Interest in slolom races????

[SteveGabbard]

Canoe school would be perfect for a meeting. Somebody take charge and set a time.

[gannon311]

What about Friday night? After the big meeting? Before? That would be a good time to talk to the people that bee also!!!!
Could we maybe get a sticky or announcement for this meeting?????

[Heath]

the biggest problem i see is truly haveing reluable water!!
rockport, and lmf are the only places i know of wirh gauranted water close to us.

places that could work if you could get releases. would be dierks, the tot below the lake, and little mo below the dam.
getting releases is easier said than done, but not impossible.

[Donald]

I still have two slalom kayaks, though my interest has changed to marathon canoe and kayak, I think I could still make it through a slalom course. I still have gates and maybe some wire to hang the gates.

[Donald]

I think I still have an old manual on how to hold a slalom race I got from Max.

[Donald]

And a bunch of timing sheets.

[Shep]

Sounds like a treasure trove, Donald!

I think it might be worth trying to run a race at Dierks this year. I just looked at the lake level: http://dierks.lakesonline.com/Level.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm wondering if we can talk to the Corps about scheduling a particular weekend given that drought conditions are improving this year. Maybe we should try to run a race on the same weekend as a Hometown Throwdown to get a better turnout and chance of getting the corps to agree to a release?

Thanks,
Shep

[gannon311]

Shep , that's a great idea! When is that throwdown. I talked to jermey and thats what he suggested also. He said the would back it! Who do we need to talk to about the releases? It would be really nice if we could set the course a week before with the water on so we could tweek it if needed. Deirks used to. E my favorite race! It's the perfect set up with the river going around the campground.

We may need to get this going before canoe school! Can we get somebody that has knows the ends and outs of dealing with the corps. To help us out????????????????

[L.A.paddler]

I am also very interested in Slalom racing. I have not had much time to check the board lately, but I am glad I did this morning and caught this thread. I agree with Heath on the viable locations. I can think of a couple of places close to Okc that could be viable options as well. I basically learned to kayak running gates down on the Guadalupe with Mark Poindexter in the late ninties and early 2000's. I believe that running gates is one of the easiest and safest ways to make novice boaters into really strong boaters. You can easily turn a class I+ II rapid into something much more challenging by adding gates. They can easily be adjusted to the students skill level. I would deffinetly be interested in helping on this project.

Cheers, Terry DeMoe

[gannon311]

Donald , would u be willing to sale or donate the gates u have?
Do u have enough for a whole coarse?

If anybody would like to chat about this before ww school give me a ring
501-two zero eight-48 nine nine

[Heath]

Shep , that's a great idea! When is that throwdown. I talked to jermey and thats what he suggested also. He said the would back it! Who do we need to talk to about the releases? It would be really nice if we could set the course a week before with the water on so we could tweek it if needed. Deirks used to. E my favorite race! It's the perfect set up with the river going around the campground.

We may need to get this going before canoe school! Can we get somebody that has knows the ends and outs of dealing with the corps. To help us out????????????????

gannon, the likely hood of getting release for a true recreational event is slum to none!! the corps lake are flood control only:( at one time the corp released for races, as well as for turant county college canoe class. the canoe class has come to an end, i think?? and for what ever reason they quit the race releases.
we had been (encourged/ suggested) that if we were to aproch the corps about a release, it would be more likely to happen if it were an educational class!! ( swift water rescue ) was brought up.
i think the powers that be have changed since this was last aproached, this could be good or bad, depending on there feelings about this subject.

[Flapjack]

Long. long ago we had releases at both dierks and gilliam lakes both being great coarses. If and when talking to the corps you might try for both and maybe getting one. Like Heath said you mention safty classes and economics as races will bring in money to the area. We always had a big crowd, and that was in the late 80s. In our mist, we have an olympic boater that would probaly help since this where he got his start. Hope this comes together as it is big fun and everyone can do it. Flapjack

[Shep]

Maybe try the direct approach?
http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Missions/ ... sLake.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would be inclined to start small... perhaps ask for 3x 4-hour releases on a Friday- Sunday for setup, practice, racing, and HTTD in three days... maximize the recreation and minimize the effect on the water level. We've got historical evidence of attendance at HTTD, and slalom racing would broaden the appeal of a weekend event. Perhaps call it the Dierks WW Festival?

I will do what I can, but cannot take a lead due to family, school, and ww school responsibilities.

Thanks,
Paul

[hdh]

A few weeks ago I spoke to the ranger about requesting a release , He gave me his email and said he would give it to the corp folks .... He said the last request ( local College) was denied .. I'm assuming it was last year in the drought . He said list the date and level and time , we were going to use HTTD date for a kayaking EdUcation course.. We Also want to include the " economic benefit" if the water was managed alittle better , ie Save it for the weekend ( after rainfall events) ... Anyway we have not sent it yet , if Anyone what's to email him let me know

[gannon311]

Anybody want to take on the task of working with the corps?????