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Wildwater

Wildwater

Wildwater canoeing is a timed event consisting of two forms of racing, classic and sprint. Classic whitewater, the sport’s original discipline, consists of longer races ranging from three to six miles (10 to 60 minutes). Whitewater sprint consists of shorter races contested on 200-to-600-meter courses. Some athletes specialize in one of the two disciplines, but many compete in both.

There are two types of boats used in whitewater canoeing: canoes and kayaks. Men and women compete in canoe singles (C-1) and doubles (C-2), and kayak singles (K-1) events. Teams are made up of three competitors in the same class (e.g., C1, C2, and K1). Wildwater canoes and kayaks are long and narrow with a rounded hull, which makes them fast but also unstable and hard to turn. France, Germany, and the Czech Republic have dominated the sport in the most recent world championships.

2023 Wildwater Team Trials will be held Oct 8-9, 2022 in Charlotte and Bryson City NC:

Wildwater will race on the Wilderness Channel on Saturday only

See details below:

  • Sprint Race – will be on the Wilderness Chanel at the US Whitewater Center in Charlotte in conjunction with Slalom Nationals on 10/8. There is a planned practice release on Friday 10/7. Anyone who is planning on racing in the 2023 Worlds is strongly encouraged to take advantage of this practice and race opportunity on a man-made course.
        • Classic Race – will be in conjunction with the Southeastern on the Nantahala on 10/9. We will continue the tradition of a mass start by class (i.e. all Wildwater boats would start together) and this will help with racers that are not familiar with the lines. In addition, there will be adequate time for racers to come over from Charlotte on Saturday afternoon and get a practice run in on the Nanty (at least on the lower half), as well as practice time earlier in the week.