USCA Nationals in Newaygo Raises the Bar by Gareth Stevens

USCA Nationals in Newaygo, MI Set to Raise the Bar by Gareth Stevens

Scene 1: The Bid

no accidental committee! The team has been carefully orchestrated to On a cold, snow-laden day in January, make sure that it contains the right 2010, four guys from Newaygo, MI people: the city representative in Scott present a bid to hold the United States Faulkner, the State representative Canoe Association’s National Canoe in Dave Lorenz, the race expert in & Kayak Championships on the Mus- Martin Ecker, and the host in Powers kegon River from Croton Dam Pond to Outdoors represented by Brett PowNewaygo in Michigan. ers. Not present at the bid is Gabriel The conference room in the Hilton, Slominski of Powers Outdoors, instruOakbrook Terrace, some 20 miles mental in putting this group together. southwest of O’Hare Airport, in IlThe four are up against a team from linois, is packed with USCA delegates Warren, PA which has held successful and members from all over – from Nationals on the Allegheny River in Florida to Washington State. 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009 (causing Newaygo has never held a USCA Jim Decker of the Warren Chamber Nationals – a six day series of events to quip, “It’s an odd year; it must be ranging from sprints to orienteering to time for the USCA.”) Warren knows the (unofficial) biathlon and three days how to mount a Nationals. Its commuof marathon racing. But for five years nity has volunteers well versed in the now, Martin Ecker has run the Power routines, and Warren is fully expecting Paddle, an event which has become a an easy nod through. popular fixture on the Michigan racing Warren is in for a surprise. circuit. Ecker’s race is sponsored by Powers Outdoors, a multi-generational The multi-media presentation of family-owned business that started as Newaygo and the Muskegon River, the a haberdashery in 1941 and morphed facilities and support that Newaygo into a successful outdoor, paddling-fo- promises, the enthusiasm that the four cused business in the 1980s and ’90s. Newaygans convey, blows the delegates away. Newaygo wins the bid. The four guys from Newaygo are

Big USCA/Newaygo News Item #1: Prize Money Major prize monies for USCA C1, C2 (3x27) and ICF Kayak. Equal awards, men & women. Payouts as follows: C2 Men Open 1st: $1000; 2nd: $500; 3rd: $250 4th-10th - full race fee refund. C2 Women Open 1st: $1000; 2nd: $500; 3rd: $250 4th-10th - full race fee refund. C2 Mixed Open 1st: $1000; 2nd: $500; 3rd: $250 4th-10th - full race fee refund. C1 Man Open 1st: $500; 2nd: $250; 3rd: $125 4th-10th - full race fee refund. C1 Woman Open 1st: $500; 2nd: $250; 3rd: $125 4th-10th - full race fee refund. ICF K1 Man Open 1st: $500; 2nd: $250; 3rd: $125 4th-10th - full race fee refund. ICF K1 Woman Open 1st: $500; 2nd: $250; 3rd: $125 4th-10th - full race fee refund.

Main photo and inset: Lining up for the start of the C2 race, Power Paddle 2010 – on the 2011 USCA Nationals course: a perfect venue for large, exciting starts.

Elite kayakers Austin Schwinn – running – and Matt Streib – taking out – at the Potato Rapids Dam portage, Peshtigo, 2010. Expect to see the best, again, in Newaygo: August 9-14, 2011.

The finish line area of the 2011 USCA Nationals course with camping areas, race headquarters, and finish line.

Power Paddle 2010 – on the 2011 USCA Nationals course: the C1 event, at the base of the Croton Dam portage.

Big USCA/Newaygo News Item #2: Major Sponsorship — Big Benefits Deftly leveraging the opportunity to host USCA’s Nationals, Newaygo has raised in excess of $35,000 in cash and in-kind for ... • Media promotion and coverage to publicize USCA and the event. • Prize money to boost attendance and attract elite athletes. ... and another $30,000+ for infrastructure and other projects that will serve not only this year’s USCA Nationals, but Muskegon River-centered community events of all kinds for years to come, including ... • Permanent signs at all city entrances and street banner cables. • Finish line upgrades at Henning Park, including PA systems for finish line announcements. • A city-wide wi-fi project (sparked by USCA’s request for race area wi-fi as in Peshtigo, WI in 2010). • Boat launch upgrades. • “Riverstock” – the launch of an annual music and food festival, to occur every year on the second weekend in August. • Two afternoons/evenings with live music & beer tent. • Combination of “green” themes & river stewardship, and reflections of Woodstock. In its 43 year history, the United States Canoe Association has, since its inaugural race on July 6, 1968 on the South Fork, Cumberland River in Oneida, TN, had bigger and smaller National Championships. In the last decade, the biggest Nationals was in New Hampshire. Top photo © 2010 by Google, Inc; lower photo © 2010 by Gabriel S Slominski (www.PowersOutdoors.com).

Big USCA/Newaygo News Item #3: Kids – All Week, $5

Anna Tompkins, kayak, and Jackie Stone, canoe, in Junior sprints, Peshtigo, 2010.

Flat Race Fee for Youth $5, Total. Youth get to race all week long for a flat $5 total race fee: Adult/Youth Sprints, Orienteering, the “fun, unofficial” Biathlon Championship, Youth Sprints (up to 5 races), plus three Marathon days – all for $5. Awesome!

Dallas Johnson, in Bantam canoe sprints, Peshtigo, 2010.

Nick McGrory & Isaak Ridge, followed by Alex Iacampo (hidden) & Nathan White, C2 Junior sprints, Peshtigo, 2010. Photos copyright © 2010 by Robert Brumm (Shoot-To-Thrill Photography) – www.shoottothrillphoto.net

The Hanover Nationals were memorable for, among other things, a great PA system and Peter Heed’s full tilt, breathless race commentating, bringing a level of excitement to the spectators, not all of whom could see clearly what was happening on the river. They were also memorable for the more than 500 paddlers who participated.

June 12-13, 2010: the 6th Power Paddle, where Martin Ecker is getting a record turnout: more than a hundred paddlers have turned up. True to Michigan tradition, and arguably a puzzle piece in the picture of Michigan’s vibrant paddling scene, there is prize money. $3500 of it.

Big USCA/Newaygo News Item #4: Free Spaghetti! Free Friday Night Spaghetti Dinner. USCA’s traditional Friday night spaghetti dinner – compliments of Coles Quality Foods, well-known national producer of garlic bread. (Coles will also provide the Racer Packets).

Now, Team Newaygo had given Team Newaygo has set out to bury that no hint of prize money ... a conrecord. troversial subject in some of the traditional die-hard amateur quarters Scene 2: Update of the USCA ... but it had not escaped notice that the biggest Nationals of the Fast forward a year, to a cold, snowdecade, in Hanover, NH, had featured laden day in January, 2011. Scott Faulkner gets ready to present a prog- prize money – not the only factor that ress report to the USCA’s Annual Meet- contributed to its success, but undoubting in a jammed conference room at the edly a factor. Airport Holiday Inn, in Charlotte, NC. But wait, let’s first back up a little, to

In Hanover, in 2002, prize money was 5-deep in C1 Man Open, 5-deep in C1

Man Master, 5-deep in C1 Man Senior, 3-deep in C1 Woman Open, and 2-deep in C1 Woman Master. No C2 or K. A total of 162 C1s lined up for the starts! Hmm. Fast forward again to North Carolina, specifically after lunch on Saturday, January 15, 2011, to Scott Faulkner, now ready with his Powerpoint presentation.

In a tight finish, Calvin Hassel (46) edges out Serge Corbin (53) in a spectator-thrilling culmination to the 2010 USCA C1 Man National Championship in Peshtigo, WI. Andy Triebold (34) – off camera – came third. The level of competition high, and intense.

Big USCA/Newaygo News Item #5: Greater Depth of Canoe Competition for True National Championships Open Class National Championships for C2 Men, C2 Women, C2 Mixed, C1 Man, C1 Woman In a pivotal decision at its Annual Meeting in Charlotte, NC, January 14, 2011 and reversing a trend to an ever greater number of smaller and smaller classes, with “National Champions by the score” – USCA has restored prestige to the concept of a “USCA National Champion” for canoe classes. Starting with the Newaygo Nationals, there will only be one National Champion paddler/ team for USCA C1 and C2 (3x27) racing specs, for each gender class and the mixed C2 class. All ages will start together (unless sheer numbers require heats). Recognition will be given to “age group” champions according to actual age – another break from past practice where paddlers could choose to “race down” an age group, if they wished. Plans are being drawn up for a similar step forward for the kayak classes.

And the kayaker is Sonja Gilman (50), winning the K1 Unlimited Woman Open Championship.

It is masterful!

Women’s Interests Committee and Screen by screen, Faulkner reels off one of her missions has been to promote equal prizes for women. She milestone after milestone, accominterrupts the speaker, walks over to plishment after accomplishment, him, gives him a big hug, and says a in the preparation for USCA’s 2011 Nationals. Technology resources are heartfelt “Thank you!” in place – new race infrastructure is I wish I’d had my camera. ready – safety team & emergency Look to all the sidebars that punctuplanning, � check – $19,350 raised ate this article for more details of the for city event hosting infrastrucbig news items for the 2011 USCA ture, $9,500 for race launch site National Championships (and we upgrades – $5000 grants from each may soon, I hear, be calling this of ChoiceOne Bank and Spectrum year’s event the ChoiceOne Bank Health to subsidize lowered fees Spectrum Health USCA National for youth and provide other great Canoe & Kayak Championships). benefits – $44,850 raised from other businesses – the spaghetti dinner Scene 3: Newaygo sponsored by Coles – a $15,000 Fast forward now to August 2011. donation for media coverage – the Been to the USCA Nationals before? new “Riverstock” festival – the If so, you know the events to expect. promise of lowered race fees based The 2011 registration form will be on additional funding success. The posted by mid March. You can get an list goes on. idea of what is on offer now by lookAnd then there’s the announcement ing at last year’s form at http://tiny. of prize monies for USCA C1, C2 cc/vl54i and noting these differences: 3x27, and K1-ICF classes! And that (a) The USCA C1 and C2 (3x27) the prizes will be equal for women classes have been reorganized: see and men. the sidebar to the left. At this point, I witness something I have never seen at a USCA Annual Meeting. The President, Janet Perry, has for nearly a decade chaired the

Big USCA/Newaygo News Item #6: Great race courses!

Superlative race courses - and the opportunity to check them out at the “Pre-Nationals” – the 7th Annual Power Paddle on June 18-19 hosted by Powers Outdoors ... Sprints take place on Croton Dam Pond. Electric power has been installed for the boat dock/shelter (timing location). Picnic tables & other seating will be set up and food vendors will be there all week including breakfast time on the three marathon days. A regular shuttle service to/from Croton will be on hand, and possibly a shuttle service to/from Newaygo (10-15 mins west). Marathons start on Croton Dam Pond, with a 4-mile tour of the islands before racers return to the dam to portage to the Muskegon River, then paddle 1213 miles through a scenic mix of residential and state land, along high sand banks and wooded forest to the Newaygo finish line. The all-downstream course has current (typically 3 mph) and clean, clear water, mostly flat but with some Class 1 riffle, and a mix of deep (3-4 feet) and shallow stretches: a great river reading challenge! Satellite maps © 2010 by Google, Inc

Big USCA/Newaygo News Item #7: Yet more events! Above: the marathon race course from Croton Dam Pond to Newaygo. Below: Croton Dam Pond, site of the sprint events and of the marathon starts.

Amateur and non-sanctioned paddling events throughout the week! A GREAT CHANCE for area residents, spectators, and visiting non-Nationalsracers to get kids and family involved during the Newaygo Nationals! Costume Paddle! Relay Race! “DamDown” Race! SUP Race! and more...

USCA Nationals 2010 Above: C2 Mixed: Marc Gillespie & Holly Reynolds; Left: Connie Cannon (C1), and Sonja Gilman (K1); Right: a K2 Mixed team racing in the K2 Men class: Ellen Roy & Marsh Jones.

each be official Trial Events – mean- race course, with many C1, C2, K1, ing that if there are seven or more K2 and SUP classes. participants, they become a National The USCA also hosts the USACK Championship the following year. Marathon Nationals, featuring ICF Never been to the USCA Nationals? (Olympic-style) kayaks. USACK is the Here’s an overview: National Olympic Committee for paddling in the United States. Tuesday: • Adult & Adult/Youth Sprints (500m) (C1, C2, and K events, many age group divisions) • National ParaCanoe Sprint Championships for Paddlers with Physical Disabilities (500m) – ParaKayak and ParaVa’a (outrigger) – solo events Wednesday:

And as more race and registration details, lodging, and other important information becomes available, it will be posted on the following sites: www.uscanoe.com Worldwide Paddling Event Calendar www.NewaygoNationals.com

bership organization promoting a five star program of Cruising, Conservation, Camping, Camaraderie and Competition for canoers and kayakers. USCA publishes a quarterly publication, Canoe News and presents two annual national championship events: USCA National Canoe & Kayak Championships, a multi-day event in early August, and a smaller event, the Aluminum Nationals at a variable date. With more than 900 members, USCA promotes paddling as a healthy lifetime sport, and has been a leader in marathon paddlesports since 1968.

• Canoe & Kayak Orienteering (3 hrs) www.facebook.com/NewaygoNationals For more information on USCA, its events or membership please visit the • Run Paddle Biathlon Championships web site at www.uscanoe.com. twitter.com/NewaygoNational (3k run, 3k paddle, 100 meter portage) The USCA Nationals in Newaygo, MI Thursday: • Youth Sprints (250m and 500m) (C1, is set to be a great event. I recommend it highly. Come for the fun and the C2 & K1, many youth age divisions) competition. Bring the family. Friday through Sunday: • Three marathon days, 16-17 mile

USCA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) mem-

Committee chairs may be contacted for additional specific information in their field of activity. For contact details, see www.uscanoe.com/Committees_and_ Appointments_W64.cfm.