County stepped up to host USCA Championships
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry David Stevens of North Carolina approaches the finish line of the U.S. Canoe and Kayak Association Nationals marathon Friday after paddling 12.5 miles down the Allegheny River from the tailwaters of Kinzua Dam to the boat launch at Betts Park.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Paddlers in the K1 Unlimited Woman division churn the water at the tailwaters of Kinzua Dam Friday at the beginning of the U.S. Canoe and Kayak Association Nationals marathon course.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Race official Bill Corrigan takes measurements of a kayak Friday at the Technical Inspection (Jigging) Station at Betts Park at the end of the U.S. Canoe and Kayak Nationals marathon course.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry David Stevens of North Carolina approaches the finish line of the U.S. Canoe and Kayak Association Nationals marathon Friday after paddling 12.5 miles down the Allegheny River from the tailwaters of Kinzua Dam to the boat launch at Betts Park.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Paddlers in the K1 Unlimited Woman division churn the water at the tailwaters of Kinzua Dam Friday at the beginning of the U.S. Canoe and Kayak Association Nationals marathon course.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Race official Bill Corrigan takes measurements of a kayak Friday at the Technical Inspection (Jigging) Station at Betts Park at the end of the U.S. Canoe and Kayak Nationals marathon course.
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The number of recreational paddlers on local waterways has been up since the start of COVID-19.
Last weekend, those numbers were at another level.
Competitors from all over were in Warren County Thursday through Sunday to participate in the U.S. Canoe and Kayak Association (USCA) National Championships.
The marathon course followed the Allegheny River from the tailwaters of Kinzua Dam to Betts Park, with two upstream sections for most paddlers.
The community has grown accustomed to seeing the event on a regular basis - Warren County has hosted the event eight times since 2003 - but having them here in 2021 was a last-minute situation.
"It's been a scramble," Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry Director of Chamber Operations and Tourism John Papalia said. "The USCA reached out to us kind of last minute asking us if we could host the event."
The original hosts had problems with COVID-19 and some scheduling issues and had to back out.
Having hosted the event more than any other location enabled Papalia - and all those who participate in making the event work - to bring a successful event together quickly.
"We love having the paddlers in town," he said. "It's great for our community."
Thanks to the event, there were hundreds of men, women, and children spending time in the county. Papalia said one marathon finisher on Friday was 99 years old.
There were also former Olympians in town for the event.
"We started making the phone calls," he said. "There are a lot of pieces that have to be in place."
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Kinzua Dam is one of the main pieces and one of the first calls.
"The Army Corps has worked wonderfully with us as always," Papalia said. "They give us a little boost of water if we need or hold it back if we need."
With unusually high rainfall this summer, Papalia was concerned that the Corps of Engineers might not be able to hold back enough water to keep the river in the ideal zone for the event.
As it turns out, the Corps addressed the opposite situation. The river was low - "they were able to give us a little release to raise it up," Papalia said. "It really helps a lot."
There is only one stretch of the river that is particularly low - even with the help from Kinzua Dam.
The flame rapids, near the United Refining flare, often puts paddlers in the water.
The City of Warren Fire Department Rescue and Glade Volunteer Fire Department Swiftwater Rescue teams were available to monitor that area and make sure everyone was kept safe, Papalia said.
There are many volunteers needed to handle registrations, keep an eye on buoy turns and start and finish lines, and just make sure all goes smoothly. Some of those volunteers are now experts who return every time.
Thanks to everyone who has stepped up to help," Papalia said. "We've had a wonderful response of volunteers who have stepped up to make this happen. John Kersey does an awesome job helping us time."
While most of the competitors are from out-of-town, several are quite familiar with the marathon course.
"I like that it's here," Paul Gruber of the Allegheny River Competitive Paddlers said. "I love seeing all these people from all over the place."
He said the number of competitors is down from some past events, but that is not surprising due to COVID.
Gruber hopes that the events will generate interest in the sport. Anyone who would like to use the river for more than a float is encouraged to reach out to the club.
Teresa Stout is from Brookville, but has family ties in Warren and trains on this stretch of the Allegheny. "It's really exciting," she said. "It's a boost to know you're training for Nationals on the same river."
"We are really proud of the river we have," she said. "It makes you proud to hear people go on about how great the river is."
On Friday, Stout was working as an observer at the upstream section of the race at Shipmans Eddy. She competed in the marathons on Saturday and Sunday.
The competition isn't the only aspect of the event.
"It's like a family reunion," Stout, who is vice-president of the USCA and also represents the Pennsylvania Association of Canoeing and Kayaking (PACK), said. "This is a group of people I only see once or twice a year."
"It's a close-knit organization," she said. "No matter where you're from, we all love paddling."