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| Rafting Round-up |
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| Tuesday, 01 January 2002 05:50 |
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World Rafting Champs Descend Upon Gauley: Germany, Czech Republic take top crowns While other river revelers were either partying or paddling, a different breed of rafter showed up at this year’s Gauley Fest with more pressing matters: a world championship. This year marked the first time the World Rafting Championships were held on U.S. waters, with teams from 16 countries battling it out on the New and Gauley rivers for three days in late September. Feasibility was the first obstacle for organizers in the wake of Sept. 11. "It was touch and go for a while," says organizer Mark Joffee. "Last year’s men’s and women’s champions, Russia and New Zealand, couldn’t make it over until the last second." When all the teams did finally arrive, they were greeted with much tighter security than at previous events. "I had to pass three armed security check points just to get into the gorge," says photographer Clayton Spangler. "They had swat snipers in the woods, too. Basically, if you didn't have credentials or ride an authorized shuttle, you didn't get in." Those who did, however, were rewarded with arguably the best display of rafting ever seen in the U.S. Previously held on such waterways as the Zambezi, Reventazon and Futaleufu, this year’s event on West Virginia’s New and Gauley easily measured up to those other hallowed waterways. Three events comprised a team’s overall score: sprint, slalom and downriver. In the head-to-head sprint, two teams set off through the New’s Fayette Station rapid, with the winner advancing. The day’s best show came from Italy and Germany, whose final push to the finish was marred with pushing and shoving. Though judges penalized both teams 10 seconds for aggressive conduct, Italy came out on top, with the Czechs in third and reigning champ Russia in fourth. The women battled it out as well, with the lead switching several times between frontrunners Slovakia and the U.S. Next up was slalom, giving each team two chances to negotiate12 gates through the New’s Flea Flicker rapid. No practice runs were allowed, and teams scrambled along the banks to scout their lines. Creativity paid off, with the third-place Czechs pulling their boat upstream to avoid a gate-missing penalty. Only the Russian team had a perfect run—but still slower than the Germans, who, despite one penalty, blazed to first place. For the women, the Czechs notched a near-perfect run and came out on top, followed by Slovakia, Canada, New Zealand and the U.S. After day two, overall results put Germany, Italy and Russia ahead for the men; and Slovakia, the Czech Republic and the U.S. for the women. After a day of rest—except for the Slovakians, Russians and Italians, who raced in the Upper Gauley’s annual Animal Downriver Race for the lure of prize money (which Slovakia won)—the downriver competition took place on the Upper Gauley, floating on a special 4,000-cfs release from the Summersville Dam. The start had all teams—men and women’s—starting en masse before tackling nine miles of some of the most consistent Class IV-V in the country. The Brazilians flipped three times in Lost Paddle Rapid, and several teams flipped just upstream of the finish line at Sweets Falls. Once all the rubber was righted, the Czechs had dominated, with both the men and women’s teams capturing first place. In the end, competitors seemed more than pleased with the event’s location, enough so that they spontaneously broke into the state’s unofficial anthem ("Take Me Home, Country Roads") three times while waiting for the medals to be awarded by West Virginia Governor Bob Wise. For the men, it was Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic on the podium, with the U.S. finishing tenth; for the women it was the Czechs and Slovakia, followed by the U.S. Apart from the victors, no one was happier than the state of West Virginia. "It gave us a chance to prove to the world that the we’re a premier outdoor recreation destination," says Gov. Wise. "This was our opportunity to show the world what we have to offer." Down Under Goes Up and Over at Africa’s Camel ChallengeAfter barely scraping together enough funds for the trip across the Indian Ocean to Africa’s Zambezi River, Australia’s rafting team cashed in for top honors at the Camel International Whitewater Challenge in August. During the five-day event, the Aussies managed to power by five-time champions Slovenia and last year’s winner, Russia. "We’re still totally numb about what we accomplished," says Aussie team captain Graham MacFreidi, who guides on Australia’s Tully River near Cairns. "I have to give a lot of credit to my mates." Originally Published, Paddler January-February 2002 |
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