American Canoe Association United States National Collegiate Canoe and Kayak Championship
Introduction
The American Canoe Association is the nation's largest paddlesport organization with approximately 50,000 members dedicated to promoting canoe and kayak recreation, safety education, and waterway stewardship. Increasing youth participation in paddlesport is a goal of the ACA and part of the organization's strategic plan. There are over 4,000 two to four year public and private colleges and universities in the United States with a yearly enrollment of approximately 15 million students. Most colleges have outdoor programs or outdoor activity courses with some standard canoes on campus. This provides a large established base for the formation of an ACA National Collegiate Canoe and Kayak Championship. Once college participants experience the excitement and fun of canoeing they will be able to carry that enthusiasm and skill beyond their student years and make paddlesport a family and lifetime activity.
Format
Each United States College or University can send a team to compete in the ACA US National Collegiate Canoe and Kayak Championship. A full team consists of 3 men and 3 women (and a faculty advisor) though teams can be comprised of more or less than that number. Each team must have a designated team captain or coach. There is no entry fee required of college participants at the National event but each college club would need to be either an American Canoe Association Paddle America Club or an American Canoe Association Paddle America College Club member.
The downriver event should, generally, follow the format listed below:
1. Canoes that meet the ACA Whitewater Open Canoe Downriver Committee 16% rule (most ABS, Aluminum type canoes meet this specification). Standard canoes were selected for the initial effort since most schools with outdoor curricula have a trailer and standard ABS or aluminum canoes.
2. Kayaks that meet the ACA Whitewater Downriver Kayak Committee short boat specifications.
3. Course: downriver, moving water up to class two rapids. Distance between 2 and 5 miles.
Day 1. Individual and team races: classes - OC1 Men, OC1 Women, OC2 Mixed, K1 Men, K1 Women.
Day 2. Relay - Three 2 person teams, at least 2 women per team. Each team completes one leg of relay and the canoe acts as the baton. A portage may be added if conditions allow.
The 2008 American Canoe Association United States National Collegiate Canoe and Kayak Championship will take place on the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg, Virginia on October 11/12 2008.
For more race info and Pre-registration, please click here
- To register for the event click here.
- For the American Canoe Association United States National Collegiate Canoe and Kayak Championship Rules here.
- To learn more about becoming an American Canoe Association Paddle America College Club click here.
- To become a American Canoe Association Paddle America College Club click here.
- To view the race course click here.
- College teams can camp for free at Old Mill Park. For park information and directions click here.
