SKYKOMISH DOWNRIVER RACE
AUGUST 1

It happens every summer in the Northwest. Just when the weather gets reliably perfect—85 degrees and sunny—the water disappears.
But this August 1, the Skykomish River will be the place of a one-day reprieve for all those kayakers thirsty for a little intensity and camaraderie.
Paddler magazine is hosting the first Skykomish Downriver Race.

THE EVENT:
1.)     DOWNRIVER RACE (mass start, includes three divisions)
a.) RELAY DIVISION—This is the main event. The course starts at the Confluence (or possibly the North Fork in Index) and ends at Big Eddy. It is divided into three legs, one for each skill level of the teams’ members.
Leg 1.) Class III, from Confluence to Anderson Pool above Boulder Drop;
Leg 2.) Class III+ — IV-, from Boulder Drop through Fisherman’s;
Leg 3.) Class II+, from below Fisherman’s to Big Eddy. Length limit: 8-foot-8 and under.

b.) IRONMAN DIVISION—Individuals start at Confluence and end at Big Eddy. Length limit 12-foot-9.

c.) FUTURE DIVORCEES’ DIVISION—Couples must be romantic, as in willing to kiss on the lips. With tongues. Racers must compete in tandem kayaks, such as Jackson Kayak’s Dynamic Duo or the TopoDuo. Jackson Kayak will be providing five Dynamic Duos for use in the race. The first five couples to sign up for this division will get the boats. Course will either be full or it might eliminate Boulder Drop to accommodate the teams’ skill levels. (TBD).
   
2.)     UPRIVER, EDDY-ATTAINMENT RACE—From the kayakers’ take-out at Split Rock to the bottom of Aquagasm. This is a climbing-style race, in which technique and stamina play a huge role. Length restrictions to be decided.

3.)     BOULDER DROP SPRINT—This is a time-trial event. Each competitor gets two runs, but only his/her fastest time will count. The top four advance to a head-to-head, untimed final. Length limit: 8-foot-8

VOLUNTEERS: We need them. And the event can’t go on without them. Below is a list of the positions for which we must have commitments if this event is going to happen.

Downriver Race:
7 Timers/scribes—One at the start line, two at the finish line and two at the beginnings of legs No. 2 and 3. They’ll need to write down leg times for relay racers.
2 communication coordinators—One at the top and one at the bottom.
1 race coordinator—At top of course to coordinate the start line, and signal the beginning of the race.

Upriver, eddy-attainment race:
2 timers—One at start, one at finish.
1 race coordinator—At bottom to coordinate mass start

Boulder Drop Sprint:
2 timers—One at top one at bottom
1 race coordinator—To coordinate final four racers in head-to-head finale.

THE CAUSE: The community of Index, the Friends of Heybrook Ridge and a very generous anonymous donor managed to save the coniferous, eastern wall of the Index Valley by purchasing it from the logging company that planned to scalp it. But now, the community is hoping to enhance the Ridge’s eco-recreation, by building trails, etc. Proceeds will contribute to this effort.

I know for a fact Tobin has completed a thorough underwater survey, and knows precisely from first hand experience where the best place to catch a throw bag is.

Without Courtney's input (I may be in big trouble here) we would be willing to do the doubles.  Do you get style points for how well you can swim Boulder Drop?  Does screaming like a little girl earn extra style points?  If Courtney disagrees can all electronic proof that I ever said we would do this be erased?

"The first five couples to sign up for this division will get the boats."

Get to keep em?  SWEET! 

By the way: I'm not saying this is the first downriver race ever to be held on the Sky. The name of the event is the Skykomish Downriver Race and this is the first of these events. For those who were wondering.

What time is the race starting?  I already got tickets for a concert that day but am wondering if the race starts early enough and I paddle (swim???) fast enough if there is time to do both!  And everyone should go see Spare Rib and the Bluegrass Sauce - they kick A$$!  (saw them at the Conor Byrne a few weeks ago - good times!)

Here's some answers:
We're still pulling all the details together. But the first race of the day—most likely the downriver race—will begin no later than 10 a.m. On-site registration and check-in will begin between 7:30 and 8:30 and the racers' meeting will be at 9:15 or so. All of these times are tentative. Check www.paddlermagazine.com periodically to download a pdf of the registration form and for event updates.
We should have the registration pdf up there by the end of this week.
To Jimmy and Courtney: I'm going to sign you up for the Dynamic Duo event.   Which leaves us with two promised Dynamic Duos left to loan for the race.
To brdkayaker: If you want one of the remaining Dynamic Duos, you'd better commit soon.
To Hunter: YES! One of the advantages of the August 1 date is that it'll coincide with the Index Arts Festival.

This is an awesome idea, and I really like that you have included an attainment race. I think 8'8'' is a little short for a race in the sky in August though. IMO It's like wearing slippers in a track meet just because they are more comfortable.  I would like to suggest an unlimited class for at least for  the sprint and attainment race. Even 12'9'' is a little short for the Ironman. Wildwater boats, the standerd for downriver racing, are over 14ft, and I know there are some boaters in this comunity who wouldn't be afraid to race there touring boats through BD. I also have a few longboats that I would be more than happy to let people race in. Its just more fun to race in a fast boat!

Do they have to kiss too?

My sister and brother-in-law said they would come and be volunteers on the condition that they will be positioned in a place where they can see me race (loyal fan club).

Woah, Tobin.

what about rafts?

Stickin with that 8'8" length restriction huh? I guess you don't want me there. I can take a hint I know when I'm not wanted. Guess I'll be up in B.C. that weekend.

Look, it's a downriver race. If the fastest boat people have is a silly, slow creeker, why do they deserve to downgrade and devolve the entire race?  Slippers at a track meet? How silly is that? These length restrictions are inappropriate. Like racing full suspension mountain bikes with knobby tires in the Tour De France.

It's easier for people to find competitive, used , cheap longboats than it is for me to find a used, affordable GreenBoat. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have one. I'm still a little bummed that I had to race my 9' boat against 12' boats at the E. Frk Lewis Race. Talk about being put in the wrong class.

How will people ever learn to break out of the NARROW MINDEDNESS of a two boat paradigm, if an ENTIRE industry perpetuates it? There's so much more to the river than
the creekboat/playboat aspects of the sport, and I think this race should open paddlers up to it.

People should be encouraged to race non-creekboats down river. It should be open class. Offer NO PRISES, and let the fastest times tell their tales.

There's no way I'll race a creekboat down ANY part of the sky. It's a FLAT river. If I race it's as much for the experience and FEELING of how my boat moves through the water as much as it is to be competitive. I feel as if an entire generation of paddlers just don't get it on this one. Most have never paddled a long, fast boat of any sort, and most people are influenced more by FASHION DESIGNS stamped into their tupperware. Moving fast on the river feels good.

I said my peice.
Christian- You know I have a ton of respect for you, and love paddling with you when I get the chance. But with these length restrictions, I can't race. Unless maybe you can dig up a Greenboat for me to race against YOU in. I'm not going to be Odd man out again. If I'm gonna be Odd man out, I may as well already plan a trip to B.C. for that weekend, and use my creekboat for what it was designed for.