OSay Can You O
by Fiona Hough
n the weekend of July 19–21, the North American and U.S. Open Canoe Slalom Championships were held in Canada for the first time, at the Gull River in Minden, Ontario. This annual race represents the top level of competition in the sport. It also represents one of the largest gatherings of open canoes, dogs, kids, spouses and camper vans imaginable.
The event: “Rac”reation for the whole family Boasting the highest turnout in the history of OC champi-
onships,the event attracted an array of competitors from as far away as Colorado, California, and Japan, as well as a decent number of more locally based Canadian and American
paddlers.Not bad for the not-so-mainstream, not-so-sexy world of open canoe slalom. The OC Nationals are,in some ways,much like any other white-
water slalom event. Racers analyze and then sweat over the sequence of gates,course designers agonize over the obscure details
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www.rapidmag.com
Inside The 2002 North American Open Canoe Slalom Championships
C Ryan Moore “cleans” upstream gate number 3.
of gate positions, and event organizers argue over minute yet con- tentious political issues.However, while there may be some similar- ities, there are also some things that make open boat races a little unique. There are two boat classifications in open canoe racing.
Recreational ABS playboats (dubbed “rec”boats) can be raced in one class, while the more stylish, streamlined and speedy racing hulls (made of Kevlar, fiberglass, composite or sometimes even cedar- glass) are entered in the “rac” classes. The great thing about rac
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