Clackamas Roaring River Slalom Oregon August 2013

Jon, Kirti and I took boats up and spent time practicing on the slalom course in OC1, OC2, ww kayak, Slalom race kayak, slalom race C1, and C2.   We helped finish setting up the coarse on Friday and practiced some more.  Slalom courses are fantastic for practicing control, precise and efficient techniques.  There are must make moves and it is fun trying to figure out the best approach to make all of the gates.  This slalom event was started several years ago by LCCC member Carl Poston. This race has been put on by volunteers each year.  

Saturday was a day for practice and clinics were offered by other racers. I participated in a K1 clinic and practiced in my solo whitewater boat.  On Sunday we participated in the timed race and then helped in the afternoon with the judging stations and course take-down.   Jon and I race in the OC2(open tandem canoe) and the C2 (decked tandem canoe) categories.  We were pleased with our runs and really had fun with the C2 because the ends were low enough to slide under the gates. Kirti raced in the K1(slalom race kayak) category and and she also jumped in a tandem canoe to race in the OC2 category with Travis.

Hmmm... Which boat to try first?

Jon warming up with a surf in his C1.

Kirti warming up with a surf in the K1.

Jon and Jenny warming up in the C2.

Negotiating an upstream gate at the top of the course.

Jon and Jenny in synce to power through another upstream gate.

Kirti going for the next gate.

Ready to power across the river to gate 22.

Jon and Jenny negotiating a tricky tight offset series of gates.

Kirti loves the light weight feel of the K1.