Reviews

Tom and I would like to thank everyone who made this years Falls Race possible. Many people participated; the racers, volunteers, the P Fest Committee, the sponsors (Liquid Logic, our partners in crime), and the spectators all played a part in this years exciting race.

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!

Despite less than favorable water conditions this weekends freestyle competition at Horseshoe/Bloody Good was a huge success. I'd like to send out a big thanks to all the competitors for coming out, the volunteers who helped judge, scribe, time, and announce, and to Riot Kayaks for sponsoring this year's event. Here are the official results:

The Attainment Race was the early riser's choice, with the competitors meeting at 7:30 AM at Anglers Inn. Coming after the Festival party the previous night, the early hour proved a challenge for some entrants, amateurs and pros alike. The water level was a low but manageable 3.3 feet.

As the final event of the 2006 Potomac Whitewater Festival, the BCE Slalom Race was highly anticipated by the many participants and onlookers at the Virginia Observation Decks. For the first time in many years, a whitewater slalom race was held between Great Falls and S-Turn rapid! With many former Slalom U.S. National Team Members in attendance, the competition for the BCE Slalom Race Title was hotly contested.

The freestyle competition was the biggest event at the Potomac Whitewater Festival in terms of attendance with a total of 63 competitors. All three classes, beginner, expert, and pro, showed their playboating skills at the Maryland Chute on Sunday. The format was 2 rides, 45 seconds each, with each ride counting toward the total score in a variety only scoring system. The event stretched from 10:30 AM until 4 PM with a few occasional breaks to take a dip in the river and cool off in the hot weather. Thankfully MD Chute was at a great surfing level and the event went smoothly, despite running two hours over the scheduled time.

F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E May 25, 2006

Kayakers Race over Great Falls in the Annual Potomac Whitewater Festival Fundraiser

16th Annual Event to be Held July 15-16, 2006 by Potomac Festival Volunteers

Great Falls Park, Maryland

This summer come cheer on world class kayakers and canoeists as they race down Great Falls on the Potomac River at the 16th Annual Potomac Whitewater Festival, July 15-16, 2006. Freestyle Kayaking World Champion and Olympian Eric Jackson will revisit the site of his close call with fellow competitor Jason Beakes in 2005 as they race head-to-head down Class V rapids.

On the behalf of American Whitewater, I wanted to extend an overdue thank you for the hard work that went into the event. It takes quite a team to put an event like Potomac Fest together. To that team goes a sincere thank you for the work and effort that went into the event. Your work goes to support the stewardship efforts of American Whitewater, our new stewardship toolkit is now on line at: www.americanwhitewater.org/stewardship/

Thanks to everyone who helped out with this year's Potomac Fest. It is safe to say that is takes a village to host a festival, and the event can only take place because so many people come together and do so much to make sure it all works out. First I would like to say a quick thank you to all the event coordinators: Paul, Kristen, Michelle and Joel, Risa our marketing coordinator, Colin our sponsorship coordinator, James our Risk Management Coordinator and Sunny who did whatever he could whenever he could.