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 Water
Leg participants should check the Ridge to River Rules and Guidelines for
canoe and kayak specifications for the rec, pro, iron, iron rec, and tandem
categories. A complete set of rules has been mailed to each team captain and
iron person.
Life Jackets and Clothing: Vest-type life jackets (Type III or V) are
required and helmets and wetsuits should be considered depending on the
weather and river conditions. Inflatable life jackets are not considered
reliable and are not allowed in Alcoa’s Ridge to River. Wear wool or poly
clothing. Shirt, sweater, cap and gloves are recommended. Cotton clothing is
not recommended.
Tyvek Number Placement: Two race numbers must be taped to the bow of the
boat, one on the right side and one on the left. In addition to the numbers
on the boat, numbers will be worn on the front of the life jacket of the bow
person and on the back of the life jacket of the stern person. On kayaks,
the number will be placed on the front deck so it may be read from the bow
end of the kayak and on the front of the life jacket.
Overnight Storage: Canoes and kayaks can be stored in the County Park at
Monitor overnight and will be cared for by the Boy Scouts for a minimal
donation. This constitutes official check-in for Pro, Iron, and Tandem only.
Rec boats may be left overnight, but must be checked in and placed for the
race on Saturday morning.
Rec Team Check-in: Official rec team canoe check-in will be from 6:00 to
11:00 a.m. on race day. Each canoe must have race numbers on each side of
the bow at check-in.
Boats must have a race number in order to be placed in the launch area.
Check-in for Tandem and Iron is between 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. on the night before
the race, and also 6:00 AM - 11:00 AM on race morning. The Boy Scouts will
watch your canoe or kayak for you overnight at the County Park beginning
Friday at 4:00 p.m. for a small donation.
The Washington State Patrol will strictly enforce the prohibition against
parking on State Route 2 to transport your canoe into the County Park. The
access road to the park will be open from 6:00 to 11:00 a.m. on race morning
to receive canoes and kayaks in the check station and placement in readiness
for use. Unless you have reserved a campsite in the County Park, cars may
not be left in the County Park during race day.
Parking: Parking has been arranged with Boswell's Furniture, located across
the highway from the County Park. Admittance to the County Park will be
restricted to pedestrians only.
Race Day Boat Placement: Once positioned in the exchange zone, the boat may
be moved forward during the race only if there is space in the same row;
boats cannot be moved into a new row without direct supervision from an
official, thereby avoiding injurious collisions in the canoe storage area
during the race. The partner waiting with the boat is not allowed to move
the boat out of position until his or her partner is able to lift the boat
and assist. Iron and Tandem boats will remain where placed in launch area
until the biker arrives. Pro, Tandem, and Iron canoes and kayaks will be
segregated into separate holding areas, and recreational canoes will fill in
the remaining space. Tandem kayaks will be in the Iron zone. Iron and Tandem
kayaks will be along the fence on the south end of the boat launching area.
Support Team Member: Iron and Tandem may have 2 support team members in the
Monitor exchange zone, which is a secured zone. This support member must be
wearing the tyvek "S" number that is supplied in all Iron and Tandem bags.
Pro teams with a single-person craft may request support numbers at the
Registration Check-in on Friday night. For recreational teams and two-person
pro boats: only the participants may carry the boat to the river and launch
it. No other help is allowed.
Assistance in the Water: Assistance with getting your boat out of the water
after it has capsized is allowed during the race, as is accepting help if
you are out of your boat. Assistance with patching the damaged hull of your
boat is also allowed during the race. If you find yourself out of your boat
in the water, keep your feet downstream, look for the safety people and
start angling your way to shore by back-paddling. There will be safety
people along the bank in many areas with throw bags to assist participants
who are overboard. If possible, report overboard participants to safety
crews below the incident.
Route Description: Canoes may not leave the holding area until the timing
chip has been passed to one of the canoeists and he or she has run the
approximate 600 ft. distance to the boat in the holding area. Drafting boats
of non-participants is strictly prohibited. The water leg begins at the
exchange zone at the County Park at Monitor and includes approximately 5
miles of Class I and II water in the Wenatchee River and 3 miles of Class I
water in the Columbia, concluding in the lagoo at Walla Walla Point Park.
The Wenatchee River, from the County Park to the Wenatchee-Columbia
confluence is Class II, with some whitewater, many corners, strong eddy
lines and some bridge pillars to avoid. If possible, it would be wise to run
the river at least once before the race. |
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