35^th Annual Cameron County Canoe and Kayak Classic Overview

The 35^th Annual Cameron County Canoe and Kayak Classic is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2009. The Committee is very hopeful for good water conditions and is planning to build on the record turnout of participants and spectators from 2008. The overall theme of the 2009 event is “Celebrating 35 years of paddling in Cameron County.” The course is a 12-mile stretch of the Driftwood Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek which runs from the Emporium Country Club to Driftwood. The course is fun and challenging, though navigable by those of all levels of expertise.

Registration for the event will be held at the Emporium Country Club from 8:30am -11:30am. The registration fee for Adults will be $15.00 pre-registered and $20.00 on race day. The registration for all Junior paddlers (up to and including age 17) will be $10.00. There will be an available breakfast and many door prizes from local businesses and organizations. A shuttle service, compliments of Krise Busing, will be available to allow participants to take a vehicle to the finish line and have transportation back to the start area. The Mountaineer Search and Rescue Team will be at points along the course to help paddlers in need of rescuing.

Kayaks, compliments of Rock River & Trails of Lock Haven, and recreational canoes will again be available for use. To reserve a canoe or kayak, you must call or email me at the number / address indicated above no later than one week prior to race day!  New this year will be a two mile youth paddle traveling from Huntley to Driftwood for any youth at least 6 years old. Individual youths may either canoe with an experienced paddler or solo in a recreational kayak accompanied by safety boats. The youth event will be both weather and water condition dependent and participants must be pre-registered. Also new this year will be a speaker system at the finish line to announce paddlers as they near the finish line so spectators will know who they are and where they are from.

The 2009 race awards will be handmade paddle plaques which will be given to participants over a wide array of classes. Emporium Hardwoods has donated the cherry wood for the plaques which are being designed by Art and Ink. Ron Luckenbill of Recreating History will plane and cut the plaques, Total Engraving will laser etch them, and Cool’s Auto Repair will finish them. The awards ceremony will be held at the Emporium Firehall along with a pasta dinner to be prepared by the Emporium Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. The Committee has turned to the talents of local artisans for grand prizes, which will include artwork, photography, and a handmade quilt. A recreational kayak will also be given away.

On behalf of the Cameron County Canoe and Kayak Classic Committee, I would like to thank in advance all of this year’s race sponsors and anyone who helps to make the 35^th  edition of the Cameron County Canoe and Kayak Classic the best yet. I hope to see many new and former participants and spectators at this year’s event. If you have any questions or would like more information, please call me at (814) 546-2011, email me at beetlecamp@yahoo.com, or visit the race website at www.eteamz.com/canoeclassic.

Sincerely,