Mis-Adventures in Whitewater Canoe Racing
January 5th 2009 15:51
As a general rule, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? This does not usually apply to those of us with adventureous streaks.
During the Souadabscook Stream canoe race here in the great state of Maine several years ago, my dad and I were nearing the end of the race, which happens to be the best part, as it contains the best whitewater. We came to a section that travels beneath an interstate bridge and forks off into two different paths. We normally would take the drop to the left, as we knew it like the backs of our hands. This particular year however, where the water was unusually high, we thought we would chance the right side, as it was shorter and we needed to gain a few seconds on the competition who were nearing. We headed for it, only to find that it was approximately a five foot drop! In a kayak, you can very easily bounce back from that and keep going. Not so much in a canoe. We did not fall in, surprisingly enough, but we did manage to almost fully submerge the canoe as it quickly filled with water. We hurridly paddled as best as we could to the bank nearby and hauled with all of our might to get that canoe out of the water. We somehow managed it and were able to dump the water out, a feat that was met by pure adreneline, I swear. We saw our competition nearing the drop above us, so we quickly piled in and shoved off to finish the last leg of the race.
We came in first place, by like 12 seconds if I remember correctly, quite a close call. I guess the moral of the story is don't take the path less traveled when in a race, it could cost you the race!
During the Souadabscook Stream canoe race here in the great state of Maine several years ago, my dad and I were nearing the end of the race, which happens to be the best part, as it contains the best whitewater. We came to a section that travels beneath an interstate bridge and forks off into two different paths. We normally would take the drop to the left, as we knew it like the backs of our hands. This particular year however, where the water was unusually high, we thought we would chance the right side, as it was shorter and we needed to gain a few seconds on the competition who were nearing. We headed for it, only to find that it was approximately a five foot drop! In a kayak, you can very easily bounce back from that and keep going. Not so much in a canoe. We did not fall in, surprisingly enough, but we did manage to almost fully submerge the canoe as it quickly filled with water. We hurridly paddled as best as we could to the bank nearby and hauled with all of our might to get that canoe out of the water. We somehow managed it and were able to dump the water out, a feat that was met by pure adreneline, I swear. We saw our competition nearing the drop above us, so we quickly piled in and shoved off to finish the last leg of the race.
We came in first place, by like 12 seconds if I remember correctly, quite a close call. I guess the moral of the story is don't take the path less traveled when in a race, it could cost you the race!
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