2015 Northwest Creeking Competition Information

For updates, please refer to the NWCC Facebook page.

April 11th come kick off the 2015 NWCC, presented by Next Adventure and supported by our local retail sponsors Alder Creek, Andy & Bax, and Kayak Shed! We are all incredibly proud and excited to be back for another year of epic boating!

The NWCC is a thriving two day event and one of the biggest races in the country! The event boasts two amazing race courses on both the East Fork Lewis River and Canyon Creek. The event headquarters is set at scenic Sunset Falls Campground where participants can enjoy a great view of racers negotiating beautiful Sunset Falls, enjoy a great BBQ, music, and an all-around fun time! Day two competitors head over to Canyon Creek to challenge themselves on one of the best race and most beautiful courses in the nation!

Your entry fees include races, food Saturday evening, beverages, a raffle ticket, and a 2015 NWCC T-Shirt! We provide course safety, support and timing.

Race Rules:

Race Results are organized by gender, class (your skill level) and category (craft). It takes 3 racers to make a category. (River Board, SUP, I-K will get lumped in if less than 2 show up.)

When signing up, choose what class best represents you based on the following definitions:

Pro: You are a sponsored or professional boater. ‘Nuff said.

Expert: You are the dedicated boater who really gets after it as often as you can. This category is for everyone who has experience boating class IV/V water and is ready to bring your best game.

Fun: You are the boater who is here for the camaraderie and the accomplishment. You like the challenge of class IV/V water but only race recreationally for fun. If this level of kayaking is at the top of your comfort zone consider the team category for the support and the good lines.

*NO drinking before the races! Anyone found drinking prior to their race run will be automatically disqualified.

Craft Categories include: K1 Short Boat, K1 Long Boat, K2, Team (two racers taking on the course together), Inflatable Kayak, Raft, and other whitewater appropriate craft with 3 racers to make a category.

Racers will be expected to come prepared in proper immersion gear in order to participate in the race! Don't show up to race in shorts! It will be spring in the Northwest, which means dress appropriately. Dry suits are not mandatory but are STRONGLY encouraged. Competitors must bring proper safety and rescue equipment to the event (water, float bags, throw ropes, first aid kits, etc.). You are required to have inflated float bags in your boat during the race.

Races

Race entry fees are $15 per day (online) or $25 per day (on site) per person. We will have fun, expert, and pro classes for men's and women's K1 categories. Short boat length restriction is 8'11" ft. This length restriction allows all current creek boat designs. Longboat class has no length restriction.

Saturday April 11th 2015

East Fork Lewis Down River Sprint Time Trials:

Racers will compete in timed single boat heats, according to the schedule below, paddlers will negotiate class IV and V- whitewater. The race course consists of boulder-gardens, ledges and waterfalls. Racers will compete for the fastest overall times in each class: men's & women's K1 short and long boat, K2, Team, IK (inflatable kayak), and R2 (two per raft teams). There will be shuttle support for boaters who wish to compete in multiple categories.

East Fork Lewis Raft Mass Start:

2 person teams. Any raft designed for Class IV-V- whitewater may be used. Mass start by an official starter approximately .5 miles above Sunset Falls. Starting order from beach based on highest card pulled from a deck of cards. Ties = redraw. Highest cards = most downriver starting position. False start= that boat goes to the most upriver starting position. Finish= river left beach/rock just above Horseshoe Falls. International Rafting Federation (IRF) rules in effect when applicable (no intentional blocking of a faster competitor, no intentional touching of the physical person of other competitors, good sportsmanship at all times, etc.) Course officials have the right to dismiss any entrant from competition should they see fit. Points earned will be in accordance with WWCS standards. For reference go to: Oregon Rafting Team online.

Kayak Mass Start East Fork Lewis:

The Kayak Mass Start is exactly what it sounds like! Kayakers race head-to-head and the first racer's bow to cross the finish line wins! This mad dash starts from a ways above Sunset (exact starting location depends on flows), and finishes right below the falls. Weekend Warriors, speed demons and everyone in between go head to head in this winner take all spectacular. Hard-shell length restriction- 8'11". Note: We may limit the number of participants due to safety concerns.

Register for Lewis River.

Sunday:

Canyon Creek Kayak Challenge:

Same as the down river time trials (see above). Expect steeper and more challenging rapids. Due to time constraints, you may only compete in one category for this race. This exhilarating race follows the classic run from the top of Thrasher through Hammering Spot, concluding just above Toby’s.

Canyon Creek Raft (R2) Challenge:

2 person teams. Any raft designed for Class IV-V whitewater may be used. Course is the same as the kayak course International Rafting Federation (IRF) rules in effect when applicable (no intentional blocking of a faster competitor, no intentional touching of the physical person of other competitors, good sportsmanship at all times, etc.) Course officials have the right to dismiss any entrant from competition should they see fit. Points earned will be in accordance with WWCS standards. For reference go to: Oregon Rafting Team online.

Schedule

NWCC 2015 - Schedule of Events

Saturday

8:30 Registration Opens at Sunset Falls Campground

9:00/9:30/10:00 AM Shuttle from Copper Creek Confluence - For Practice Runs

10:00 AM Registration Closes

10:30 AM MANDATORY Competitor’s Meeting - following meeting, shuttle to Mass Start Race

11:00 AM Mass Start Race - Kayaks & Rafts FIRST race is Kayak Mass Start followed immediately by the Raft Mass Start.

11:30 AM Time Trial Racing Begins - Be Ready in the Eddy Time Trail (all classes including raft R-2 time trials) begin immediately following raft mass start and end around 3:30 PM. Racing will continue as long as there are racers in the eddy.

11:30 AM Shuttles from Copper Creek Confluence Begin

4:30 PM Shuttles from Copper Creek Confluence End

5:30 BBQ Provided by Next Adventure at Sunset Falls Park

7:30 Volunteer Recognition & Raffle, Awards Ceremony, Event Raffles and more Festivities at

Sunset Falls Park

Sunday

NO Registration: All racers for Canyon Creek must pre-register online or register at Sunset Falls Campground on Saturday Morning.

10:30 AM MANDATORY Competitors Meeting at Forest Service Parking Lot.

10:45 AM Shuttles to Canyon Creek Put-in Begin from Forest Service Parking Lot

11:30 AM Racing Begins at Thrasher

12:30 PM Shuttles from Forest Service Parking Lot to Canyon Creek Put-in End

1:30 PM Shuttles from Canyon Creek Take-out to Forest Service Parking Lot Begin

1:30-2 PM Canyon Creek Race is completed

3:00 PM Shuttles from Canyon Creek Take-out to Forest Service Parking Lot End

3:30 PM Awards Ceremony for Canyon Creek Race at Forest Service Parking Lot Begin

Pickup / Departure:

East Fork Lewis Race Course

Check out the map of the East Fork Lewis Race Course. Scroll over the right icon that reads "traffic" and choose "terrain" view for closer look at the course!

Canyon Creek Race Course

Check out the map of the Canyon Creek Race Course. Scroll over the right icon that reads "traffic" and choose "terrain" view for closer look at the course!

Drop Off / Return:

East Fork Lewis Race Course

Check out the map of the East Fork Lewis Race Course. Scroll over the right icon that reads "traffic" and choose "terrain" view for closer look at the course!

Things to Bring:

Float Bags and all other required safety equipment, camping gear, cash for raffle, common sense.

*NO drinking before the races! Anyone found drinking prior to their race run will be automatically disqualified*

There is no water available at the campground, so be sure to bring plenty of water.

Mandatory Meeting at Sunset Falls 10:30am 4/11/2015 - & Forest Service Parking Lot at Canyon Creek Sunday 4/12/2015 at 10:30am.

Your entry fee includes races, food Saturday evening AND camping, a raffle ticket, a 2015 NWCC T-Shirt and more! Register online now to save $10

To register, just navigate over to April and click on the date. If you wish to participate in both the Canyon Creek and Lewis River competitions, you must register for each one individually.