(The Dogg shooting the falls.)
This years Ohiopyle Falls Race was once again a huge success. Barry Adams put on yet another fun and exciting event. Things are slowly looking up for more access to running the falls.
This year I helped to run the falls running clinics, competed in the short boat falls race, and helped judge the waterfall freestyle event. The clinics were tons of fun to run since I was helping paddlers new to waterfalls experience that whitewater milestone for the first time. I got a good number of practice runs in and ended up having a really smooth race line. My 8th place finish didn't quite show how good my line was though and was a bit of a disappointment. Since I'd only been in my boat a hand full of times since I hurt my shoulder in June I guess I'll just have to chalk it up to being out of shape. Since my shoulder is still not happy with me I decided to forgo the freestyle event and instead help judge the event. It was definitely a good show and David Fusilli killed it for a second year in a row landing a kickflip off the falls.
Bobby "The Dogg" Miller represented for Team Fluid and made kayaking off waterfalls look easy as usual. Bobby ended up with a respectable 5th place finish in the short boat class in a L Solo and a 7th place finish in the long boat class in "Pinky", an oooooold Prijon T-Slalom. Bobby also styled a big reverse freewheel off the falls in the freestyle competition in his M Flirt for a 4th place finish. He also did well with Pinky in the attainment race.
(The Dogg stompin' it as usual.)
I'd like to also congratulate Geoff Calhoun for an amazing showing at this years event. Geoff swept all race events. He won the short boat and long boat classes for the falls race and also killed it with a new course record in the attainment race. Geoff recently had a bad shoulder dislocation while creeking and is out of commission for awhile. We all wish Geoff a speedy recovery.
Be Sure to support this great river festival in the future as supporting this event is the only way to gain better access to the wonderful natural resource that is Ohiopyle Falls. Happy falls running.
(Check out www.fallsrace.com for complete details.)
See you on the river- Bryon Dorr
