Community Gorge Paddle

It's a race, it's a paddling parade, it's the Community Downriver Paddle.

Date and Time

Saturday, July 11th at 1PM

Event Location

Participants will meet at Sandy Beach at 1PM.  Afer choosing the winners of the prize categories, we will paddle through Mather Gorge to the Angler's river access.

NOTE: If you don't know where Sandy Beach is, contact the event organizer beforehand or ask one of the volunteers on the day of the event.  It can be accessed from the C&O Canal Towpath via a trail just downriver of the walkway to the Great Falls overlook.  The closest available parking is at Great Falls Park, MD.
Details

This event is a chance to highlight the community aspects of paddling.  Imagine a floating parade down Mather Gorge that leaves no trace but a very large wake!  Paddlers of all skill levels are welcome.  Come celebrate the Potomac and all that makes paddling wonderful.  Everyone should be in the water at Sandy Beach and ready to go by 1PM on Saturday.  We will award the prizes at the put-in and then start the Community Gorge Paddle from there (carrying over rocks to S-turn if necessary).  Last year we performed many "stupid human tricks" including standing up in our boats, lining up for a kayak boom run, fitting five people onto a Pirouette S, and holding a sunken boat race through Maryland Chute!

Prizes

• Best costume (male and female)
• Youngest and oldest
• Most creative use of duct tape
• Best boater tan
• Least seaworthy vessel
• Most old school (Klepper folding kayak, anyone?)
• Most overprepared aka safety guru award (pin kit with pulleys and ascenders, topo map of Mather Gorge, satellite phone, you get the idea)
• Farthest distance traveled (must have ID proof or a killer accent)
• Other prize categories may be invented on the spot

Contact

Contact the event organizer, Scott Anderson, if you have any questions.