Oar Boat Slalom
The Oar Boat Slalom is the heart and soul of the Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival. This classic event features racers muscling their craft from Fish Creek to Carter Bridge while challenging the gates through Carter Falls. This is a mano a mano event pitting the boaters skill and stamina against the river and the competition.
NRS
Slalom Race Rules
Note: All boats must be a minimum of 12′ long and 5’wide with the exception of kayaks.
Race staff have the final decision on all boating and safety equipment suitability. All participants must be wearing appropriate personal floatation devices (PFD), helmet and clothing (wet suit or dry suit) appropriate for the weather conditions.
RACE EVENT RULES
There will only be three penalty categories for this year’s races: 10,20 and 50 second penalties.
Scoring is as follows:
1. CLEAN GATE: 0 PENALTY – a gate is passed correctly if all team members are in the raft and their heads pass between the poles.
2. TOUCHED ONE POLE: 10 SECOND PENALTY- boat, paddle, oar, frame, paddlers, rower or anything associated with the boat touches’ pole while at least one crew member passes inside the poles while in the boat. Note that once you have touched a pole, no additional penalties will be assessed for that gate unless there is a touch on the second pole.
3. TOUCHED BOTH POLES: 20 SECOND PENALTY – boat, paddle, oar, frame, paddlers, rower, or anything associated with the boat touches both poles while at least one crew member passes inside the poles while in the boat. Note that once you have touched both poles no additional penalties will be assessed for that gate.
4. MISSED GATE: 50 SECOND PENALTY – a boat passes a gate without all crew members passing between the poles. If a pole is intentionally moved so as to make a missed gate into a touched gate this will be considered a missed gate and be given a 50 second penalty.
OTHER PENALTIES
Incomplete teams crossing finish line = 1 fifty (50) second penalty
Upside down through a gate = 1 (50) second penalty
Please note that a complete set of rules will be available at the registration counter and will be explained prior to the event. It is up to the competitor to be familiar with the rules as there will be no adjustment to penalties for not knowing the rules. Decisions by the judges are final.
The best and most exciting place to view the course is just up river of Carter Bridge.