Race and registration site pictures and a Google map can be found here

See everyone Saturday morning at 9:30! Be sure to download the event schedule for the weekend.

The US National Cup will take place within the event structure of the Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival (UCWWF). Registration, timing, and results will be done separately from the UCWWF by USRA race officials. The 2010 US National Cup is essentially a dress rehearsal to prepare local coordinators to host the R6 National Championships in 2011.

Visit the Official 2010 UCWWF Event site here.

Download the 2010 UCWWF Event Schedule here.

Boat to boat at the top of Class IV+ Caldera

Bart and Paul from Noahs battling ORT

Amazing head to head racing!

Teams fall into line at the bottom of Caldera.

Enlighten

Transcending the long drive; gas costs, hours of event coordination, asking of favors, tweeking of blogs, monitoring of websites, levels, weather, filing for permits, insurance, experiencing humility by constantly asking for help…we had a wonderful weekend.

Enlightening were the hugs and casual affirmations of old friends.  The sunshine nurtured our spirit and warmed our souls.  New relationships were formed as a river ran through it.

It seemed rather subordinate that a race occurred during this experience, a competition.  Yet the challenges provided by the racers and the big water of the incomparable Upper Klamath may have indeed facilitated this diatribe of reflection, or maybe I’m just growing up.

The earthly recollection exists as amazing sunny weather, bright yellow rafts crashing at once through the chaos of Caldera, and some darn good head to head racing for 6 miles!  Conveniently a forgiving surf wave is located at the finish line with complimentary eddy service.  Drifting and laughing allowed for closure following the tremendous challenge each of the participants had just successfully negotiated.  Or, in the words of my R2 partner Matt Lindland, “This is a great way to get a good workout while your sitting down having a chew” (which was all over his face after Hells Corner).  The Western Whitewater Championship Series rolls on.

Why do we do this?

Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, nations, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources… It arises whenever two or more parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For example, animals compete over water supplies, food, and mates, etc. Humans compete for water, food, and mates, though when these needs are met deep rivalries often arise over the pursuit of wealth, prestige, and fame. Business is often associated with competition as most companies are in competition with at least one other firm over the same group of customers.

Competition may give incentives for self-improvement…. For example, if two watchmakers are competing for business, they will hopefully improve their products and service to increase sales. If one watchmaker is more responsive to the needs of consumers, this watchmaker will flourish. If birds compete for a limited water supply during a drought, the more suited birds will survive to reproduce and improve the population.

Rivals (similarly matched competitors well known to each other) will often refer to their competitors as “the competition”. This is especially true of archrivals (primary, longstanding rivals, often the best in their segment). The term “competition” can also be used to refer to the contest or tournament itself.

How can we self reflect and better ourselves and others?

Moral character or character is an evaluation of a particular individual’s moral qualities. The concept of character can imply a variety of attributes including the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty, or of good behaviors or habits-

Former Olympian and Strikeforce fighter Matt Lindland of Team Quest battles the opposition with ORT.

Moral character primarily refers to the assemblage of qualities that distinguish one individual from another – although on a cultural level, the set of moral behaviors to which a social group adheres can be said to unite and define it culturally as distinct from others. Psychologist Lawrence Pervin defines moral character as “a disposition to behave expressing itself in consistent patterns of functioning across a range of situations” (Pervin 1994, p. 108).

Shred Ready Beat Down Mass Start Kayak footage courtesy of David Pool.

The 2010 Upper Klamath Whitewater Festival will serve as the “R2 Super Bowl” for the West Coast. This will be a winner take all head to head mass start race which will be held in addition to events in the disciplines of kayak, cataraft, and R4 (click here for race schedule).

Raft Waterfall Hucking 101, 201.

This course will be offered to participants who wish to successfully drop waterfalls in a non-traditional manner as their selected craft was originally designed to rescue sailors at sea after their ship had sunk. Past graduates of this course have gone on to survive dropping waterfalls and/or vertical drops ranging from (15-125) feet.

Life threatening injuries will likely not be sustained, however mental faculties essential to normal life functioning have been noted to be severely compromised.  The onset of this concern may likely have occurred to the onset of Waterfall Fever, an addictive disorder characterized by traits associated with Narcissism such as: a grandiose sense of self importance, preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, belief that he or she is special or unique, the individual requires excessive admiration, interpersonally exploitive or takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends, lacks empathy, is often envious of others, and shows arrogant, haughty behaviors and attitudes.

Given the aforementioned concerns inherent to running waterfalls, course attendees may/will also; swim these drops, rig their boats in preparation for a car crash like impact, brace their bodies in an attempt to limit space which facilitates limb acceleration, adjust angle of boat entry, and re-board their craft should the resulting impact of landing become unmanageable.

201 level participants.

101 level participant.

Drop zone.

MMA cross training (optional), testosterone level dependent.

The final exam for this course will consist of successfully completing the East Fork of the Lewis River Race held annually in April.  Graduates are highly encouraged to continue developing their boating and interpersonal skills by attending the remainder of the events offered under the structure of the Western Whitewater Championship Series as these events will facilitate communication, connections with others, and the healthy development of the whitewater soul.