Community Paddle Roundup

Submitted by Scalliet on July 17, 2007 - 17:57.

Thank you to all who came to participate in this year's Community Downriver Paddle. Congratulations to those of you who paddled down Mather Gorge as fast as you could (it is a long flat water stretch!) - and congratulations to those of you who floated down the Gorge chatting with friends, throwing a Frisbee around, and looking good in silly costumes!

This event was about celebrating how lucky we are to have the Potomac at our doorstep as a place to challenge ourselves and also to spend quality time with good friends while doing what we love. We look forward to hosting the event again next year, with more silly costumes this time!

Fastest downriver paddle: Jeff Duncan
Fastest downriver paddle in a plastic boat: Rob Brown
Most creative use of duct tape: Carlos Ifarraguerri
Most members from an organized group: Liquid Adventures Kayak School and Potomac Paddlesports (about equal)
Best boat decoration: Tyler Jose
Furthest traveled: Bevin Redman from New Zealand

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Great Community Paddle. As

Submitted by Rkline1 (not verified) on July 18, 2007 - 10:50.

Great Community Paddle. As an experienced beginner, it was my first time through Mathers Gorge. Portaging out to river to watch the Great Falls race, then back again for the Community Paddle was ackward, but I understand you want the start at Sandy Beach so non-paddlers can participate.

The Community Paddle is important because it allows paddlers not competing to participate. What's the point of bringing your boat if you're not going to use it?

thanks!

I love the idea of this

Submitted by NowAndZen (not verified) on July 17, 2007 - 21:51.

I love the idea of this event! However, it would be even more fun if more accessible to boaters and friends. Climbing over the rocks to put in at Fishladder inhibits the fun you can have with boat and costume --- and limits participation for a lot of the more casual boaters. And non-paddling friends and spectators have a hard time sharing in the festivities.

Let's have an event that celebrates the non-competitive boating on the Potomac. What if a "Friday Flotilla" kicked off the Potomac Festival, with a boating parade from Angler's up to the Chutes and back, perhaps? Maybe the Flotilla could stop somewhere where a mass picture could be taken from atop Skull Island or some other vantage point. The event could culminate with a potluck picnic on the shore at Angler's.

Want to do it on Saturday? Sure. Hold the downriver race with the Flotilla gathered at the finish line to cheer the competitors, merging the two events in a way to engage more people.

Make no mistake...I think this was the best organized and executed Potomac Festival so far. Congratulations to all! I hoping that this suggestion might make a good thing even better.

Thanks, everyone!