent... it was silent... committee members were stoic. The chair rose from her chair. It was still silent. She drew a deep breath. The tension under the canvas was thick. She held her index finger to her chin and tapped on it making me quite jealous of that ability I once enjoyed. Silence. Her mouth opened... then closed again. John nervously bit his fingernails. Then she stepped back and said... APPROVED. John and I were overwhelmed... balloons floated down from the top of the tent... fireworks exploded... a unicorn carrying a leprechaun appeared. Tears streamed down my face. It was magical. Our new class was now a part of the greatest spectacle in paddlesports. We high fived both hands and were carried upon the shoulders of other covert bathtubbers from the tent straight over to the VFW to celebrate. What a glorious day.

So ladies and gentlemen... get busy and start getting your tubs ready for the 2010 ACA Open Canoe (& Bathtub) Slalom Nationals to be held at.... oh... wait...

[Louie]

Let me get this right, you and some guy are takin baths together. I guess it is a log cabin republican thing.

[kaz]

Ahh, the web we weave. Nice story!
Craig, now don't go tellin' folks about my idea for genetically modified beef cows.
Jkaz

[Stingray]

Is that the formula to reduce global warming and a high qualify fertilizer at the same time.
I thought that was Al Gore idea.
Spawning in the manure.