2010 Aluminum Nationals Results, from CN by Gareth Stevens

CANOE NEWS Summer 2010 Vol 43/2

Left: Amber Parnell, 10, of Louisiana – youngest ever USCA Aluminum Nationals champion – and first winner, with Sara Davis (AR), of the new Junior Women class.

Summer

Vol 43 Issue 2

The magazine for marathon competition paddlers throughout North America

Features: Welcome to Peshtigo 2010 USCA Nationals

Pocahontas: Aluminum Nationals + Big Dog ! Peter Heed on Breaking Up (and hanging on) A Bumper Crop of New Races in 2010

Columns: Nutrition: Vitamin D – Too Good to be True? Lightning & Lightning Safety, and Controlling Aquatic Invasives US $7.50 CAN $7.50

Main photo caption and credit: see Contents page (page 3).

2010 USCA Aluminum Nationals

Pocahontas 2010: USCA Aluminum Nationals & the Big Dog The 2010 USCA Stock Aluminum Canoe Marathon Championships and Arkansas’ Big Dog C2 Pro Race 2010 USCA Stock Aluminum Canoe Marathon Championships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gareth Stevens

uly 3, 2010 saw the return of USCA’s Aluminum Nationals to Pocahontas, AR. They were last held there in 2007. Clif Rickey and the volunteers he assembled put on a great event, and the City of Pocahontas and its businesses are so supportive and welcoming that it is a pleasure for the racers to come back. Just look at the impressive list of sponsors and volunteers on page 14. The races themselves held a lot of excitment including, in the Men Open class, a photo finish - literally! Race director Clif Rickey told Canoe News that the difference between first and second place was the width of the boat number at the front of the lead canoe. Here’s the story as told by the racers:

July 3rd, 2010 Men Open (15 miles) 1 Stephen Lynn (AR) / Casey Rickey (AR) . . . . . . . . . Boat #25 . . . . . 2:04:30 2 Rocky Caldwell (MO) / Jon Webb (MI) . . . . . . . . . Boat #14 . . . . . 2:04:31 3 Aaron Vidusek (IL) / Frank Gray (TX) . . . . . . . . . . Boat #11 . . . . . 2:15:43 4 Scott Schumacher (AR) / Bryan King (AR) – 1st under 24 Boat #24 . 2:18:54 5 David White (AR) / Cody Rickey (AR) . . . . . . . . . . Boat #12 . . . . . 2:20:25 6 Lee Schwartz (AR) / Keith Frazier (AR) . . . . . . . . . . Boat #19 . . . . . 2:24:12 7 Cecil Runyon (IL) / Sharon Runyon (IL) – 1st Mixed Boat #15 . . . 2:30:28

Start of the Men Open and Women Open classes at Current River Beach in Biggers, AR.

Aluminum Nationals: Men Open Jon Webb, Michigan, writes: “Even though the temps are hot in the summer down in Arkansas, the hospitality is always warm. All the racers and their families treat each other like family. It’s really a good place to race with strong competition. “In the 2010 Aluminum Nationals and the Big Dog Pro Race, success was as much about a good race strategy as anything. Both days were hot and we [Jon Webb (MI) and Rocky Caldwell (MO)] knew that we would have to go hard to stay with or beat our main competitors. Ahead of the Aluminum Nationals race, we planned on taking an early lead if we could, but the team of Casey Rickey (AR) and Stephen Lynn (AR) was too fast and strong, so we settled in behind and waited for opportunities to get by them. We did get by several times, but in each case we got passed again as the home court advantage of Casey and Stephen and their strength was too much. About 20 minutes from the end, my partner Rocky started to cramp in his hands and arms. Not wanting to throw in the towel, we rode the 3rd and

Canoe News 43/2–Summer

Below: 10 seconds into the race: Rocky Caldwell in the foreground, Stephen Lynn & Casey Rickey ahead, Aaron Vidusek & Frank Gray, and Teddy Gray, nearest the bank.

5.5 miles from the finish, the two lead teams racing hard, Lynn & Rickey ahead.

4th wake back to rest/recover, planning to make our move and cut a big eddy four minutes from the end to try and get around their wake (see below). Getting over the wake of an aluminum canoe, especially when you are tired is a monumental task! Our plan worked, cutting off two wakes. Now it was a sprint to get over the last one to get even and have a chance to win. We sprinted alongside and then passed them just before the finish. As we did this, we entered a bit of a chute created by the bridge piling. It contained very fast and swirly water. The combination of that water and our wash caused our canoes to come together, and

2010 USCA Aluminum Nationals left me no place to get my paddle into the water as their canoe scraped along and in front of our canoe. Not seeing exactly where the finish line was, I threw a quick rudder to straighten our canoe so we could finish our sprint, which we did, and we pulled ahead again; but, unfortunately, we had already passed the finish line. Proud that we gave it our best effort, we finished in second place, we’re told by a mere 4-6 inches. “The really amazing part happened after this. Rocky, the iron man with the heart of a lion, recovered and went on to race the Men Master class and win it with Dale Burris (AR)! What a good sport Rocky is to fill in for the injured Don Walls!”

Stephen Lynn & Casey Rickey lead Rocky Caldwell & Jon Webb by about 2½ lengths at the end of the long straightway, coming to the final left hand bend at 12:01:08pm.

... and 8 seconds later, cutting to the inside ...

... and six seconds after that ....

... at the finish line a few minutes later: The angle of the shot exaggerates the margin!

Casey Rickey, Arkansas, writes: “I had a enjoyable weekend with some exciting races and several memorable experiences. The aluminum race was a dog fight all the way to the end with Rocky and Jon, with either team never being more than two boat lengths apart. Luckily, Steve and I came out ahead at the finish not knowing until later that we had won. I thought we just edged them out but it was too close to call. They did get their revenge the next morning, though, beating us pretty handily. I may have left it all out on the course the day prior, but Rocky and Jon were just too strong in the Pro Race. These two are great competitors and showed it by coming back so well on the second day of racing. All in all, a great weekend of racing and camaraderie, with a decent turnout and an excellent group of people.” Stephen Lynn, Arkansas, writes: “The finish stands out for me. I didn’t think Jon Webb and Rocky Caldwell could come around us in the final mile, but they did. I thought we were beat at the end, but Casey and I somehow pulled it off. I still don’t know how. I think it has a lot to do with paddling with a 25 year old partner! “Training was very difficult in the period leading up to the races, with heat indexes exceeding 100ºF. It was almost unbearable at times and I don’t think I’ve ever drunk as much as this year.” -----------------------------That was the race up front. Aaron Vidusek (IL) and Frank Gray (TX) had not paddled together prior to this year’s Aluminum Nationals, and managed just a short time on the water together the day before. They had a strong race, coming in just a little over 11 minutes behind the top pair of teams. Frank Gray was impressed with the young paddler from Illinois. “Strong and has a great attitude,” was one of his assessments. “I enjoyed paddling with Aaron,” he said. Just over three minutes behind Vidusek

Canoe News 43/2–Summer

and Gray came the first “Under 24” team of Scott Schumacher (AR) and Bryan King (AR) putting in a strong performance. These are paddlers to watch. Less than four minutes later the team of Lee Schwartz and Keith Frazier crossed the line: Lee Schwartz, Arkansas, writes: “It was a great time for me as I have paddled many years but never raced in a USCA event. It was also a special time for me as my grandparents lived in Biggers, AR which is just up river from Current River Beach where we started the race. I grew up floating the Current

2010 USCA Aluminum Nationals and Eleven Point rivers and duck hunting in the flooded river bottoms of the Black River. My grandparents passed away in the 90s so it had been a while since I had been in the area. I enjoyed just getting to be there. Clifton and his helpers did a great job of making it a great event. It is too bad that more paddlers did not show up to race, as it is a great place to race canoes. Keith and I trained with the Venture Crew in Russellville but need to get a little more distance training in for the next time we race. It was a challenging event which pushed us hard but it was also very rewarding just to participate. I enjoyed

the camaradarie of my fellow paddlers and look forward to giving it another shot in the future.” Keith Frazier, Arkansas “The Aluminum Nationals at Pocahontas was my return to canoe racing after a 35 year hiatus. It’s amazing how much technology has changed the sport (and for the better), but what really stood out to me was the welcome back and camaraderie in the racing community that has remained unchanged. I have to be honest, it was a very emotional moment for me when Lee and I finished the race.”

15 seconds after the start of the Open classes. In the foreground, Cecil & Sharon Runyon, and center of the photo, Scott Schumacher & Bryan King. Just ahead of Cecil is Cody Rickey, sterning for David White.

With 5.5 miles to go, Lee Schwartz and Keith Frazier put in a strong effort in Lee’s first USCA event and Keith’s return to racing after 35 years ... well rested ... More to follow, no doubt.

Canoe News 43/2–Summer

Aluminum Nationals: Men Master Rocky Caldwell, Missouri, writes: “It was great to get to race with Dale Burris in the Men Master class and come away with first place. I felt bad for Don Walls, though. He should have been in my place. I was filling in for Don at the last minute because he was having severe back problems.” Roy Tyrone, Texas, writes: “I was racing in the Men Master class with superstar John Edwards. John is 60 and I am nearly 66, but John is such a great racer I felt like we would probably win. I was going to show John how the two of us could propel a canoe off the starting line. “When the starting signal sounded I paddled at 100%, as hard as I could possibly paddle. After several minutes Dale Burris and Rocky Caldwell had a clear lead. The bow of Jim Short and Doug Pennington’s canoe was a few feet ahead of ours but he was directly behind the lead canoe and he was getting some suction from the lead canoe. Another canoe was to the left of Jim and Doug, and even with us. We were running in about fourth place and I knew then, this race would not be easy. Suddenly the lead canoe veered slightly to the right as Shorty was veering slightly to the left. I aimed the bow of our canoe at the rear of the lead canoe. John picked up the power and instantly we surged into second place. We were now getting suction from the lead canoe. Dale & Rocky and John and I made the cleanest buoy turns. John picked up the pace again for a minute or so and put us solidly on the wake of the lead canoe. “It is very difficult to pass on an upstream leg in fast water. I had picked a place where I thought a pass would be possible and I started to make a move but John called me off. The race had four buoy turns. “The race that had been so competitive a few minutes earlier quickly turned into a two-boat race. The other canoes all dropped back quite a ways. We rode the Rocky and Dale’s wake all the way to the fourth buoy turn. Upper photo copyright © 2010 by Aaron Vidusek Lower photo copyright © 2010 by Don Walls

2010 USCA Aluminum Nationals 2010 USCA Stock Aluminum Canoe Marathon Championships July 3rd, 2010 Men Master (11 miles: one downstream loop, two upstream loops) 1 Dale Burris (AR) / Rocky Caldwell (MO) . . . . . . . . Boat #14 . . . . . 2 John Edwards (FL) / Roy Tyrone (TX) – 1st 60+ . . Boat #17 . . . . . 3 Doug Pennington (MO) / Jim Short (MO) . . . . . . . Boat #21 . . . . . 4 Tave Lamperez (IL) / Gareth Stevens (WI) . . . . . . . Boat #10 . . . . . 5 Clifton Rickey (AR) / Elmore Holmes (TN) . . . . . . Boat #15 . . . . .

1:52:53 1:53:03 1:56:45 1:59:38 2:01:35

Seconds after the Men Master start. From the foreground back: boat # 14: Rocky Caldwell (& Dale Burris); boat # 21 Doug Pennington & Jim Short; boat # 10: Tave Lamperez (& Gareth Stevens); boat # 17: John Edwards & Roy Tyrone; boat # 15: Clif Rickey & Elmore Holmes.

Rocky Caldwell & Dale Burris ahead of John Edwards and Roy Tyrone returning from the first (the downstream) buoy.

Canoe News 43/2–Summer

Dale had previously made three wide buoy turns, so that’s what I was expecting. We were going upstream against a fast current with a left hand buoy turn approaching. I swung wide to the right of Dale to go past the buoy to allow for the current. On this turn, though, Dale made cut turn really tight, keeping their canoe in contact with the buoy for the entire turn. There was no room for us. I should have pushed the bow of our canoe hard into the side of Dale’s canoe, but he is such a good friend I really was trying to avoid any contact. Their canoe dragged the buoy a few feet as they turned. As the stern of their canoe cleared the buoy it popped back with a great force. The bow of our canoe hit the buoy rope and the buoy popped up ... on the wrong side of our canoe! We go back and make the buoy turn again. John turns on the afterburners on the final downstream leg and we finished about 10 seconds behind Dale and Rocky.”

2010 USCA Aluminum Nationals Jim Short, Missouri, writes: “I really think this was one of the best and at the same time a disappointing Nationals for me. The Men Open class was very close the whole way, with a photo finish to top it off. Steve Lynn and Casey Rickey appeared to have it won, and then lost, and then again at the end pulled of a win, by a whisker. My hat’s off to Rocky Caldwell and Jon WEbb for being tough and closing at the end. In the afternoon, I think that was the hardest upstream I’ve ever done in aluminum, because of the shallow bottom and current, combined with high heat and humidity: really a mental, physical challenge that defeated Doug and me. Really good competition with paddlers from Florida and Texas made this race interesting and just proved that it doesn’t matter what you paddle, its still a race. I hope to see more out-of-state paddlers show up next year and find out about good, tough aluminum racing. The Big Dog race had some redemption for Rocky and

Jon as they showed their strength and speed to capture a good margin of victory over Steve and Casey.” Gareth Stevens, Wisconsin, writes: “Well, Mr Short. Tave and I thought you and Doug Pennington did plenty well. We had a great start and even kept up with you, Rocky Caldwell & Jon Webb, and John Edwards & Roy Tyrone ... until the first buoy turn where you took us on the inside and steadily began to pull away. I thought, from time to time, Tave and I might stand a chance of catching you on that first upstream leg, but pretty soon our fight became holding off a strong push by Clif Rickey and Elmore Holmes, who at one point pulled up on our side (over quite a wave). At the perfect moment, Tave and I were able to take advantage of the shallows they were in and get away. As usual Tave ran a steady strong race – all the way through. We just didn’t have whatwe needed to catch you guys. It was the same story at the Big Dog race the next day.

The Men Master lead pack finish the downstream loop and head up past the start/finish line for the two upstream loops: Rocky Caldwell & Dale Burris leading John Edwards & Roy Tyrone with Doug Pennington & Jim short right on their tails at this point.

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“So, if it was the shallow water, heat, and humidity that slowed you down at the Aluminum Nationals, heaven help us at the Peshtigo Nationals if we have deeper water (which we well may) and lower temperatures and humidity.” Tave Lamperez, Illinois, writes: “It was nice to return to a good course and such a well run race. “One interesting part of this race was the morning’s Open class was all downstream and the Master class was one small downstream loop and two larger loops with downstream and upstream paddling. The separation of Open and Master into morning and afternoon races allows the reuse or borrowing of canoes – a nice thought on behalf of the organizer. “Last time in Pocahontas, Gareth and I raced in all three races. Since then, we came to our senses. This year, in 2010, we focused on the Master race on Saturday afternoon and the Pro Race on Sunday. “I was most impressed by the two paddlers who not only raced all three times, but placed very well each time. My hat is off to both Rocky Caldwell and Becky Burris.” Elmore Holmes, Tennessee, writes: “As major USCA events are rare in the Arkansas-Tennessee-Mississippi tri-state area where I live, I’ve been happy to support the Aluminum Nationals during its two visits to Pocahontas, Arkansas, in recent years. “While most of the participants at the Aluminums admit that they prefer their pro boats, they genuinely appreciate the purity of a stock aluminum boat race, in which nobody can say the other guys won because they had a faster boat.” Furthermore, the aluminum boats remain relevant as excellent learning craft: in the many years that I have attended races in this region with the scout groups from northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, I have watched many young paddlers develop into formidable USCA C1 and C2 racers after learning the basics in aluminum canoes. “Because most of my training and racing is done in kayak, I was probably Photos copyright © 2010 by Aaron Vidusek Overall article and layout copyright © 2010 by USCA Individual writings copyright © 2010 as credited

2010 USCA Aluminum Nationals more challenged than most during the Aluminum Nationals /Big Dog weekend. Kayakers have the luxury of a rudder for steering, whereas having to steer a canoe strictly on forward strokes makes marathon canoeing surprisingly similar to another rudderless discipline I competed in (and struggled with) years ago: whitewater slalom. Every time my failure to yell ‘hut’ at the right moment caused my partner (Clifton Rickey) and me to spin off another boat’s wake, I was reminded of the many times in slalom races when I

failed to take the right stroke at the right time and got blown way off course. “Once again, the weekend was rewarding in ways that had little to do with winning and losing. All participants were treated to the beauty and sparkling waters of the Black and Current rivers and found fulfillment in the less tangible aspects of our sport – fitness, camaraderie, and the learning of life lessons. I am grateful to Clifton Rickey and all his volunteers for making this event possible once more.”

Above, Tave Lamperez & Gareth Stevens, in 4th place and, below, Clif Rickey & Elmore Holmes, in 5th, round the buoy at the finish line, and start their final upstream loop.

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Aluminum Nationals: Women Open Ruth Perkins, Arkansas, writes: “I paddled with my mom, Lori Sayger, in the Aluminum Nationals race. This year was her first year of racing and this was the first race we had ever done together (other than the practice race on the course earlier in the year). We started off squirrelly - Mom was new to sterning and had paddled bow in the practice race. Once we got going, we were able to straighten out and ride wakes for several miles. We traded places back and forth with Teddy Gray and Becky Burris for a while before pulling ahead on the wake of a men’s team. We rode that wake for a while and were able to pull ahead by cutting one of the many corners. Mom did an amazing job sterning and made it a great race! I hope to paddle with her again next year.” Roy Tyrone, Texas, writes: “Lori Sayger is a pretty, thin lady. She does not look like the mother of nine children. Lori is not an active racer but she raced in the Open Women class with her superstar daughter Ruth (Sayger) Perkins. Ruth is so strong that no one was going to beat them.”

2010 USCA Aluminum Nationals 2010 USCA Stock Aluminum Canoe Marathon Championships July 3rd, 2010 Women Open (15 miles) 1 Lori Sayger (AR) / Ruth Perkins (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . Boat #22 . . . . . 2:20:13 2 Teddy Gray (TX) / Becky Burris (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . Boat #13 . . . . . 2:21:59

2010 USCA Stock Aluminum Canoe Marathon Championships July 3rd, 2010 Women Master (11 miles: one downstream loop, two upstream loops) 1 Donna Short (MO) / Becky Burris (AR) . . . . . . . . . Boat #20 . . . . . 2:19:49 2 Pat Bayers (FL) / Jeannie Shaffer (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . Boat #16 . . . . . 2:38:59 “What was most satisfying? First, completing all three races and feeling good as well as good and tired. (Yes, I would do it again if there was a reason.) And, second, getting to paddle with three wonderful partners. (That part wasn’t by design, but I am really glad I got to do it.) And finally, getting to see my granddaughter, Amber Parnell, along with her partner, Sarah Davis, become the first USCA Women Junior national aluminum canoe champions.”

Teddy Gray & Becky Burris at the start line, before their Women Open race.

Ruth Perkins (née Sayger) with her mother, Lori Sayger (stern) on their way to winning the Women Open class championship at the USCA Aluminum Nationals.

Becky Burris, Arkansas, writes: “The first time I heard the name Teddy Gray was in 1990 at the Greens Bayou Canoe Race in Houston, Texas. I was engaged to my now husband Dale Burris and it was one of the first canoe races that I ever attended. Although I had been canoeing and kayaking whitewater for several years, I was new to marathon canoe racing and Teddy was already a legend! What stands out? I finally got to race with Teddy after all these years. She is an awesome paddler and I hope I get to race with her again sometime. We didn’t win; we lost to two women, both of whom are my dear friends; I have taught them both; I have raced with them both. Well, I have always said that the best person to be beaten by is someone you also race with! The course was frustrating-do I cut the corner? Do I stay in the current? It was a guess and the only way to know for sure was to see the outcome.

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Teddy Gray (bow) & Becky Burris, with 5.5 miles to go in the Women Open class.

Aluminum Nationals: Women Master

2010 USCA Aluminum Nationals

Donna Short (bow), ruddering beautifully to Becky Burris, Arkansas, writes: make a good, tight buoy turn (nicely set up “I always enjoy racing with Donna Short. by Becky Burris in stern), as they start their What stands out? Well I had already done second, and final, long upstream loop. the morning race, which was about 2 hours and 20 minutes of very hard racing. And I had done two short practice runs on each of the two days before the race. The Master race was going to be another 2 plus hours. At some point during the race, I told Donna that I was really hungry! (Who would think of being hungry in the middle of a canoe race?) Then I told her that was better than me telling her I was 2010 USCA Stock Aluminum Canoe Marathon Championships really tired. I was however really glad to July 3rd, 2010 see the end of that upstream-downstream Men Junior (5.5 miles) course. Oh, and one other thing: ‘You don’t ever rudder in a canoe race.’ Words 1 Jared King (AR) / Christopher Williams (AR) . . . . . Boat #23 . . . . . 0:48:31 of advice from both my husband Dale 2 Nathan White (AR) / Alex Iacampo (AR) . . . . . . . . Boat #18 . . . . . 0:49:04 and friend Stephen Lynn. ‘It ruins all of 3 Mark Sayger (AR) / Philip Sayger (AR) . . . . . . . . . . Boat #26 . . . . . 0:52:47 your speed and stops your momentum.’ Women Junior (5.5 miles) I was complaining after the races about how much trouble I had getting the boat 1 Sarah Davis (AR) / Amber Parnell (LA) . . . . . . . . . . Boat #12 . . . . . 1:00:10 turned and headed back downstream at the upstream buoy on the Master and Big Dog courses. The placement of the Jared King (bow) & Christopher Williams, in the shadow of the road bridge near the buoy made for an assortment of currents, finish, on their way to becoming the first Junior Men Aluminum Nationals champions. shallow water, and an awkward angle. Dale says to me, ‘Yeah, I had to rudder.’ I couldn’t believe it. He ruddered. I wonder why I didn’t think of that!”

Aluminum Nationals: Junior Women and Junior Men Jared King, Arkansas, writes: “The teams from Pocahontas are excellent paddlers and we knew it was going to be a challenge competing against them. The most challenging part was navigating a river we had never paddled before. It was most satisfying being the first team to win the Jr division. “My mantra: ‘There’s going to come a day when I lose a race. It won’t be today.’ ”

Alex Iacampo (bow) & Nathan White , 2nd in the 2010 Men Junior class of the 2010 USCA Aluminum Nationals.

Chris Williams, Arkansas, writes: “Jared pretty much said it all. The river was a challenge to navigate, but we managed to get through the fastest route. I enjoyed having competition in this race; what’s a race without competition? “More wind = more exercise... and more work.” Photos copyright © 2010 by Don Walls Overall article and layout copyright © 2010 by USCA Individual writings copyright © 2010 as credited

Canoe News 43/2–Summer

2010 USCA Aluminum Nationals

USCA thanks the following for their support, sponsorship, encouragement, and hard work: The Pocahontas, Randolph County Volunteers • Clif Rickey for his tireless work from the bid onwards: planning, coordinating, and making this event happen. Judy Rickey and Brenda White for their help with race registration. • Linda Collins-Smith, President of the Randolph County Tourism Association, who has backed Clif’s bids and made available the services of the RCTA, and to Dewrell Thompson, Director, RCTA, and to Bill Masiongale for all their work in support of the event. • Tony Ewbanks, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, the Pocahontas City Fire Department, and Medic One Ambulance Services for all their help with safety, including having the safety boats available.

The Pocahontas, Randolph County Sponsors Archer Realty Awe-View BancorpSouth Bank of Pocahontas Barnes Signs and Graphics Carter City & County Realty Clay County Electric Cooperative, Corp. Coldwell Banker, Pocahontas Office Combined Media Group Corning Savings & Loan Association, Pocahontas Branch Days Inn & Suites, Pocahontas Iberia Bank Martin Agency Pocahontas Insurance Agency Randolph County Farm Bureau Rndolph County Chamber of Commerce Sears Shady River Cottages on the Eleven Point River TLC Health Care Canoe News 43/2–Summer

Arkansas’ Big Dog Race Arkansas’ Big Dog C2 Pro Race Jon Webb, Michigan, writes: “The Big Dog Pro Race, the top Pro Race in Arkansas, was on Day 2. Rocky and I again went in with the same game plan and it had the same result. We trailed after the start as Casey Rickey and Stephen Lynn showed their speed, plus this time we were closely followed by John Edwards and Roy Tyrone. “All three canoes seemed to be in contention to win today. After what had happened yesterday, Rocky and I decided to make an all-out push to take the lead just after the first buoy turn. This worked in shaking the Edwards/ Tyrone team, but now we were being ridden by Rickey and Lynn. Working our way upstream we noticed that the Corbin they were using ran faster in the water next to the shoreline, while we went better about 15-20 feet away from shore. This seemed to give us the break we needed. They were staying with us, but they were working harder to do so. We took advantage of this situation on the next long, very shallow corner. “We waited for them to expend lots of energy sprinting up to us, and then we really hit it hard with our GPS telling us we had gone from working hard to go upstream in the low to mid 6mph range to a sustained 7.2mph clip. I said to Rocky at that point, ‘Seems we have dropped them. Time to go into a hard cruise and try to put distance on them before they recover.’ ” “Today, unlike yesterday, we were able to pull away and win by several minutes. After the race, they told us that this move was the one they had the hardest time recovering from.” Rocky Caldwell, Missouri, writes: “The Big Dog Pro Race went really well for Jon Webb and me because he was in a pro boat that he is used to paddling. It was nice to come away with first in that race, after the close finish the day before.” Roy Tyrone, Texas, writes: “I could see tape around John Edward’s ribs through his tee shirt. He never Overall article and layout copyright © 2010 by USCA Individual writings copyright © 2010 as credited

offered any excuses and maybe it did not affect him. The only comment he made was when we were trimming the boat for the Big Dog Pro Canoe Race on Sunday. If you can believe it he was using a 53” Zaveral Power Surge in the bow of the boat. I had placed my longest paddle behind his seat and I asked him if he wanted to try the shorter paddle. He said a shorter paddle would cause him to use more body rotation and he thought that would hurt his ribs.

Arkansas’ Big Dog C2 Pro Race 2010 Arkansas’ Big Dog C2 Pro Race July 4th, 2010 1 Rocky Caldwell (MO) / Jon Webb (MI) . . . . . . . . . Boat #37 . . . . . 2 Stephen Lynn (AR) / Casey Rickey (AR) . . . . . . . . . Boat #33 . . . . . 3 Roy Tyrone (TX) / John Edwards (FL) . . . . . . . . . . Boat #42 . . . . . 4 Jim Short (MO) / Doug Pennington (MO) . . . . . . . Boat #41 . . . . . 5 Gareth Stevens (WI) / Tave Lamperez (IL) . . . . . . . . Boat #34 . . . . . 6 Clifton Rickey (AR) / Elmore Holmes (TN) . . . . . . Boat #40 . . . . . 7 Ruth Perkins (AR) / Becky Burris (AR) – 1st Women Boat #39 . . . 8 Nathan White (AR) / Sara Davis (AR) – 1st Mixed Boat #36 . . . . .

“Since John showed no interest in my longest paddle after we trimmed the boat, I took the longer paddle out of the front of the canoe and replaced it with a short paddle in the rear of the canoe as a back up for my paddle. A few minutes into the Pro Race John said this paddle is too long and he reached behind his seat. When he realized the other paddle was not there, he paddled on with the 53.

1:39:24 1:41:24 1:44:16 1:46:33 1:48:44 1:50:38 1:52:31 1:52:44

Start of the Big Dog Race.

“I learned a lot in the race. At one point we were going upstream on a shallow corner and we were bogging down. John told me to move over. I started moving to deeper water and he told me to move the other way. It had never occurred to me that if you were bogging down in shallow water you could move the canoe to even shallower water and go faster. “Don Walls was at the race. He had hurt his back but he was hoping to race. The pain was too great and he was just a spectator. Don is a great competitor and he would have been in the thick of the competition if he had been healthy.

Rocky Caldwell (bow) & Jon Webb lead Stephen Lynn (bow) & Casey Rickey. Becky Burris, Arkansas, writes: “The Big Dog Pro Race was the greatest John Edwards (bow) & Roy Tyrone, lead Doug Pennington (bow) & Jim Short. fun. I raced with Ruth Sayger Perkins. We were doomed paddling against a field of very talented men’s teams. However, Ruth is incredibly strong so we managed to be right in the thick of things at the first buoy turn which came during the first 10 minutes or so of the race. Then part way into the first upstream segment, we made a very nice ferry move or two, ran a line tight along the bank, and managed to pass one of the men’s teams and come right up on Photos copyright © 2010 by Aaron Vidusek

Canoe News 43/2–Summer

Arkansas’ Big Dog C2 Pro Race

another. But, of course, they were faster Ruth Perkins (bow) and Becky Burris, who came seventh in July 4 Arkansas’ Big and soon after passed us back.” Dog C2 Pro Race – Ruth’s second, Becky’s third race of the weekend. Ruth Perkins, Arkansas, writes: “The next day I paddled with Becky Burris in the Big Dog Pro Race. The pair of us have had much more experience paddling together than Mom and I (a few years worth). It was good to know I had an experienced stern paddler for all of the upstream racing. We gained on the men’s team in front of us several times and even passed them while going upriver because of Becky’s experience and river-stealth. Once the men started going back downstream, however, we fell behind and could not catch back up. Sara Davis (bow) and Nathan White paddle the Big Dog race. We duked out the rest of the race with Nathan White and Sarah Davis and had to work hard for it. “I got some good lessons on paddling technique in both races and had a lot of fun! I look forward to competing in these races next year!” Rocky Caldwell, Missouri, writes: “The City of Pocahontas and the Rickeys did a great job organizing the race. I hope to see it back there in the near future.”

Canoe News 43/2–Summer