Denver Flat Water Challenge results

Dear All,

We went to our first competition this Saturday. After departing with sunny
skies and 60 degrees in t-shirts, 20 degrees and snowing was a harsh
reminder of spring in the rockies. After a brief pep talk in Denver, Tom,
Andy, and Shawn paddled some freestyle while Molly, Jessie, Brooke, Joan and
I paddled Slalom. The freestyle was okay and after testing out all the
features and the air temperature we decided to lobby to not have the
freestyle event. The slalom course on the other hand provided a great place
to learn the basics of slalom. We practiced offsets, ups, and dive gates.
The girls picked these concepts up well. The Freestyle was okay with some
good front surfing and spinning. However, it is hard to put your heart into
it when you don't want to flip over.

Race day was cold and snowy. We discussed strategy and course memorization.
This was important as the course was a little confusing. Many of the gates
that were not being used were frozen to the wires and could not be moved.
We practiced visualizing runs and waited for our turn to paddle by the fire.
Each student improved their time between first and second runs. In Slalom
you earn a raw time and then they add any touches (2 seconds) or missed
gates (50 seconds) on to your time. Our kids both brought down their raw
time and cleaned up their runs. In this race it was best run that counts.
In women's, we place took 2nd Joan 164 seconds, 3rd Jessi 167 sec, 4th Molly
170.19 seconds, and Brook 170.65 seconds. Very impressive for a first run.
Anders was our fastest guy with 129.97, Andy had a fast raw time 137 but
missed several gates. Shawn improved his time greatly and had a clean second
run with a time of 155 seconds. Steve Holmes, father of Molly also braved
the cold to have the fastest CRMS time 105.47 in his C-1. Steve and I also
won C-2 with a time of 126.93.

The Front Range Paddle folk took good care of us keeping us feed with
burgers and warmed by the fire. Hopefully we will not need this at our
race. It was a cold hard couple of days but I think we all learned
something. Like don't forget your Sorels.

I was sorry to miss the band concert. I am sure it was a special evening
back here on campus as well. But probably a lot warmer.

Peter

PS I attached the score sheet to this email. It will also be up on the
kayak board tomorrow.

Shoshone Log removal

Last week we noticed a fairly hefty tree resting on a rock in the main flow on Shoshone. April 11th, a CRMS crew came armed with rope and pulleys to remove said fairly hefty tree. The log was located just below "Entrance Exam" on Shoshone. The log was pinned against a large boulder in the middle preventing eddy access, so we boyscout pulled it with about 8 people and it came out easy. The log was stored against the river-left bank in an eddy and it is up and out of the way, its not going anywhere!

Denver flatwater challenge

Dear all,

We have our first competition this weekend. Here is the website for the race. I will handle event registration.

Denver Flatwater Challenge

We will depart Friday morning.
8:00 meet at the kayak shed
10:00 Paddle at new Avon Whitewater Park
2:00 Arrive 20th street flatwater training center
6:00 Dinner out
8:00 Arrive at homestays
8:02 lights out everyone asleep

Saturday April 7th
7:30 Wake up
8:30 Arrive 20th street flatwater training center
9:00 Competitor meeting
1:30 Awards
2:00 Depart for home
6:00 Arrive back home, usually we will get back closer to 8:00 or 9:00.

Unfortunately not everyone can go because of the spring band concert. If you would like to attend the race it is near the Denver Skate Park. I will be getting directions soon. But here is a link to a map.

Denver skate park map

Call or email with Questions

Peter

Spring Kayak Events

http://flickr.com/photos/74921173@N00/10030345/

Schedule

Each team member must compete in at least one of each type of event, slalom, downriver, freestyle. I also ask that everyone attend both the Crystal River races and the Golden Races to support your team members and out of respect for The Alexander Dawson School. Please talk to me if this is a problem.

Events:

Denver flatwater slalom and freestyle - Denver
Saturday April 7th Slalom and freestyle

Crystal River Races – Confluence – Required event
Saturday April 21th Cemetery Downriver Race

Golden Races – Golden CO – Required event
Friday May 11 Leave in the Am to paddle Downriver
Saturday May 12 Slalom and Freestyle return home late

CKS Paddlefest - Buena Vista - CO
Friday May 18 Leave in the AM to practice compete Freestyle
Saturday May 19 Attend clinics return late

May 29 - 31 Finals
June 1 Senior symposium
June 2th Graduation

Summer events students can attend with Tom or I

June 9th Lyons River Fest - Lyons Co

June 15, 16 FIBARk - Salida CO

Crystal Race Schedule

Crystal Race Schedule
Posted by: oysterbar.

The 43st
Crystal River Race
April 20 and 21

Saturday April 20th Slalom Race – Confluence of Roaring Fork and Crystal River
9:30 Race Registration
10:00 Racers Meeting
10:30 Race
1:30 Boatercross
3:00 Downriver

Enrty fee $15 for 1 event $20 for all.
Presented by Carbondale’s own
Colorado Rocky Mountain School – 963 2562

Kayak competitions

The mighty oysters compete in four different types of events - Downriver, Slalom, Freestyle, and Boatercross.

Downriver is just like it sounds. You paddle downstream as fast as you can. Most of these races occur on class 2 whitewater. When on these types of runs, the oysters will paddle long funny looking boats designed to cleave through the water and rocket downstream. On the harder runs, class 4 students will paddle creek boats.

Boatercross is a head to head downriver race with usually 4 to 6 competitors at a time. Your are disqualified for intentional contact.

Slalom is a timed event on a 100 yard stretch of river. Paddlers maneuver through gates in a set order and in a certain direction.

Penalty seconds are added for touching the gates, 2 seconds, and missing gates, 50 seconds.

Freestyle involves doing as many different tricks in a two one minute runs. They can occur in waves or wholes.