For many, Northeast Ohio is not a place that comes to mind when thinking about steep whitewater. To the local paddling community, however, it is a hidden gem. In downtown Cuyahoga Falls, the Cuyahoga River drops nearly 60 feet in less than a quarter-mile as it cuts through a beautiful hidden gorge. Known by us locals as the "Sheraton Section," and loved for its wide range of runnable flows and easy logistics, it has become a popular backyard run as well as a training ground for local experts.
However, the Sheraton Section of the Cuyahoga has a unique trait that separates it from many rivers of similar difficulty: it exists within full view of the public. Given its local popularity, mystique, and friendliness to spectators, it was decided that the Cuyahoga River was the perfect location for a large whitewater paddling event, and the Cuyahoga Falls Kayak Race was born. This year's event took place on April 22nd, 2017, and became wildly successful - attracting 49 paddlers, countless sponsors, and nearly a thousand spectators from the local community.
The Race
The 2017 Cuyahoga Falls Kayak Race consisted of a series of events, including long and short boat classes, as well as slalom and "Boater X" competitions. The course is approximately half a mile in length, and with the exception of slalom and boater x, consists of a staggered start with a simple time measurement from start to finish.
Short Boat
By far the largest event, the short boat category was limited to kayaks with a total length of nine feet or less. First place was awarded to local expert Dan Piros, followed by Bobby Miller and Hunter Cooper of Dagger Kayaks.
River pioneer Brian Homberg competing in the short boat class
Long Boat
Holding the overall fastest times, and open to boats greater than nine feet in length, the long boat class was won by Bobby Miller, followed by Wade Harrison and Hunter Cooper (all with team Dagger).
Hunter Cooper competing in the long boat class
Slalom
The most technical of the events, the slalom course consisted of navigating a series of gates, with penalty points applied for each one missed. The slalom event was won by local expert and race co-founder Nic Williams of LiquidLogic, followed by Zack France and Seth Chapelle.
Danny Piros navigates a slalom gate on a practice run
Boater X
In contrast to the staggered starts seen in the long boat, short boat, and slalom races, the Boater X event consisted of a mass start, leading to an exciting neck-to-neck race with boaters running in close proximity to one another. First place was awarded to Hunter Cooper (Team Dagger).
Boater X competitors approaching the second drop
Running through The Jumble following the second drop
The River
Known somewhat affectionately as the "burning river," the Cuyahoga stretches 85 miles throughout Northeast Ohio before dumping into Lake Erie. The race section parallels Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls, and consists primarily of two distinct drops (the first often referred to as "Rookie Drop"), a rock jumble, and various approach rapids. Dropping 60 feet in less than a quarter mile, the section is known for the ability to continuously lap the various drops.
Easily demanding Class IV-V paddling skills - especially during this year's high-water event - this section is limited to experienced whitewater paddlers only. For lesser experienced paddlers, more accessible sections of the Cuyahoga exist both upstream and downstream in Cuyahoga Falls, as well as in the cities of Kent and Peninsula.
For those who prefer a more relaxing day on the river, flatwater trips along the Cuyahoga are provided by Burning River Adventures, who also provided an invaluable shuttle service on race day.
Nick Czapla approaches the second drop, with Rookie in the background
(Aerial footage of the course available here)
Event History
Grassroots whitewater events on the Cuyahoga have existed for years - largely due to the efforts of local paddlers such as David Hill and Corey Spoores - and helped to lay the groundwork for the races of today. The first Cuyahoga Falls Kayak Race was founded by Nic Williams and Tommy Piros in early 2016, and despite a relatively short preparation time, became wildly successful with hundreds of spectators as well as strong support from local businesses and the City of Cuyahoga Falls. Local paddler Don Howdyshell was later brought on as lead race coordinator and was both critical and invaluable to the success of the 2017 Cuyahoga Falls Kayak Race.
(For more on the Cuyahoga Falls Kayak Race Team of Don, Nic, and Tommy, click here)
Further Reading
- Write-up by competitor and Jackson Kayak paddler Matthew Huddleston
- Official event Facebook page
The post-race write-up by race coordinator Don Howdyshell is attached to the 2017 official race video, and can be found here.
All photos owned by the author. The contents of this article are my opinions as a kayaker and photographer only, and do not represent those of Cuyahoga Falls Kayak Race, the City of Cuyahoga Falls, or any other business, organization, or entity.
