Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry Director of Chamber Operations and Tourism John Papalia announced Tuesday that Warren County had submitted the winning bid for the event.

“We’re very excited,” Papalia said. “We’ll have a really fun week here in Warren County.”

As usual, the events include the marathons (adult, youth, and mixed) and youth sprints.

Local organizers are willing to work with the USCA to offer orienteering and other events, he said.

The competitions will take place on the usual venues – sprints on the lake at Chapman State Park and marathons on the Allegheny River from Kinzua Dam to Betts Park.

The event brings in hundreds of paddlers and family members from all over the United States. There were about 300 competitors in the county for the week in 2021 and that was during COVID. “That was a unique year,” Papalia said. “I’m hoping the numbers trend up.”

The dates for the championships are Aug. 8 through 12, 2024. That coincides with the dates for Warren County Fair. “Many of the paddlers come here with their families,” Papalia said. “It’s an awesome opportunity for something to do when they’re done paddling.”

Having more than a year to prepare for the event is somewhat unusual for Papalia.

There have been times when USCA officials asked Papalia to submit an application on short notice because other venues fell through or there were no suitable applicants.

Times Observer file photo Paddlers in the 2021 U.S. Canoe Association national marathon championships take off from the start line at the Kinzua Dam tailwaters.

“A couple of times we’ve hosted, they were in need of a venue,” he said. “It’s flattering. We had to improvise some things. We’re just happy to have them.”

There will be no short notice for 2024. “We met and said, ‘Let’s get a bid in,'” Papalia said. “We offer such an awesome venue.”

“We know what we’re getting into,” he said. “We look forward to seeing them back here in Warren County.”

WCCBI has been willing to host the events and the county has appropriate venues all the time with the help of Chapman State Park and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Kinzua Dam.

“This is possible because of a lot of amazing partners – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chapman State Park, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Warren County Visitors Bureau,” Papalia said.

Hosting the event gives the competitors a place to ply their trade and it’s good for the community.

“It’s an awesome boost,” he said. “You’re filling up hotels and camping. People are going to restaurants.”

“And, it’s an awesome way to highlight Warren County,” Papalia said.