Surfski Knowledge Base

flypaddle
07/08/08 #4617

Hey Gang,

Well for those of you who haven't read all the extensive coverage in our local newspaper about the Nooksack River Race, I'll do a quick synopsis of the event from my perspective.

Last Thursday morning, Brian B had called me to say that his canoe partner couldn't make it for the race on Saturday, and asked me to fill in. After informing him that I haven't been in a racing canoe (pro- boat in canoeese lingo) since the latter 90's, we spent about a half that afternoon getting the boat trimmed for us, and another 40 minutes on Friday testing ourselves on the river.

By Saturday morning, we referred to this race more as a trial by fire experience in spite of the fact that I have just spent well over an hour this last decade preparing for this event. About a dozen or so boats were all quickly preparing themselves, and their crafts for the race. A lot of familiar faces from Canada showed up such as Bob G. and his partner Glen B. Harry S. and his partner Scott. Ron W(sr) and his young partner Josh etc. From the more local field, Shaun K. and his partner Brad B. Not only is this quite a stacked field, but a great group of guys as well. Among those boats, Shaun K and Brad B informed me that they are going to compete in the AuSable race in two weeks, which is a huge (120mi) canoe race in the mid west. Also, Bob and Glen are going to compete in the Shawinigan Race, another huge marathon canoe race.

The race course starts at Hovander Park in Ferndale, and meanders a mile or so down stream around a buoy hanging from the Slater Road Bridge, and then traverses approximately 7 miles or so upstream. At that point we round a buoy, and head dowstream to a start buoy at Hovander. Then back upstream near the Ferndale Bridge, back downstream to the Hovander Park finish. Confused yet?

Since the river was very high, the water was flowing very fast, and the start was a reletivelly smooth event that resulted from everyone doing their best to form a line across the river while drifting into place. Once they started us off, everyone did their best to find the right lines down the river. This is the part where a smooth start becomes total chaos. Most of the boats seem to know where the faster channels are, so all boats are scrambling to get there first, which can result in the same type of activety as bumper cars in a carnival. After the first turn, Brian and I found ourselves fighting for fourth/fifth place against Harry and Scott, while the first three boats started to form a single file line along the shoreline were pulling away. We finally managed to leave Harry and Scott, and were now on our own trying to do our best to make up time on the boats ahead.

For those of you who have never participated in a upstream marathon canoe race on the Nooksack River before, try to picture a National Geographic expedition of people trying to get to a remote jungle tribe using various utensils to blaze their way through the brush. The difference in this case is that canoers substitue the sane act of using machettes and chainsaws, with expensive, lightweight, tippy canoes, and body ligaments to blaze through the brush. Overhanging the banks of the Nooksack are tree branches, shrubs, and blackberry vines that also engolf the slower river water flows, as well as possible eddies to paddle into. So the secret to success for the upstream paddle is to hug the shores in spite of the carnage that one gets as a result of being impaled by branches, sticks, vines etc.

About a half mile from the upstream buoy, we caught our first boat. The Jesse A, and Peter S. double looked extremely impressive, and were certainly a force to reckon with. By this time Brian and I were paddling very well and set our sights on the next boat which was the Shaun K., Brad B. double. Once we rounded the buoy, we were in the middle of the river with no more branches to contend with. Between Brian's extensive knowledge of the river, and the fact that we both were paddling a lot harder, we ended up passing the Shaun and Brad just after the Ferndale Bridge. They rode our wash for a little while, but fell off when we rounded the Hovander Buoy.

We ended up finishing in second place, behind Bob and Glenn. Shaun and Brad were third, and Jesse and Peter had a very impressive fourth place finish. After the race, I notice that I had long scratches on my chest, legs, and one on each arm. Not to mention three sizable bruises on my legs from whacking at the branches. Harry J. had the most impressive scar of the day. A large Nike shaped scratch above his cheek. The race director Thom P. along Edoh A., and a variety of people supplied us with a great BBQ and awards ceremony afterwards.

All in all, this event was a bunch of fun and am glad Brian asked me to join him. Not sure why it took me ten years to get back in a marathon canoe, but after this race I have the scars to proof that I was a canoer.

See you on the water,

Joost