More than 200 boats expected for annual races.
4/21/12 Russell - Staff photo by Michael Beswick - The Westfield River Wildwater Races held their 59th annual race Saturday. Due to the low water levels they ran all classes on Saturday...but not before releasing a large amount of water upstream. Finishing first in the Open Canoe Class are Chester Comee IV and James Comee Jr.(3) Here they head into the Hill & Dale Rapids in Russell.
The oldest continuously run canoe races in the United States are marking a milestone anniversary this year. The 2013 Westfield River Wildwater Races are celebrating its 60th year on Saturday, April 20.
The event includes both an eight-mile-long Novice race and a 12-mile Expert race, both canoe and kayak.
The Novice race begins in the west branch of the river at the Mass DPW yard in the center of Huntington. The water conditions on the west branch can vary widely from one year to the next, because the water is uncontrolled. Under normal race conditions there is only set of Class III rapids on the Novice course. Those that prefer not to challenge the rapids can take a bypass.
The Expert race starts just below the Knightville Dam.
The upper portion of the Expert race has some of the best whitewater canoeing in the area. There are Class II rapids throughout most of the course until it joins the Novice race course in the center of Huntington. There is also one Class IV section, and a long stretch of Class III rapids.
“We get good cooperation from the operators of the two dams – Knightville and Littleville,” said Edward Smith, chairman of the Westfield River Wildwater Races. “We get a scheduled release from them. They hold back as much water as they can and then release it on race day at a controlled level.”
As a result, the conditions are typically much more predictable. Still, the weather can be a factor in how difficult the course is.
“We had very low water last year, which made it rather challenging and difficult,” Smith said. “Last year it was kind of a low (participation) year because of the potential for bad weather and low water.”
Last year, there were just under 200 boats in the Novice race. In past years, there have been more than 250.
“The vast majority register on the day of the race,” Smith said. “A lot of people are looking for nice weather and good water conditions. There are also plenty of people who come to do the race because it’s tradition; the weather and water levels aren’t a factor for them as much.”
There are various classes in the races, such as Coleman-brand canoes only, aluminum canoes only, same sex teams and different sex teams.
“We also have a local class for those who live in one of the four counties of Western Massachusetts,” Smith said.
Organizers are trying to grow the number of entrants in the junior-senior class, which includes an adult and a youth. Smith said some incentives have been put in place to encourage parents and children to race together.
“We discount the cost for the junior paddler,” Smith said. “Any junior that finishes the race gets a free t-shirt. And we allow them to basically break in the line and start at a designated time just after the race begins so they’re not hanging around for a long time.”
Smith said organizers are just hoping for a good day.
“It’s very big in the community,” he said. “If the weather’s good, we get a lot of spectators.”
To help participants prepare for the race, organizers hold free paddling clinics each spring. Run by some of the area’s finest racers, they consist of a short discussion of safety, equipment and technique, followed by guided runs down the entire eight-mile course. The clinics are free and open to novice and intermediate paddlers, weather permitting. All participants must supply their own equipment.
This year’s clinics take place on three Saturdays: March 30, April 6 and April 13, at 1 p.m. at the Mass DPW yard in the center of Huntington.
The registration fee for the Westfield River Whitewater Races is $15 per paddler ($10 for junior paddler) before April 17, and $20 per paddler ($15 for junior paddler) after April 17 until race day.
For course details and a registration form, visit www.westfieldriverraces.com.