Reminder that September 19 and 20 from 10am to 4pm, Wausau Whitewater will be flowing for the last time in 2009. For those of us in the organizing capacity, this always brings a certain sadness because there are friends that we will not see for over six months. If you have never been to Wausau, this is a great opportunity to reunite with the paddling community at our Wausau Whitewater Summer Final Flow.

We offer:

1. Class II / III whitewater course with slalom and freestyle features throughout the course, a world class course with the friendliness of a beginner’s river because of all of the opportunities to access at your ability level.
2. Popular site drawing a local paddling presence (we call local a five state region – Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan)
3. Opportunities to learn: each recreational release has spots for 6 students in the 8:45am to12 noon class and spots for 6 students in the 12:45pm to 4pm. There are still opening for this weekend right now but typically they fill up quickly. http://www.wausauwhitewater.org/Training.htm#RecreationalRelease
4. “Mentor program” pairing experienced boaters with those seeking some guidance with any aspect of their boating (but particularly basic skills such as eddy turns, surfing, surviving holes and drops). If you would like some help with a skill or are willing to give up an hour or two or help someone else you may not know, please let Julie (me) know when you register this weekend.
5. Friendly vendor with typical summertime fare in Wisconsin, hamburgers, brats, hot dogs, fries, and drinks.
6. Free camping on the river in our onsite primitive campsite with potta-potties and trash containers or stay with one of our great lodging partners by using codeword “kayak” when making your reservation. http://www.wausauwhitewater.org/Lodging.html
7. Close to downtown for shopping in the mall, great restaurants, art centers, and more in a beautiful city with plenty of green space.

If you have never come or been here often, Welcome to Wausau!

Ben Peters, 2007, photo by Alon Coppens

I shouldn’t even have to write more because so many people came up or called or let me know somehow that Wausau Whitewater’s website, www.wausauwhitewater.org was down that I would guess the news would spread just as fast the other way. I knew it was down, my web designer knew it was down and he knew that at least three other sites were down too.

It couldn’t have been a much more inopportune time, just before Midwest Freestyle Championships and a time when high traffic was hitting the website. But I moved it from the former host to hostgator.com where I had Kim Woodbridge moved Design Resumes earlier this year. I would have had Kim do it, I asked her, but since the files were here on my laptop and the site was totally down and she is in Philly, it just wasn’t going to work.

We got used to PayPal which is another new venture this year. Many people have found it convenient to do the payment portion through the many PayPal options on www.wausauwhitewater.org like the ones for Midwest Freestyle. Without the website, no one could preregister… now they can.

So No Excuses, let’s get registered and have the best Midwest Freestyle Championships on the ever improving Wausau Whitewater course in the center of the course at Little Drop! So much fun!

Melissa Manger, Midwest Freestyle 2008. Photo by Ted Bratton.

If you are indecisive about signing up as a competitor for Midwest Freestyle Championships, look at this line-up of great prizes and giveaways. Of course you can spend the weekend as a recreational paddler but you are not eligible for prizes. If you haven’t registered yet, e-mail me (Julie Walraven) at wkcc@dwave.net and I will e-mail back the form. www.wausauwhitewater.org has been down since Thursday.

Prizes for the random drawing all competitors eligible (REC boaters are not eligible)

1. Jackson Kayak of your choice, winner must pay shipping. jacksonkayak.com
2. Kayaking gear donated by Midwest Mountaineering, www.midwestmtn.com
3. Kayak gear donation from Bearpaw Outdoor Adventure Resort www.bearpawoutdoors.com
4. Whitecap Kayak – Lake Superior Sea Kayak camping trip for 2 people.  One night (two days kayaking) FREE.  Apostle Islands or Shoreline Waterfall Region near Porcupine Mts. Must join an existing trip, or form a group with paying participants.  Additional nights can be purchased at usual rate.  Guides, food, gear, instructions all included.  Participants bring sleeping bags & clothes. Check out www.whitecapkayak.com for additional details on trips.
5. Mountain Khakis – 4 pairs of pants. www.mountainkhakis.com
6. Joe Jacobi is donating a weekend in one of his cottages.  As a way for mid-western people to jump start their kayaking season on 2010, I’d like to donate a weekend at our Ocoee Nights Cottage that can be used for a Friday/Saturday night stay between January 8, 2010 and May 17th, 2010. The only weekend I need to hold onto (black out) is one weekend in April (usually mid) when a 100 mile mountain bike race is in town. Other than that, I extended it far before the first Ocoee release in case interested paddlers wanted to use the Ocoee Nights cottage stay for paddling the Tellico (less than one hour away) or even for a great mountain bike weekend in the Ocoee area in January/February – usually very nice mountain biking temps – more comfortable than riding in July.
7. Gear donation from WorldKayak.com
8. Bonus!!! Wausau Area Event’s Area Director, Leah Alters, has provided tickets for all competitors, recreational paddlers, and volunteers to get into the Big Bull Falls Blues fest for both Friday and Saturday night (located walking distance from the camping area).

ACA Open Canoe Slalom Nationals and North American Championship

Five fastest runs in three paddler categories regardless of boat paddled.

OC1 Men 1. John Kazimierczyk RAC 171.72

2. John Kazimierczyk Masters RAC 172.02

3. Andy Walker RAC 172.69

4. Andy Walker REC 174.02

5. John Kazimierczyk Master REC 178.13

OC1 Women

1. Carolyn Peterson REC 219.61

2. Carolyn Peterson RAC 227.26

3. Carolyn Peterson Master REC 229.06

4. Hailey Thompson RAC 247.0

5. Hailey Thompson RAC13 252.37

OC2 (regardless of boat or gender)

1. Andy Walker/Vanessa Charron Mixed REC 234.16

2. Dewey Ewers/Alan Burgmiller Open REC 240.5

3. Andy Walker/Vanessa Charron Open RAC 241.97

4. Pete Steffes/Eli Helbert Open RAC 250.18

5. John Kazimierczyk/Hailey Thompson Mixed RAC 15 257.93

2009 Wausau Whitewater Season Lodging Specials with our Hospitality Industry Partners!

We are blessed with great lodging partners throughout the Wausau metropolitan area. Use the codeword “kayak” and it doesn’t matter if you are a volunteer, competitor, or spectator, our lodging partners are happy to share the rate and we are happy to have you stay with them.

2009 Wausau Whitewater Season Lodging Specials with our Hospitality Industry Partners!

Call local numbers listed and use code word Kayak to get these rates!

Jefferson Street Inn (our Sponsoring Hotel) Executive Suites starting at $99 located at 201 Jefferson Street, Wausau 715-845-6500 or 866-855-6500 www.jeffersonstreetinn.com The Jefferson Street Inn is downtown Wausau’s full service, luxury hotel featuring 100 suites and executive guest rooms. Pamper yourself in our warm, inviting surroundings. Unwind in your personal whirlpool bath, then slip into one of our cozy robes and relax on our amazing pillow-top beds by the fireplace in your suite. Jefferson Street Inn is located in a prime central location walking distance from shopping, restaurants, museums and other attractions. We also offer complimentary shuttle transportation to the Central Wisconsin airport, local business and Granite Peak Ski Area located at Rib Mountain State Park. Washington Square and covered garage parking are located adjacent to Jefferson Street Inn.City Grill Located onsite at Jefferson Street Inn, City Grill is a contemporary bistro specializing in American cuisine. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and features a full bar. Private dining rooms are available for special occasions. Be our guest for casual, contemporary dining in downtown Wausau. We specialize in great American fare such as extraordinary steaks, crisp salads, homemade soups, seafood and fresh pastas, entrees.

Candlewood Suites $78.00 803 Industrial Park Avenue | Rothschild, WI 54474 | 715-355-8900 CandlewoodSuites.com/RothschildWi

Welcome to Candlewood Suites Wausau-Rothschild, the area’s only all suite hotel. Every suite features fully equipped kitchens, large flat screen TV’s with DVD players and our Comforts of Home Bedding collection. Be sure to take advantage of our 24/7 business and fitness center, free guest laundry facilities, complimentary shuttle service, and free high speed internet access. Candlewood Suites is conveniently located off of Hwy 51/I-39 with abundant shopping, dining and entertainment all within walking distance. Please call hotel direct for discounted rates.

Courtyard by Marriott Wausau $89.00 1000 South 22nd Avenue, Wausau, WI 54401 www.Marriott.com/cwacy (715) 849-2124 Valid through December 15, 2009, 7 days per week. Standard King or Double Queen. Hot breakfast only $8.95 Rewards program: Marriott Rewards.

Days Inn-North $43.00 116 S 17th Avenue, Wausau, WI 54401www.staywausau.com (715) 842-0641

(2 miles from Wausau Whitewater Park) Our newly renovated hotel features: a delicious continental breakfast, including waffles, eggs, french toast and more. A fitness center with all-new equipment to help you stay in shape. A public access computer and brand new conference room for guest’s convenience. At the Days Inn you will receive exceptional service from a friendly staff. All of our rooms include wireless internet access, coffee makers, hairdryers, and iron/ironing boards. If you’re looking for the best value money can buy, give us a call.

Days Inn & Suites Rates starting at $59.00 715.355.5501

www.daysinnwausau.com Days Inn & Suites is located about 5 miles from Whitewater Park Area. Your “home-away-from-home”, with newly renovated rooms, pool, whirlpool and breakfast area. Hot continental breakfast. friendly courteous service, free wireless high-speed internet in rooms and lobby area. All our rooms have refrigerators, coffeemakers, hairdryers and iron/ironing board. Meeting room to accommodate group meetings for private functions or group activities.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites $79.00 4210 Barbican Avenue, Weston, WI 54476 (715) 359-1280 www.hiexpress.com/wausauwi Welcome to Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Wausau/Weston. Our newly built hotel offers great amenities including a hot breakfast, business center, pool, whirlpool, kids’ pool, & sauna. In room amenities include free high-speed Internet, 37″ plasma TV, microwave, refrigerator, and a 20″ flat screen TV in bathrooms. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites of Wausau/Weston is conveniently located off of W-29 minutes away from St Clare’s Hospital, Marshfield Clinic, and Granite Peak Ski Area.

Holiday Inn $79.00 1000 Imperial Avenue, Rothschild, WI 54474 www.holidayinn.com/wausauwi

(715) 355-1111 The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Wausau/Rothschild, WI features complimentary Continental breakfast, indoor pool, whirlpool, and a large fitness center. Conveniently located and highly visible off I-39/51 exit 185, the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites of Wausau/Rothschild, WI features the Green Mill restaurant and lounge.

Howard Johnson $59.00 2101 North Mountain Road, Wausau, WI 54401 www.hojowausau.com

(715) 842-0711 or 800-928-7281 Valid through December 15, 2009, 7 days per week. Standard King or Double Queen. Rewards program: Wyndham Rewards.

Plaza Hotel & Suites $69.00 201 N. 17th Avenue, Wausau, WI 54401 www.plazawausau.com

(715) 845-4341 The Plaza Hotel and Suites is situated in the center of Wausau, approximately two miles from downtown Wausau and 10 miles from Central Wisconsin Airport.

Stoney Creek Inn starting as low as $69.00 + tax Sun-Thurs. – $84.00 + tax for Fri- Sat. is located right off the interstate 39 and 29 in the Greater Wausau Area, with easy access on and off! www.stoneycreekinn.com If you are looking for a facility that is centrally located in the Greater Wausau Area, Stoney Creek Inn is the place for you ! Come “Experience the Great Outdoors…Indoors” at one of our unique, custom-designed lodge hotels. The Stoney Creek Inn of Wausau is a beautiful 107 room property that provides all of our guests with an atmosphere that is warm and cozy, a touch of “at home” comfort, and the fun of toe tappin’ music. Attached to the Stoney Creek Inn of Wausau is the Northwoods Conference Center, where we provide outstanding service for meetings/conferences ranging from 10-900 people. All of our sleeping rooms feature modern, conveniences with a comfortable Northwoods feel. Our accommodations include: Standard King and Double rooms | Bunk bed rooms | Deluxe rooms | Expanded rooms | 13 Northwoods theme suites | 100% smoke free

Super 8 Rates starting at $54.00 715.848.2888 www.super8wausau.com

Super 8 is located about 2 miles from Whitewater Park Area. Experience our free continental breakfast, 24-hour indoor pool and whirlpool and pet-friendly motel. friendly, courteous service, free wireless high-speed internet in rooms and lobby area. All our rooms have refrigerators, coffeemakers, hairdryers and iron/ironing board.

Call local numbers listed and use code word Kayak to get these rates!

• Jefferson Street Inn (our Sponsoring Hotel) Executive Suites starting at $99 located at 201 Jefferson Street, Wausau 715-845-6500 or 866-855-6500 www.jeffersonstreetinn.com The Jefferson Street Inn is downtown Wausau’s full service, luxury hotel featuring 100 suites and executive guest rooms. Pamper yourself in our warm, inviting surroundings. Unwind in your personal whirlpool bath, then slip into one of our cozy robes and relax on our amazing pillow-top beds by the fireplace in your suite. Jefferson Street Inn is located in a prime central location walking distance from shopping, restaurants, museums and other attractions. We also offer complimentary shuttle transportation to the Central Wisconsin airport, local business and Granite Peak Ski Area located at Rib Mountain State Park. Washington Square and covered garage parking are located adjacent to Jefferson Street Inn. City Grill Located onsite at Jefferson Street Inn, City Grill is a contemporary bistro specializing in American cuisine. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and features a full bar. Private dining rooms are available for special occasions. Be our guest for casual, contemporary dining in downtown Wausau. We specialize in great American fare such as extraordinary steaks, crisp salads, homemade soups, seafood and fresh pastas, entrees.
• Candlewood Suites $78.00 803 Industrial Park Avenue | Rothschild, WI 54474 | 715-355-8900 CandlewoodSuites.com/Rothschild Wisconsin – Welcome to Candlewood Suites Wausau-Rothschild, the area’s only all suite hotel. Every suite features fully equipped kitchens, large flat screen TV’s with DVD players and our Comforts of Home Bedding collection. Be sure to take advantage of our 24/7 business and fitness center, free guest laundry facilities, complimentary shuttle service, and free high speed internet access. Candlewood Suites is conveniently located off of Hwy 51/I-39 with abundant shopping, dining and entertainment all within walking distance. Please call hotel direct for discounted rates.
• Courtyard by Marriott Wausau $89.00 1000 South 22nd Avenue, Wausau, WI 54401 www.Marriott.com/cwacy (715) 849-2124 Valid through December 15, 2009, 7 days per week. Standard King or Double Queen. Hot breakfast only $8.95 Rewards program: Marriott Rewards.
• Days Inn-North $43.00 116 S 17th Avenue, Wausau, WI 54401 www.staywausau.com (715) 842-0641 – (2 miles from Wausau Whitewater Park) Our newly renovated hotel features: a delicious continental breakfast, including waffles, eggs, french toast and more. A fitness center with all-new equipment to help you stay in shape. A public access computer and brand new conference room for guest’s convenience. At the Days Inn you will receive exceptional service from a friendly staff. All of our rooms include wireless internet access, coffee makers, hairdryers, and iron/ironing boards. If you’re looking for the best value money can buy, give us a call.
• Days Inn & Suites Rates starting at $59.00 715.355.5501  www.daysinnwausau.com Days Inn & Suites is located about 5 miles from Whitewater Park Area. Your “home-away-from-home”, with newly renovated rooms, pool, whirlpool and breakfast area. Hot continental breakfast. friendly courteous service, free wireless high-speed internet in rooms and lobby area. All our rooms have refrigerators, coffeemakers, hairdryers and iron/ironing board. Meeting room to accommodate group meetings for private functions or group activities.
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites $79.00 4210 Barbican Avenue, Weston, WI 54476 (715) 359-1280 www.hiexpress.com/wausauwi Welcome to Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Wausau/Weston. Our newly built hotel offers great amenities including a hot breakfast, business center, pool, whirlpool, kids’ pool, & sauna. In room amenities include free high-speed Internet, 37″ plasma TV, microwave, refrigerator, and a 20″ flat screen TV in bathrooms. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites of Wausau/Weston is conveniently located off of W-29 minutes away from St Clare’s Hospital, Marshfield Clinic, and Granite Peak Ski Area.
• Holiday Inn $79.00 1000 Imperial Avenue, Rothschild, WI 54474 www.holidayinn.com/wausauwi - (715) 355-1111 The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Wausau/Rothschild, WI features complimentary Continental breakfast, indoor pool, whirlpool, and a large fitness center. Conveniently located and highly visible off I-39/51 exit 185, the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites of Wausau/Rothschild, WI features the Green Mill restaurant and lounge.
• Howard Johnson $59.00 2101 North Mountain Road, Wausau, WI 54401 www.hojowausau.com – (715) 842-0711 or 800-928-7281 Valid through December 15, 2009, 7 days per week. Standard King or Double Queen. Rewards program: Wyndham Rewards.
• Plaza Hotel & Suites $69.00 201 N. 17th Avenue, Wausau, WI 54401 www.plazawausau.com (715) 845-4341 The Plaza Hotel and Suites is situated in the center of Wausau, approximately two miles from downtown Wausau and 10 miles from Central Wisconsin Airport.
• Stoney Creek Inn starting as low as $69.00 + tax Sun-Thurs. – $84.00 + tax for Fri- Sat. is located right off the interstate 39 and 29 in the Greater Wausau Area, with easy access on and off! www.stoneycreekinn.com If you are looking for a facility that is centrally located in the Greater Wausau Area, Stoney Creek Inn is the place for you ! Come “Experience the Great Outdoors…Indoors” at one of our unique, custom-designed lodge hotels. The Stoney Creek Inn of Wausau is a beautiful 107 room property that provides all of our guests with an atmosphere that is warm and cozy, a touch of “at home” comfort, and the fun of toe tappin’ music. Attached to the Stoney Creek Inn of Wausau is the Northwoods Conference Center, where we provide outstanding service for meetings/conferences ranging from 10-900 people. All of our sleeping rooms feature modern, conveniences with a comfortable Northwoods feel. Our accommodations include: Standard King and Double rooms | Bunk bed rooms | Deluxe rooms | Expanded rooms | 13 Northwoods theme suites | 100% smoke free
• Super 8 Rates starting at $54.00 715.848.2888 www.super8wausau.com – Super 8 is located about 2 miles from Whitewater Park Area. Experience our free continental breakfast, 24-hour indoor pool and whirlpool and pet-friendly motel. friendly, courteous service, free wireless high-speed internet in rooms and lobby area. All our rooms have refrigerators, coffeemakers, hairdryers and iron/ironing board.

Name:______________________________________

Registration – Midwest Freestyle Championships

August 15 – 16, 2009   Wausau Whitewater Park

Address: ____________________________________________________________________

City _____________________________      State: _________         Zip: ____________

Phone:   _________________________     Email Address: ______________________

Age:  _________________    Birth Date:  ________________ Gender Male: ___  Female: __

American Canoe Association (ACA) member #:    __________    Expiration Date: ________

Class Rules and Information

Each registered boater receives 3 days of water to paddle on the Wausau course Friday though Sunday, free lunches on Saturday and Sunday and other goodies. The paddler who wins the beginner and intermediate recreation class must move up in class the following year. This includes the 2008 winner.

Paddlers who choose to physically compete in a class will receive one free entry into a competitors drawing for a certificate for a new Jackson kayak of their choice! Other prizes will also be drawn for from the competitors drawing giving every competitor a chance to win. Competitors’ Drawing is held at the awards following teardown on Sunday. Must be present to win.

In this 2009 event women can enter the freestyle expert / intermediate / beginner classes.

Please check the box for the class you are entering. You must check at least one class when registering, but you do not have to compete if you just want to come to paddle on the course recreationally for the weekend and enjoy the water, food, and fun. Please fill in registration form completely to assure that you are fully registered. Missing data could cause you to be omitted in the competitor database.

Class	X	Class	X
K-1 Freestyle Expert		Team Event
K-1 Freestyle Intermediate		K-1 Freestyle Master class (Men’s K-1 class over 40)
K-1 Freestyle Beginner		OC-1 Freestyle
K-1 Freestyle Women’s		C-1 Freestyle
Recreational paddling		Boatercross

	$40.00 Onsite registration: Friday, August 14, 2009 10 to 4pm (There will be a $5.00 fee for registering the day of the event)
	Final Onsite registration for competition Saturday, August 15, 2009 9:00 AM. One day only registration for recreational paddlers $20.00
	$5.00 ACA Event Membership Fee (for non-ACA members)
	ACA Membership option (Please discuss with Julie)
	TOTAL ENCLOSED

Signed Waivers are required for registration. Waivers available onsite & www.wausauwhitewater.org as pdf file.

! Please pay when registering for event, registrations will be refunded 1 month before event if you cannot participate.

Payment by check: payable to Wausau Kayak / Canoe Corporation (WKCC).

PayPal on www.wausauwhitewater.org

Email form to wkcc@dwave.net and payment

Signed Waivers are required for registration. Waivers available onsite & www.wausauwhitewater.org as pdf file.

Credit Card # (MasterCard or Visa Only)                         Exp. Date                                           Cardholder Signature

Note: Location at Little Drop in the Center of the course!

Midwest Freestyle Championships

August 15^th & 16^th, 2009 Wausau, WI

Welcome to the Wausau Midwest Freestyle Championships! Over the weekend you will see whitewater paddlers from the Midwest will be competing in the classes below. In freestyle competitions competitors score points based on the difficulty and precision of moves made in a hydraulic feature on the course.

Please join us for an exciting Wausau Tradition.  Times below are approximate.

	Saturday 15th

9:30	Boater Meeting
10:00	K-1 Beginner Preliminaries
10:30	K-1 Intermediate Preliminaries
11:00	K-1 Women’s
12:00	Lunch
12:30	OC1 / C1
1:00	K-1 Expert Preliminaries (there will be pro boaters competing in this division)
2:00	K-1 Master Preliminaries / Finals
3:00	Big Gun Shootout (time permitting)
7:00	Kayak Video’s at the VFW (basement) Food can be purchased at the VFW prior to video’s Mountain Khakis giveaway

	Sunday 16th

9:30	Boater meeting
10:00	Team Rodeo Preliminaries
10:30	Boatercross Sponsored by World Kayak
11:30	K-1 Beginner Finals
12:00	Lunch
12:30	K-1 Intermediate Finals
1:00	K-1 Women’s Finals
1:30	K-1 Expert Finals
2:00	Team Rodeo Finals
3:00	Clean-up / Tear down (All competitors must help)
4:00	Award Ceremony

Please see the following open water, clinic and competition details.

8/13/08 Freestyle training camp 8:30 am to 6pm Water 10:00 am to 4:30 pm

8/14/08 Freestyle training camp 8:30 am to 6pm Water 10:00 am to 4:30 pm

8/15/08 Midwest Freestyle Championships Water 10:00 am to 4:30 pm

8/16/08 Midwest Freestyle Championships Water 10:00 am to 4:30 pm

Wausau Whitewater Midwest Freestyle Event List:

Freestyle events:

Big change to this event this year is women will be allowed to enter the K-1 beginner, intermediate and expert categories. We made this decision because there are not enough women paddlers to have separate skill levels within the women’s division and we want to give less experienced female boaters a chance to win a division. Scoring is based on best of 2 – 1 minute rides.

Team Event for MWFC:

The big change to this event in “09” will be that the teams will be chosen at random. Teams will be selected Saturday night at the VFW video showing.

Team consists of three registered boaters. Competitors must participate in individual events to qualify for team eligibility.  The team with the highest score wins.  There are no classes, any and all mixed boat, gender and age groups are allowed to complete a team.  All boaters must pre-register and pay event fees prior to Saturday 15^th for eligibility.

Team Rodeo Scoring:

Standard rodeo scoring applies.  Team competes as a three member team. Each team member must enter the wave or hole feature. Each team has 2 minutes and the score of one run is used for point totals. Again there will only be an award for 1^st in this event.

Awards:

Top three winners in each event will receive the following, Gold Belt buckle 1^st place, Silver Belt Buckle 2^nd place and Bronze for 3^rd place. The team event will only have an award for 1^st place, 3 Gold belt buckles will be awarded to the top team.

Please see the Wausau Whitewater park home page for the 2009 rodeo scoring trick sheet.

Boatercross Event:

All boaters to line up out of the water with boats near the start line. We will send 5 boaters at a time into the water to race. The winner of the heat must line back up immediately. You must use the same boat you compete with in the other events. If you are not competing in the freestyle event only river running and freestyle boats are allowed.

Other event notes.

• Bring a water bottle. We will have a cooler full of Gatorade to fill your bottles. We will not be providing any bottled beverages.
• Free Camping next to the Whitewater Park (no camp fires allowed).

I knew it was coming. I knew it was a good thing. But nothing could have prepared me for today in the way of expectations or how I would feel about this latest partnership for Wausau Whitewater. First Descents provides whitewater kayaking and other outdoor adventure experiences to promote emotional, psychological and physical healing for young adults with cancer.

The board discussed combining with First Descents several years ago and we all agreed it was something we wanted to do but until Michael Schroeder started making phone calls and sending e-mails, it was a stalled project. As we explored the connection, we found that Bear Paw’s Scott Berry was making the same connections with First Descents. Since the connection was already in progress, we decided that the best thing was to work together and provide a day on Wausau Whitewater for the group and Bear Paw was already selected as the host site for the campers lodging and the rest of the week-long program. Mike arranged for the water release from Wisconsin Public Service as part of our schedule and he and I planned to be available during the day. He knew he would be on site all day. I was just taking the day as it came. I thought I might be leaving to go back to my home office.

I packed up Teddy (the German Shepherd who goes with me to the river whenever I think I can manage him and my other tasks) and plenty of work to keep me busy on the river. But once the group arrived, I knew I was hooked and I wasn’t going home.

Once of my first surprises was the Rebecca Giddens (Olympic Silver Medal Winner) had come to join the group! I hadn’t seen Rebecca in a few years but I had e-mailed her in spring when I was working on sponsorship materials to ask if I could use her help with our fundraising campaign and told her about the First Descents event coming up. I forgot that she had said she wanted to get involved but there she was!

The next surprise was that Brad Ludden, the founder of First Descents, was also walking up the river! Brad and I had exchanged Tweets on Twitter but I had never met him. Brad’s reputation an exceptional paddler would add to my day.

WSAW arrived shortly after the campers and I set them up to connect with Brad Ludden and arranged for him to both do a story and connect them with camp participants who would be willing to go on camera. Cameras rolling filmed boaters on the water and Matt Behrens and Julia Trotter captured the magic of the day. #mce_temp_url#

WAOW’s Casey Lake called me to let me know he’d be sending a crew too and Pat Peckham from City Pages was there for a photo op. Jim Rosenberg arrived to take photos for Wisconsin Public Service and he too was caught by the difference for this group of paddlers on the Wausau Whitewater course.

I talked with Virginia Ludden, Brad Ludden’s mom for quite awhile about the First Descent program, the course, the people involved and gained the sense that this was a special project that both mom and son were deeply invested in.

WAOW’s Erik Mrotek and videographer Tom both came to the river and created a great story highlighting the benefits of First Descents and their visit to Wausau Whitewater. Go to Waow.com for the story. (multiple tries to link is not working)

Tony came down to provide safety and I know he had just as good of a day in the water as the campers. Tony is our safety director and he is retired but he was swimming in the river, chasing lost boats, and encouraging the paddlers and I know he wouldn’t have missed this day for anything either.

Teddy spent the day intermingling with the campers, nuzzling them, and letting them pet him. He’s so good with people that I had no worries about anyone petting him and before long everyone was calling his name and he was loving it. That big dog of mine sure has a way of working his way into people’s hearts. He came home so tired from working all day that he’s been sleeping ever since.

I came away after watching these special paddlers come down the river with a feeling that Wausau Whitewater brought joy to more people’s hearts today and after watching the videos and reading the news stories, I am just so glad that we have this wonderful resource to share. Cancer is a horrible disease but these paddlers gave no evidence of being sick. They took to the challenge of the river and made it their own!

Today, Craig Smerda, former President of Wausau Whitewater, will take over the blog for the moment to invite your help next week:

“Last night I was down at the course cleaning out trees and all of the scruff on the river right side just below the dam. It took three hours to do about 60 feet of shoreline and I took out a literal ton of debris… frankly it sucked… but we’ll be able to use the eddy again and I was happy to get it done.

Here’s where you and anyone else you can forward this to that doesn’t mind getting a little dirty comes in. The entire river right side of the course hasn’t been maintained this way in quite a few years. For the sake of safety, eddy access and just making it look better again I’d like to have at least one or two more sessions of loppin’ cuttin’ and clearin’ next week as we have Wausau Whitewater Weekend coming up on June 27-28 http://www.wausauwhitewater.org/Events.htm#WWW and to hang wires and string gates it makes it much easier if this is done beforehand.

I’m planning on doing another session of cleaning on Monday the 22nd starting at 5 o’clock and if need be on Wednesday evening as well. You’ll need to bring gloves, long pants, loppers, bow saw, water etc. and the ability to identify poison ivy (although I didn’t see any last night I know there’s some in other areas of the course)

I hope you can join me…

Craig”

And when you are ready go to: http://www.wausauwhitewater.org/Training.htm#RayMcLain to sign up. We have room for 30 participants!

If you have not yet signed up for camp with Joe Jacobi (Olympic Gold 1992) coaching, watch this video:

You shouldn't miss this one!

John McConville at Midwest Freestyle

This is a beginning! Wausau Whitewater Flows.

Thanks to Joe Jacobi http://joejacobi.com/ who told me this morning, “start a blog sooner than later”, I am jumping in and getting wet!

What does Wausau Whitewater do? Wausau Whitewater provides the opportunity to play, train, and compete on the whitewater course in downtown Wausau. The official non-profit that runs Wausau Whitewater is Wausau Kayak / Canoe Corporation. Somehow, paddlers and organizers alike are more likely to think Wausau Whitewater. The website was named www.wausauwhitewater.org several years ago. The annual publication has always been called Wausau Whitewater. Everything happens in Wausau Whitewater Park… so Wausau Whitewater it is!

Now, might as well as address where Wausau is… Seems like it would be the next logical question. Wausau is a city in Central Wisconsin. Pretty much central, too! About 2 1/2 hours from the state capital, Madison. About 4 hours from Minneapolis / St. Paul. About 4 hours from Milwaukee. Halfway between Eau Claire and Green Bay. Land-locked for the most part, Wausau is surrounded by other villages and cities, making the metropolitan area population over 100,000.

The history of Wausau Whitewater could cover another post completely but briefly, it was begun as an effort to take a resource, the Wisconsin River, and turn it from a dirty, polluted spot to the beautiful natural river whitewater course that it is today. Early organizers saw it as a place for people to kayak and that it is. Along the way though, the course evolved into a location selected for many local, regional, national, and international competitions. The international aspect is probably most remembered but as you will learn if you follow this blog, it is only part of what happens at the course and only part of what Wausau Whitewater does.

Who am I? I am Wausau Whitewater’s Operations Coordinator, Julie Walraven. In 1997, I knew where the river was! I had watched a competition or two. But I really had no clue when I was asked to take the contract to help manage the non-profit, that it would a choice that would literally change my life! The paddlers on the river have become my friend base. We’ll talk about that another day.

For now, thanks to Joe, there is a beginning to a blog for Wausau Whitewater!

Dan Conrad, Safety Swimmer rescuing a paddler

Since I am the Operations Coordinator for Wausau Whitewater, it could be thought that I’m biased about what makes a good year for Wausau Whitewater. I am… but that’s not the point. It’s not just my opinion.

What happened this year to make it different? We kicked off the year with a two-day Swiftwater Rescue Training Clinic, offering firefighters and other rescue professionals a chance to feel whitewater’s power and be trained in-water on how to rescue. In light of flash flooding, boating accidents, and other potential water-related incidents, training these professionals seemed to be a need that Wausau Whitewater could fill.

The Open Canoe Training Clinic. Ray McLain Training Camp, Wausau Whitewater Weekend and United States Junior Olympic Whitewater Festival filled the last half of June and a good part of July. The comments from the Junior Olympic participants speak for themselves. Here’s what Connor Curston, the coach of Alberta Slalom Canoe / Kayak,  http://albertaslalom.blogspot.com/2008/07/junior-olympics.html had to say:

Now we are at mighty Wausau– quite a step up from the slow moving Plover. Wausau is a world famous whitewater course that has hosted World Cups, Junior World Championships, and many big international events like Champion Series races and Pan-American Championships. It will host the 2012 Junior World Championships. So basically it is the big time! And a big time eye-opener for Levi and Courtney. But they are real troopers and despite a couple of swims they are paddling very well after just 2 days here. Today Levi nailed two river rolls. Courtney said, “My heart stops every time I approach the big drop in the middle!” and then proceed it to do it better then almost everyone out there in the sprint race yesterday! Jesse is like a fish in water and is really showing some top moves. I often catch the American paddler’s parents watching on shore asking, “Who is THAT guy!?”

There are too many highlights to capture in one post but everyone would agreed that the changes to the course highlighted the year. John Brennan, Course Designer from Durango, CO and Michael Schroeder, Project Manager from our board of directors teamed up for the third time in three years to work on course enhancements. With a grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, John and Mike set in place the plan that Kevin from Precision Grading & Utilities would execute. The result is that the course once again grew in popularity. Attendance at the recreational releases now regularly reaches 80 to 120 paddlers from a minimum of a five state area for 6 hours of paddling and playing on the Wausau Whitewater course. Reactions from the paddling community include:

Nora from Red Wing, MN commented in her blog about the changes on August 2:

Nora in action

Wow! Wausau! The new course improvements were fantastic! Great job John and Mike! I think just about everyone came today…just about. The Canoe U grads were there in force and it was great to see them playing the holes and combat rolling. The women were well represented today. Laura and Sara both had great days! The men were really showing their stuff also…competition is going to be tough! http://seaboopugs.blogspot.com 

The course improvements were confirmed by Bryan from St. Paul, MN in his blog titled “Wausau, Baby, Wausau”

The folks at WKCC revamped the course again, changing nearly every feature on the river. For the most part, they made the holes less pushy and easier to control while maintaining or increasing retentiveness. There are also two holes at the very bottom of the river that are smaller and friendlier, yet deep enough to throw loops in. It’s great. There are now about 8 really good places to throw cartwheels on the river.

In addition to the paddling, Laura and I hit up the Marathon county fair Friday night and had a great time looking at cows and going on a couple of really great rides. We even ran into Dave and his new bride there on one of the rides.

I went into this weekend with high expectations and higher hopes and both were absolutely blown away by how much fun I wound up having. Now if only I could remember how to loop…. http://liquid-addiction.blogspot.com

There was much more to the season that made it special but we can sum it with another post from Nora:

Ever have a season you just didn’t want to end? The music stops but the feelings remain like like a soft breeze randomly tickling you? You can’t see it but you know it’s there. The memories of the year flitting thru your mind like fall leaves? This year at Wausau was beautiful. So much growth! There were so many new people discovering the play park this year for the first time. It was great to see! The regulars getting sooo good! The new design is just wonderful!

If I just told you it was a special year at Wausau, you might think I was biased. But the customers of Wausau Whitewater just told you their story. What do you think?

Wausau Whitewater is a non-profit. Though we charge for use of the course through registration and paddling fees for recreational releases, there are many costs that aren’t covered by those fees. To supplement those fees, the early organizers set in place a sponsor program.

For as long as I have been around and much longer, Wausau Insurance, and now its parent company, Liberty Mutual Group, has been our presenting sponsor. We are grateful for their continued support which provides a generous donation that gives us a base. We have been blessed with widespread community support from corporations such as Wausau Papers, Greenheck Fan Corporation, MetLife, Siemens, Noodles, Abby Bank, Associated Bank, M&I Bank, Marathon Savings Bank, and many more. Cash donations help meet expenses.

Sponsorship is not contained just to our cash donors though. We accept in-kind donations for any service or product that we can use in our events, training, course operations, course construction, and marketing. One of the largest in-kind donation comes from Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) who donates the water released from the dam which otherwise would be used for hydropower. They have been generous both with the water and with coordinating the dam operators to meet our release schedule. Wausau Paper has also given the paper for the Wausau Whitewater promotional program (52 – 60 pages) which we use to promote our sponsors and provide information about what happens on the river. Our media parters, like Wausau Daily Herald and 89Q assure us that the public will be informed of our schedule.

There are many more sponsors than I can discuss in one post but we are very grateful for each and every one of them and highlight them all through the new Flash listing on the home page of our website.

Without their contributions, we would find it difficult to keep Wausau Whitewater Flowing. This blog will provide me one more way to say thank you. If you have participated in our events, training, or recreational releases, please help me with those thank yous. In this economy, sponsors need to know that their dollars are appreciated.

If you are a corporation or small business who has been blessed with abundance and believe in what Wausau Whitewater does, contact me to see how we can work together to promote your company and Wausau Whitewater at the same time!

Canadian Youth - Evan Palmer-Charette

There has always been a degree of mass confusion about events at Wausau Whitewater. People think we have one event. People think we have the same event. People think it is at the same time. People think it is the same event. All of those assumptions are wrong.

 

 

 

I am going to let you in on an inside secret. (shhh…) The first step in defining the season for Wausau Whitewater is to decide which organization have events that we would like to bid. Yes, I said BID… Wausau gets major events by bidding. For example, we are in the process of bidding 2009 American Canoe Association Open Canoe Slalom Nationals & North American Championships. The bid was drafted, reviewed by Wausau Whitewater’s committee chairs, and then sent to the chair of the Open Canoe Committee which decides where Nationals is awarded. The proposed date for this event is July 28 to August 2. At this point, it becomes a waiting game until the decision is made.

 

This event ranks larger than any we are bidding through (USACK) this year. Many years, it is the USACK event that will form our schedule. For example in 2011, Wausau will host International Canoe Federation (ICF) Junior Slalom PreWorlds which is an international event linked to the acceptance of our bid for the 2012 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Junior Slalom World Championships. In 2011 and 2012, those two huge international events have an additional event tied to them. To allow the US Junior Slalom team practice on the home court, we will host US Junior Slalom Team Trials in both 2011 and 2012. To get an idea of the magnitude of the 2012 event, in 2008, the event was held in Roudnice nad Labem in the Czech Republic and there were 243 competitors from 35 countries are taking part.

 

North America has not hosted an event of this magnitude since September 8 and 9, 2001. Homeland Security and visa issues made it difficult to get teams from international locations into the US after 911. This caused a lull in the rich history of international events that Wausau was privileged to host for the last 20 years.

 

Once bidded events are put on the schedule, other events are slotted into the schedule. In 2009, Wausau will continue the tradition of Wausau Whitewater Weekend, a no rules kind of event that lets slalom paddlers race down the river in the boat of their choice. The mix of playboats, slalom boats, open canoes and other kayaks or canoes is amazing to watch. Most of all, this is a fun event. Paddlers can make runs until they are totally exhausted. Wausau Whitewater Weekend has a tradition of being slotted in June and preceded by the Ray McLain Training Camp. New paddlers often get their first time in competition during Wausau Whitewater Weekend.

 

No season at Wausau Whitewater is complete without the very popular Midwest Freestyle Championships. Founded in 2004 by Michael Schroeder, this event gives the growing playboating community the opportunity to throw down their best moves in an adrenaline-packed head-to-head competition where the competitors strive to string together the best moves in the freestyle sport, such as Blunts, McNasties, Phonix Monkeys, and more.

 

To round out the season schedule after the events are slotted in, training camps and clinics are scheduled. Last year Wausau hosted four different types of training (freestyle, open canoe, swiftwater rescue, and basic paddling). Training allows anyone one to grow in whitewater paddling skills.

 

Finally, Wausau Whitewater schedules what we can recreational releases, also known as open water. These dates are days with 6 hours of paddling time for anyone who wants to grow in whitewater skills or just wants to have fun and build community. In 2008, Wausau Whitewater had 9 recreational releases averaging 80 to 120 paddlers per day. Paddlers come from more than five states away to paddle the Wausau water and experience all the other things Wausau has to offer as a community. Typical fees are $10 for the day plus ACA insurance or an event fee.

 

Complex, yes, but well-rounded, to allow anyone can be part of Wausau Whitewater if they want to use the course. water.

 

 

 

Today Wausau Whitewater learned that we will host the American Canoe Association Open Canoe Slalom Nationals & North American Championships in 2009. The three day event will be scheduled for July 31 through August 2 at Wausau Whitewater Park.

Since we hosted this event in 2003 and 2007, we were concerned that the committee might vote for somewhere else in North American. In 2008, they were in Minden, Ontario and in 2006, they were at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina. As the committee voted though, Wausau was selected! In 2003 and 2007, we were privileged to have several Japanese competitors join those from throughout the United States and Canada.

Open Canoes are very different from the decked kayaks and canoes that propagate a normal slalom event. The boats are bigger and become more challenging to maneuver through the slalom gate system.

 

Another challenge of the Open Canoe event is that compared to the four classes of an ICF slalom event, or the seven classes of a typical national-level slalom event, the OC event has 38 classes last I checked. Participants have two classes as part of their registration fee for the three day event. In addition, individuals can select up to 5 more classes at $10 per class. In 2007, many people added on 2 more classes and a few did 5 additional classes. Classes include a variety of boat lengths and styles as well as C1 and C2 options. C2 options can include 2 men, 2 women, or C2 Mixed which means 1 man and 1 woman in the boat.

 

Open Canoe Nationals typically includes a downriver event which covers a longer course and circles back to the finish line. The tradition attracts both new participants as well as those who feel that downriver is needed to make the event compete. Wausau Whitewater’s course which is on the Wisconsin River feeds into Lake Wausau so it is easy to combine the swiftwater of the whitewater course with the flatwater at the bottom of the course and allows the participants to circle back without fighting strong current.

 

Registration information is in the development stage and will be posted at www.wausauwhitewater.org as soon as it is ready. The rest of the season schedule will be formed shortly. Other events for 2009 will include Wausau Whitewater Weekend and Midwest Freestyle Championships. There will be multiple opportunities for training, several cooperative projects, and at least 9 days of recreational releases.

 

I suppose we have to wait for the snow to melt though before paddling can begin again. But this means the 2009 season is only about 7 or 8 months away.

For a number of years, the Wausau Area Canoe & Kayak Organization (WACKO) has been managing the recreational releases for Wausau Kayak / Canoe Corporation. As of 2009, Wausau Kayak / Canoe Corporation (Wausau Whitewater) will be managing the release. We thank Tom Wood and his WACKO team members for their support for the last few years. The number of releases had always been negotiated between Wausau Whitewater and Wisconsin Public Service who operates our dam. When we gave the releases to WACKO to run, there were 20 to 40 paddlers attending each of the 4 to 5 releases per year. This past year, I made a concerted effort to work every release and cheer on our count. We had 80 to 128 paddlers at each of the 9 releases this year. Amazing! People come from a minimum of five states to paddle the Wausau Whitewater course.

 

Of course, the graduated annual improvements since 2006 by the team of John Brennan, Course Designer and Michael Schroeder, Project Manager have made the course undeniably better. Top to bottom, the course is better!

 

This change in management leads me to the point of this post. Recreational release is a mouthful that I don’t know that it makes sense. Let’s have a contest to rename the releases. What do you think they should be called? Put your comment in the comment section and I will keep track. In a later post, I will let you know who won. The official judging will be done by an unnamed panel of whitewater officials, how’s that for vague?

 

You are now charged with commenting your choice of name for whatever a recreational release is… the 6 hours of paddle time on the Wausau Whitewater course.

 

Looking forward to your answers! The prize is a season’s pass which will let you paddle at any or all of the 10 recreational releases, valued at $65. Winner to be named on April 15, 2009.

I can tell by the search engine and blog stat results that there are people searching for our schedule. This post will be brief because all you want to know is the schedule anyway! Yes, we have 10 recreational releases (not enough people have answered the contest post yet to call it anything else). The prize for the Name the Releases Contest is a seasons pass to the 10 recreational releases valued at $65 so leave comments or e-mail me at wkcc@dwave.net or reply to the contest postings on www.bsbs.org and www.rapidsriders.net

What you are waiting for:

2009 Wausau Whitewater Schedule

See www.wausauwhitewater.org for details

 

Pool Sessions – John Muir Middle School Pool, Wausau

March 11, 18, Wednesdays, 6pm to 8pm – Roll Practice & Paddling

March 15, Sunday, 2pm to 5pm – Pool Slalom

March 22, Sunday, 3pm to 5pm, Roll Practice & Paddling

 

Recreational Releases – 10am to 4pm

June 6, Saturday

June 13, Saturday

July 12, Sunday

July 26, Sunday

August 8 & 9, Saturday & Sunday

September 5 & 6, Saturday & Sunday, Labor Day Weekend

September 19 & 20, Saturday & Sunday, Summer Final Flow Celebration

 

Training

June 22 – June 26, Ray McLain Training Camp

July 16 & 17, Swiftwater Rescue Training Clinic (tentative)

First Descent Camp (targeted at adults with cancer) (tentative)

July 28 & 29 Open Canoe Training Clinic (tentative)

August 13 &14, Jackson Freestyle Training Clinic

 

Competitive Events

Wausau Whitewater Weekend

June 27 & 28; Practice Water June 26

American Canoe Association Open Canoe Slalom Nationals & North American Championships

July 31, August 1 & 2; Practice Water, July 28 – 30

Midwest Freestyle Championships

August 15 -16; Practice Water combined with Clinic, August 13 & 14

The information will be expanded on www.wausauwhitewater.org as soon as I develop those pages and as we develop the supporting documents like registration.

We continue to thank our sponsors: Wausau Insurance (presenting sponsor), Wausau Papers, Wausau Daily Herald, Wisconsin Public Service, MetLife, Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, Greenheck Fan Corporation, Siemens, Noodles, and CIty of Wausau as well as the numerous other supporting companies we highlight on the website. Without the corporate and community support, Wausau Whitewater cannot provide this exceptional schedule of whitewater activities.

If you’ve never been to Wausau, come see us this summer!

Ben Peters (photo credit: Alon Coppens)

In 2008, Wausau Whitewater kicked off the first ever Jackson Kayak Freestyle Clinic with Jackson riders, Colin Kemp and John McConville. The success of the clinic was evident by the comments of the clinic participants who said things like, “I noticed the difference right away!” “WOW! I learned so many things that improved my skills for competition.”

Cole Jacobsen (Green Bay) chaired both the Midwest Freestyle Championships in 2008. He did an excellent job coordinating both the event and championing the clinic. He has already agreed to chair the event for 2009 and is already deep into planning for next year. His enthusiasm is contagious. He has already created the registration form for 2009 and I have added the form in both MS Word and PDF versions to the event page and the training page of www.wausauwhitewater.org

The clinic will be held on August 13 and 14, 2009 and the Midwest Freestyle Championships are August 15 and 16, 2009 immediately following the clinic.

Cole asked me to remind everyone interested in the clinic that registration forms need to be completed so that we can determine how many instructors are needed. We know it may be difficult to think about a commitment so early but Cole says to tell you that we will refund money up to 1 month before the comp / clinic and half the money within a month of the competition / clinic.” The clinic registration forms will also get you registered for Midwest Freestyle Championships.

In the clinic, you will learn freestyle moves and how to execute them to maximize the number of moves in the hole. Last year, we had a wide range of participants, from beginners who just had a desire to learn how to execute a freestyle move to highly competitive paddlers who wanted to improve their loops. Whatever your desire is, get registered soon! Remember to go to http://www.wausauwhitewater.org/Events.htm to register.

 

Wausau has been offering hands-on instruction in multiple areas for a number of years and is increasing training each year.

 In 2009, the offerings will include: Ray McLain Training Camp, June 22 – 26 with guest coach, Joe Jacobi, and one unconfirmed outside coach as well as our camp staff, including Tom & Tina Wood. Beginner to intermediate paddling instruction, set up to match the student’s abilities. Wausau Whitewater Weekend follows on June 27 and 28 to allow students to practice their skills in a friendly competitive environment.

1. Swiftwater Rescue Training Clinic, July 16 & 17, taught by Scott Berry from Bearpaw Outdoor Adventure Resort, targeted swiftwater rescue instruction for rescue personnel (firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, dive teams, police, and sheriff’s departments) but open to anyone. This clinic is funded in part by a grant from 3M. Our sponsors and donors are critical in these tough economic times. Thank you, 3M!
2. Open Canoe Training Clinic during the American Canoe Association Open Canoe Slalom Nationals & North American Championships, July 28 and 29. Instructor being arranged. Event weekend to follow, July 31 to August 2
3. Jackson Freestyle Training Clinic with Colin Kemp and other Jackson Kayak team members, August 13 and 14. Premiered this training in 2008 with Colin and John McConville and was so enthusiastically endorsed that we exceeded the student limit of 20 by 3. Registrations are already coming in for this popular training and number of instructors will be set by early registration. We will expand instructors as the numbers grow. Event weekend to follow with Midwest Freestyle Championships  August 15 and 16.

4. First ever! Wausau Whitewater will be offering very basic, intro lessons, again led by Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort staff at the 10 recreational releases in 2009. Advance sign-up will be required so that Scott and Jamee can plan accordingly. Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort will bring equipment and Wausau has also purchased some new Jackson Kayaks for your use. Recreational release dates: June 6 & 13; July 12 & 26; August 8 & 9; September 5 & 6; 19 & 20. Definition of a rec release is that anyone can paddle for six hours with a payment of $10. This training will be priced at $30 for 2 hours of training plus your recreational release fee.

 Wausau has always attracted many participants from Wisconsin and our neighboring states. We are hoping that the newest training will encourage the 100,000 population around Wausau itself to realize the gem we have in our own community.

 Stay tuned. www.wausauwhitewater.org and this blog at www.wausauwhitewater.wordpress.com We also invite the paddling community to join @JoeJacobi and me @JulieWalraven as we build presence on Twitter for whitewater sports. Both of us “tweet” about many other subjects but we see social media, such as Twitter and Facebook as a way to expand whitewater and paddling presence to the non-paddling community.

Joe Jacobi and daughter, Seu

Sorry for disappearing… The worst thing a blogger can do is start talking and quit. I could easily have come up with conversation about whitewater without trying very hard. But my life got busy and I have been spinning to keep up. Around the time that I started this blog and the one for Design Resumes (my own company), I also started studying social media and started playing with Twitter (find me on Twitter @JulieWalraven) and FaceBook. You can find me there, you can find me on LinkedIn and everywhere I use my own name. But I Tweet about Wausau Whitewater all the time and my tweets go to my Facebook page. Twitter lets me have people following me who don’t have a clue about whitewater but if they are curious they can ask me. We want to get the word out about whitewater general because that’s how growth happens. Most of the social media in my life was inspired by the two sides of me. On the career side, I had input from many colleagues but the main one was Jason Alba, and then the whitewater side was inspired by Joe Jacobi, 1992 Olympic Gold Medal winner who will be in Wausau for the Ray McLain Training Camp at the end of June. He’s staying for Wausau Whitewater Weekend and you’ll hear soon of some of the fun things we will be doing during that event.

For today though, we really need your help. We have great sponsors and many of them are back but many of them due to the economy have cut their donations. At this point, May 4, 2009, we are $20,000 below donation levels for 2008. The Wausau Whitewater 2009 has to be at the printer on May 13 and I have been busily contacting sponsors for the past few months, getting ads in, and getting the articles planned.

Many times people help if you ask them. SO I’m asking… because you would think nothing changed if I didn’t tell you. The changing economy affected all non-profits and there are many causes that need your help too but if you are a whitewater enthusiast that cares about the Wausau Whitewater course, we hope you will help us.

I have put a PayPal donation button on the home page of Wausau Whitewater so if you are so inclined, please go there and you can safely give a donation. Any amount will help!

If you own a company or work for a company, I can still add to the 2009 issue of Wausau Whitewater which Sun Printing is going to print in full color and on glossy paper at a very fair price.

Sponsor levels vary but even at the Brass level of $300 you get a 1/4 page ad in the book. We offer many benefits at each level because sponsors are very important to us. If you are interested in learning more, email me at wkcc@dwave.net and I can send the electronic sponsor package.

Overall, we just need your support in any way you can provide it. We have an outstanding line-up of training, recreational opportunities, and events but in order to run them, we have to have operational money. SO if you can donate, go to www.wausauwhitewater.org and press the PayPal donate button on the home page.

By the way, I sure function better in sunshine and 70 degrees!

Your turn… Be the someone

Last post I told you we are short on operating funds for Wausau Whitewater 2009.  President Mike Schroeder and I have cash flowed all the events, training, and recreational releases to make them break even or make money.

We have had rave reviews on how great the course is from the boating community. We have been complimented by competitors and participants from around the world. We want to offer more to everyone. We want to keep improving the course, offering outstanding programs, and opening the door to whitewater for everyone.

If you were even impacted by events, training, or recreation at Wausau Whitewater, be the someone. We all can make a difference and it doesn’t take big sponsor donations to do it though we welcome those as well.

Go to the ChipIn Donation button on the homepage of www.wausauwhitewater.org :

We could eliminate the deficit of $20,000:

• 2000 people donated $10 OR

• 1000 people donated $20 OR

• 500 people donated $40 OR

• 200 people donated $100 OR

• 100 people donated $200

We would be there.

Can you be a someone?

President Michael Schroeder shares his thoughts:

Welcome to Wausau Whitewater!

 Wausau Whitewater is a non profit organization of volunteers dedicated to managing the events, competition, training, recreation and more that happen each year at Whitewater Park in downtown Wausau. Let me take a moment and share with you the many ways this world-class whitewater course provides value to our community.

Competition: Every year Wausau Whitewater hosts regional, national and international canoe and kayak events starting with our own Wausau Whitewater Weekend and Midwest Freestyle Championships that attracts competitors from the Midwest and beyond. Our events are always open and we encourage the public to register and compete for awards and prizes. Wausau also typically hosts national or international events each year and our international event this year is the North American Canoe Championships, with the Jr. World Championships coming to Wausau in the near future.

Recreation: You can bring your boat and paddle at Whitewater Park during any of the 10 recreational releases scheduled this year. Enjoy a day of fun on the Whitewater course for an extremely reasonable price, $10 a day, plus $5 for ACA insurance.

Compassion: Our compassion event this year takes place in June when Wausau Whitewater hosts a First Descents Camp – an outdoor adventure for young adults with cancer. The camp gives everyone a day of fun and fellowship at Whitewater Park.

Training: From our Ray McLain Training Camp to Open Canoe and Freestyle Clinics, we offer training for all types of boating. This year, through partnership with Bear Paw Outdoor adventures, we’re offering a two- to three-hour Introduction to Basic Kayaking class during recreational releases. For $35, Bear paw provides instruction, kayak and equipment. You’ll need to register in advance for this fun-filled class.

While the Swift Water Rescue Clinic, held each year, is open to the public for boaters and non-boaters alike, it also provides a valuable resource to firefighters and first responders from across the state. Seven counties have already taken advantage of this important swift water training.

This world-class resource at Whitewater Park is yours, all yours. They’re your events. Compete, volunteer or sit back and watch the excitement – no matter what you choose, you’ll be glad you got involved. Join us for a day of fun on the water during recreational releases or take it to the next level at a training camp or clinic. Consider this your invitation to join Wausau Whitewater – the local paddling community with an international reach. Learn to paddle. You won’t be sorry you did!

For a complete calendar of competitive events, recreational water release schedule, sponsorship and volunteer information please visit www.wausauwhitewater.org

Michael Schroeder, President – Wausau Kayak/Canoe Corporation

Just a quick update to say thank you for all the people that help me and encourage me. Yesterday, I set up a ChipIn Widget on www.wausauwhitewater.org to see if we could create groundswell of grassroots type donations to help with the shortfall from our sponsor base. Don’t get me wrong, our sponsors still have given generously to help keep Wausau Whitewater afloat. Though the Wausau Insurance brand is no more, Liberty Mutual still signed on as a Gold Sponsor. Many of our sponsors downsized their donations, but only a few actually quit supporting us. Thank you to Greenheck Fan Corporation, Green Bay Packaging, Siemens, Marathon Savings Bank, Abby Bank, M&I Bank, Noodles, Esquif, Jackson Kayak, World Kayak, Wausau Paper, Rutabaga, Bear Paw, TD Fischer Group, 89Q, Trigs, Associated Bank, Jefferson Street Inn, Deffner Law Firm, Sun Printing, Rapidsriders, Midwest Mountaineers, Precision Grading & Utilities, Wisconsin Valley Improvement, The Write Solution, 3M, US Trail Maps, and East Bay for both the cash and in-kind sponsorships that keep us afloat.

Yesterday I reached out to the rest of the paddling world, volunteers, and community who know what Wausau Whitewater does. Danny Brown and his 12for12K Challenge taught me about ChipIn and how you can monitor donations as they come in. I’ve been a contributor in a very small way to Danny’s causes and Danny and other leaders in social media have taught me new tools like the ChipIn. Once upon a time, I was afraid to venture out into all these new methods but thanks to Twitter, LinkedIn, and FaceBook, I have seen their power and been amazed. Danny was curious awhile back as to how non-profits and tourism-related groups in particular were using social media. I took it as a challenge to continue to explore new tools.

As of yesterday, the open canoe group was leading the ChipIn donations and in one day, Wausau Whitewater had $400 more dollars to help us make it possible to offer swiftwater rescue training for firefighters, paddlers, and the public. We can create innovative partnerships like the one with Bear Paw with basic whitewater training at recreational releases or the First Descents group that will use the

Swiftwater rescue by Ted Bratton

 Whitewater course for one day to provide whitewater kayaking and other outdoor adventure experiences to promote emotional, psychological and physical healing for young adults with cancer.

Your donations via the ChipIn widget at www.wausauwhitewater.org will make all of this possible. Thank you for showing me that you care too! Together we can achieve success with small steps!

I’m crunching on the deadline for Wausau Whitewater 2009 right now and so tired that I may just drop over but I wanted to take a second to say thank you! The ChipIn meter as of this writing has raised $440. Now that is low in respect to the $20,000 goal but it is huge compared to how our mailings went of old. I spent days, writing, creating, and then printing, stuffing, and mailing our donation information. The mailing alone cost over that $440 and we only made a little more of that back. On Saturday, I put up the ChipIn Meter on www.wausauwhitewater.org and my own blog, http://designresumes.com/blog/2009/05/keep-wausau-whitewater-flowing/ on Saturday and by tonight, we had $440.

Thank you for caring… for wanting to keep this great resource running and for acting. By acting, you convince me that talking to you is worthwhile. You also can talk back to in my comment section. I really do read them and try to respond too. It’s just that my life is forever one project deadline after another but I miss my river friends and June 6 is just around the corner!

Thanks to an alert by Tom Schrader, founder of Competitive Arts, who knows the devastation that a site going down can cause especially if you are not aware of it, we were informed at 4:08pm, Wednesday, May 13, www.wausauwhitewater.org went down. I alerted LB, our webdesigner, who contacted our host. The host has already informed us that he wasworking feverishly to restore his system which crashed due to a corrupt file. Within a few hours, the site was back up and running.

If this would ever happen again, we now have back up plans. For example, if you were planning to use the ChipIn meter to help support Wausau Whitewater, you could still find it on my blog at http://designresumes.com/blog/2009/05/keep-wausau-whitewater-flowing/ and the season schedule is posted at http://wausauwhitewater.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/breathlessly-awaiting-the-2009-schedule/ and the training options are here: http://wausauwhitewater.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/training-sessions-in-2009-teach-me-to-paddle

If you need forms to register, you could also e-mail me at wkcc@dwave.net if you couldn’t download them off the website.

I am grateful that our host  figured out what the problem was quickly and this problem was easily resolved.

For those of you watching, Wausau Whitewater 2009 went to bed this morning at Sun Printing and Julie (me) is about to take a long-awaited nap… after I sort through Mount Washmore…

June 6 isn’t far away, see you on the river!

You can find all the details at http://www.wausauwhitewater.org/Training.htm

But… what a treat!

Special Guest Coach, Olympic Gold Medalist, Joe Jacobi will be at the Ray McLain Training Camp beginning on Wednesday through Sunday, June 24 to June 28. Joe is well known for promoting “Olympic Values” and the best attributes of canoeing and kayaking through coaching, instruction, and professional presentations to all audiences on and off the river. Joe also was the Color Analyst for NBC Olympics for both Whitewater and Flatwater Canoe/Kayak at the Olympic Games in Beijing. He called over 20 Olympic races over 11 days of canoe/kayak competition with two different production teams. Also provided commentary and stand-ups for a one-hour broadcast of the Olympic Whitewater Trials on MSNBC.

Joe will also be onsite for Wausau Whitewater Weekend and we have excitement coming up for that. Details to follow but Joe is promising to teach us all about Slalom Survivor and make it part of the weekend schedule.

There is a limit on participation and the camp is capped at 30 participants. Right now there are 8 registered. The camp is for any age but anyone under 18 must have a chaperone. Lodging is provided but you may also stay at one of our many area hotels. Go there now and check out your options!

It isn’t everyday we have an Olympic Gold Medal winner teaching our camp! 

Seems like it was only yesterday that the water was turned off for the last time and I wasn’t the only one feeling sad… see Nora Whitmore’s post, as she says, “Ever have a season you just didn’t want to end? The music stops but the feelings remain like like a soft breeze randomly tickling you? You can’t see it but you know it’s there. The memories of the year flitting thru your mind like fall leaves? This year at Wausau was beautiful. So much growth!”

But guess what? Water runs again on Saturday! If you haven’t been to Wausau to play on our course and visit our beautiful city, this is your chance. If you have been here time and time again, we have great things to share with you on the river. If you live here and didn’t know we have a river that is one of the priced possessions of the paddling community, go look downtown on River drive. The river runs through Wausau and we are so excited to share the river with everyone. 

Here’s a sneak preview of what is happening: 

Wausau Whitewater is on this Saturday 6/6 so if you are planning to come to Wisconsin, the course is waiting for you to try it out! Located right downtown in Wausau on River Drive for $10 plus your ACA membership or $5 event fee you can paddle from 10am to 4pm. There are 10 recreational releases this season and Saturday 6/13 is the next one.

Our vendor, Now that’s BarBQue will be there with charbroiled hamburgers and cheeseburgers, charbroiled chicken sandwiches, french fries, cheese fries, and cheesy nachos as well as a selection of drinks and coffee or hot chocolate!

If you are looking for instruction there are a few openings for the Basic Whitewater Instruction by Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort on the Wausau Whitewater course in the afternoon 1pm to 4pm session on June 6 but more throughout the season. Registration forms are available on the website at http://www.wausauwhitewater.org/Recreation.htm as well as on the training page, http://www.wausauwhitewater.org/Training.htm#RecreationalRelease and there are still openings in the Ray McLain Training Camp from June 22 -26 and Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Joe Jacobi is coming to coach. http://www.wausauwhitewater.org/Training.htm#RayMcLain He arrives on June 24 and stays through the Wausau Whitewater Weekend which features the infamous Dash for Cash and the new World Kayak “Slalom Survivor”

 You don’t want to miss out on Wausau this season, come and come often… we love having you here. Lodging is available both at our FREE river camp all season or use the great rates of our multiple lodging partners by calling with the code word, “KAYAK” http://www.wausauwhitewater.org/Training.htm#LodgingSpecials

Questions, call or e-mail me at wkcc@dwave.net!