MaineBusiness.com

Canoe, Kayak Championships in West Forks, Maine, July 1-5

The American Canoe Association’s (ACA) Whitewater Open Canoe Downriver (WWOCD) Championships, and the Kayak Downriver National Championships will be held this July 1-5, 2009 on the lower Dead River in West Forks, Maine.

The Kennebec and Moose River Valleys Tourism Council says it expects whitewater enthusiasts from all over the country to participate in the races and invites anyone interested in whitewater canoeing and kayaking to come and view the races.

Sponsored by ACA New England and ACA Paddle America Club, the ACA WWOCD National Championships consist of men’s, women’s, co-ed downriver and sprint races for ages 10 and up. Practice runs are Wednesday, July 1. The races officially kick off Thursday, July 2. The downriver races take place Thursday, Saturday and Sunday on a 12.6-mile course spanning approximately 29 class II and III sets of rapids. The sprint races will be on Friday, July 3, on a 1.2-mile course.

Race headquarters are at the West Forks Fish and Game Club on Route 201 in downtown West Forks. Registration, boat inspections and the awards ceremonies will take place at the headquarters, which will be open daily from 2-5 p.m. Competitors must register one day in advance before racing.

The Kennebec and Moose River Valleys region, spanning from Gardiner to Jackman, has gained national recognition as Maine’s premiere outdoor recreation area, offering biking, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling. Located at the intersection of the Dead and Kennebec Rivers, The Forks is known as the home of Maine’s best whitewater rafting, canoeing, and kayaking.

For more information about the region and The Forks visit www.kennebecvalley.org and www.forksarea.com .