June 2 and 3, 2012 Phoenicia, New York

REGISTRATION: Click here to download early entry forms and waivers. Regular registration - All regular registration entry forms must be received (NOT postmarked) by May 26th. The adult/teen registration fee is $30 per person. A discounted children's registration fee is available for children 12 and under. Registration for only the Saturday dinner (not including any paddling events) is available for $15. Late registration received after May 26th requires payment of a $10 per person late fee. Due to the need to order food for the dinner only a LIMITED number of late registrations will be available on-site until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, with limited admission to the dinner. Sign up early for the best deal! Don't miss out on all the fun. Checks should be made payable to "KCCNY".

NOTE: Special "Rivermeister" awards will be given to all paddlers who compete in the slalom on Sunday and two of the three Saturday competitions: Downriver Sprint, Boater Cross, or Freestyle.

ELIGIBILITY: Competitors must be amateurs by American Canoe Association (ACA) definition and also must be competent swimmers. INSURANCE REGULATIONS DEMAND THAT ACA MEMBERSHIP IS MANDATORY FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS. Participation memberships may be purchased upon registration for $5. A completed and signed ACA waiver form MUST accompany each registration form.

EVENT LOCATION: Phoenicia, New York is located 26 miles west of Kingston New York on NY Route 28. The focus of all event activities is Railroad Rapids on Esopus Creek, located approximately one mile up High Street in Phoenicia at the Woodland Valley Bridge.

RIVER DESCRIPTION: Railroad Rapids on Esopus Creek at Phoenicia, New York, will be the primary focus for most event activities. A water release is anticipated that will make Railroad Rapids Class II water. Railroad Rapids is approximately 400 meters long, with a vertical drop of approximately 9 meters, and can be readily paddled by most intermediate paddlers. However, slalom competition on Class II water typically requires comfort catching eddies, making ferries, and conducting other maneuvers beyond the minimum that may be necessary to negotiate a Class II rapid. Experience has shown that comfort on Class III water is typically required to compete successfully on a Class II slalom course.

ON-SITE REGISTRATION & EVENT CHECK-IN: On-site and event check-in will take place 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM on Saturday at the scoring tent located on river right mid-way down Railroad Rapids, east of the Woodland Valley Road Bridge on High Street. NOTE: Only a limited number of late registrations, including admission to the dinner, will be available on-site due to the necessity of ordering food in advance of the event.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY
	09:00 am to 06:00 pm		Course & event set-up (volunteers needed!)

SATURDAY
	Dawn to 9:45 am		Open Practice (Downriver, Boater X, & Slalom)
	08:00 am to 10:00 am		On-site Registration & Event Check-in
	10:00 am to 02:00		River Trip (Downriver competitors may join trip when it reaches Railroad)
	10:15 am to 10:30 am		Competitor's Meeting (Downriver Sprint)
	10:30 am to 11:45 pm		Competition (Downriver Sprint)
	12:00 pm to 02:30		Open Practice (Slalom)
	12:15 pm to 12:30 pm		Competitor's Meeting (Freestyle)
	12:30 pm to 02:15 pm		Competition (Freestyle)
	02:30 pm to 02:45 pm		Competitor's Meeting (Boater X)
	02:45 pm to 03:30 pm		Competition (Boater X)
	03:30 pm to dusk		Open Practice (Slalom)
	06:00 pm to 07:00 pm		Land Games & Happy Hour (St. Francis De Sales Church Hall)
	07:00 pm to 08:00 pm		Buffet Dinner (St. Francis De Sales Church Hall)

SUNDAY
	Dawn to 08:45 am		Open Practice (Slalom)
	09:00 am to 09:30 am		Competitor's Meeting (Slalom)
	09:30 am to 2:00 pm		Competition (Slalom & Slalom Team Races)
	10:00 am to about 1:00 pm		River Trip (duration may vary)
	02:00 pm to 03:00 pm		Course Take Down
	03:00 pm to 3:45 pm		Awards & FREE Raffle

NOTE: Schedule times are approximate.

COMPETITION MEETINGS: All Competitors MUST complete registration and event check-in as noted under "On-site Registration & Event Check-In" above. Subsequent to registration and event check-in, competitors MUST participate in the specific competitor's meeting(s) pertaining to their competition(s) as noted on the schedule above in order to be briefed on safety procedures and competition rules, as well as to pick-up their assigned number bibs. All competition meetings will take place at or near the scoring tent located on the river right bank mid-way down Railroad Rapids.

COMPETITION SAFETY: All competitors must wear helmets and approved life jackets (PFDs). Additionally, the last two boats that have finished their runs will be required to remain at the bottom of the course for safety/rescue.

DOWNRIVER SPRINT RACE: The Downriver Sprint Race start is on the river left approximately one-half mile above DEC Drop. The race will consist of a single timed run from start to the finish at the bottom of Railroad Rapids. Competitor's will start spaced approximately 1-1.5 minutes apart. Only a single race category may be entered by each competitor. If you wish to practice this course prior to the Competitor's Meeting, ask at check-in for directions to the Downriver start. Directions for competitors will also be given at the Competitor's Meeting. We encourage competitor's to collaborate together in shuttling boats to the Downriver start; however, KCCNY will also assist in providing a shuttle vehicle to take competitor's back to start to retrieve their vehicles if needed. See registration form for Downriver Sprint race categories. (NOTE: Finish times for the Downriver Sprint race may be used to seed start placement for the Boater Cross Competition. Competitors not racing in the Downriver Sprint Race will automatically be seeded last in their initial Boater Cross heat.)

SATURDAY RIVER TRIP: Meet near the scoring tent on the river right bank mid-way down Railroad Rapids at 10:00 am Saturday for a guided river trip on a Class 2 section of the Esopus Creek. ACA-certified whitewater instructors will act as guides and provide instruction as needed on river-running skills such as eddy turns, peel-outs and ferries. Previous river experience and/or whitewater training is required for this clinic. It is not for beginners. Wherever the river conditions permit, we will be stopping to practice these skills and receive feedback. Participants may choose to take-out at Railroad Rapid or continue onto a lower river take-out. Downriver competitors wishing to join the river trip can do so after their competition is over when the trip reaches Railroad Rapid; however, downriver competitors wishing to do so are requested to check-in with Jack Moskowitz prior to the start of the trip to ensure that enough shuttle space is available to accommodate their participation.

FREESTYLE COMPETITION: Meet at the scoring tent located on the river right bank mid-way down Railroad Rapids at 12:15 pm Saturday ready to paddle in order to participate in a freestyle competition to be held at DEC Drop, just above the Woodland Valley Road Bridge and Railroad Rapids. This competition will be designed to reward basic wave and hole surfing, as well as more advanced freestyle moves to accommodate a wide range of paddler skill levels.

BOATER CROSS COMPETITION: Boater Cross competition will start on Esopus Creek just below DEC drop, but above the start of Railroad Rapids. The race will consist of a simultaneous in-boat start of up to 4 boaters in the same race category who will compete head-to-head from start to the finish line at the bottom of Railroad Rapids while negotiating a select few of the slalom gates as mandatory "choke points" in the race. If you wish to practice this course prior to the Competitor's Meeting, ask at check-in for directions to the Boater Cross start along with indication of which gates are mandatory for the Boater Cross course. This information will also be given to all competitors at the Competitor's Meeting. If the number of competitors in a given race category requires multiple heats, then the top half of the finishers in each heat will advance to the next round of competition until a final heat of up to 4 boaters determines final standings for that race category. Deliberately pushing a competitor off-course will result in disqualification. Accidental touching of boats is allowed. See registration form for Boater Cross Competition categories. (NOTE: Finish times for the Downriver Sprint race may be used to seed start placement for the Boater Cross Competition. Competitors not racing in the Downriver Sprint Race will automatically be seeded last in their initial Boater Cross heat.)

LAND GAMES & HAPPY HOUR: Meet at at 6:00 pm at St. Francis De Sales Church Hall, the location of our buffet dinner (see address and directions below), for pre-dinner land games and happy hour (BYOB).

SATURDAY BUFFET DINNER: Your registration fee includes a FREE Saturday night Buffet Dinner (BYOB). For this reason, late registration on-site will be available to only a LIMITED number of people as food for the dinner must be ordered in advance. The dinner will be held at 7:00 pm away from Railroad Rapids at St. Francis De Sales Church Hall (109 Main St., Phoenicia, NY). From Railroad Rapids take Woodland Valley Rd. north across the bridge to NYS Rt. 28. Turn right onto Rt. 28 and drive a few hundred yards to the first left onto Rt. 214 toward Phoenicia. Immediately after crossing a small creek, Rt. 214 takes a left turn, while Main St., what appears to be the main road, continues straight into downtown Phoenicia. Continue straight on Main St. into downtown Phoenicia. The Church Hall is about one block past Phoenicia Market near the intersection where Main St. takes a 90 degree right turn before becoming Bridge St. on which the Town Tinker Tube rentals is located.

SLALOM COMPETITION: The Annual KCCNY Esopus Slalom will be held on Railroad Rapids on Sunday. Slalom competitors will be eligible to take two (2) timed and scores runs for each registered race class; a maximum of two classes may be entered. Distance from the slalom start near the Woodland Valley Road Bridge to the finish at the bottom of Railroad Rapids is approximately 400 meters with a vertical drop of approximately 9 meters. The race course will be designed for intermediate paddlers and consist of approximately 18-24 gates, which must be negotiated in numerical order. Green gates must be negotiated traveling downstream; red gates, typically located in eddies, must be negotiated traveling upstream. A wide variety of separate race classes are available for recreational ("REC") WW boats and for boats meeting ICF slalom specifications. "REC" and race classes are further subdivided by boat type, age group, and gender. See the registration form for a listing of standard race classes. Paddlers new to slalom may wish to click here to download a copy of "Slalom Tips" to review in advance. Click here to view a video of a run down the course of the 44th Annual KCCNY Esopus Slalom.

SLALOM TEAM RACES: Paddlers interested in participating in a slalom team race [e.g. 3 boats running the course together in close formation] should register their 3-boat team for this additional activity either during check-in from 8:00-10:00 Saturday, or at the Slalom Competitor's meeting at 9:00 am Sunday. Teams registered at the close of the Slalom Competitor's meeting will be allowed to take a single team run immediately after the conclusion of both sessions of regular slalom runs. This will be an informal competition with no awards, just "bragging rights." Teams may be composed of any combination of boat types and/or paddler gender. One gate on the course will be designated as the "team gate," which all team members will need to negotiate within 15 seconds after the first paddler begins negotiation. The team score will be the total time for all three team members to negotiate the course from start to finish, plus any penalties incurred.

SLALOM RULES: Open boats will use ACA OC Slalom Racing Rules, with 10 penalty seconds per gate touched. Decked boats will use USACK Slalom Racing Rules with 2 penalty seconds per gate touched. For both types of boats a 50 second penalty is assessed for a missed gate or a gate negotiated traveling in the wrong direction. Only the better of the two runs will count for final ranking. (NOTE: Want to make your own course? It is a common strategy for less experienced competitors to choose to miss selected gates that they may find either too difficult or too time consuming to negotiate.)

SLALOM WORK ASSIGNMENTS: In order to run the Slalom race, it will be necessary for all slalom competitors to perform a work assignment and assist at course take down on Sunday following the race. Failure to serve as assigned will result in disqualification. Conduct of the race depends upon work assignments. please be prompt.

NORTHEAST REGIONAL JUNIOR QUALIFIER: The Esopus Slalom is one of several qualifying races for selection to the Northeast Regional Junior Slalom Team. The Northeast region of USA Canoe Kayak, which includes New England and the state of New York, will name Junior, 16-and-under, and Cadet Teams in Mid June. Monetary awards will be given to Junior and 16-and-under team members to travel to designated races and training camps. Separate awards, not tied to travel, will be made to the Cadet team members. The teams will be chosen by the Northeast Youth Team Committee using candidates' race performance and number of races entered (the more the better!). The results from the Junior Team Trials, the Spring NESS races, KCCNY Esopus, Mascoma and Triple-Crown Slalom will be considered in the selection process. For additional information click here.

FREE RAFFLE: Your registration fee includes participation in a FREE raffle for goods & services donated by FunFest sponsors (see sponsor list on main FunFest page). The raffle will be held during the Slalom Competition award ceremony on Sunday afternoon; RAFFLE PARTICIPANTS MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN.

SUNDAY RIVER TRIP: Participants who do not wish to enter the slalom race may join us for a more mellow river run on the Class 2 section of the Esopus creek from the Cemetery on Rt 28 to the river left take-out opposite the Sleepy Hollow Campground, total distance about 5 miles. This does run through some challenging Class 2 rapids such as Railroad Rapids (site of the slalom race) and Elmer's. We will be surfing and stern-squirting at suitable spots along the way. We will stop for lunch at the slalom racecourse and cheer our racing friends on to the finish line.

GROUP CAMPING: KCCNY has reserved space for group camping at Sleepy Hollow Camp Site (845-688-5471). Sleepy Hollow is located at 5636 NYS Route 28 in Phoenicia, approximately 2 miles south of the FunFest event site at Railroad Rapids. Group camping at this facility includes space for tenting and access to restrooms and hot showers at a fee of $11 per person per night. Reserve your space by indicating on your FunFest Registration Form the number of nights you'll be using group camping and including the indicated $11 per night with your registration fee payment to KCCNY. KCCNY will convey your camping fee to Sleepy Hollow. Just ask for directions to the KCCNY group camping area when you arrive at Sleepy Hollow. NOTE: If you're planning on arriving early either to get a jump on the weekend or to help with course set-up and preparations, please know that group camping is also available on Thursday and Friday nights, as well.

ALTERNATE CAMPING: There are numerous other campgrounds available in the area, ranging from the secluded Woodland Valley State Campground (845) 688-7647, located 5 miles up Woodland Valley Road, to various private campgrounds located closer to Phoenicia; click here for additional campground information.

LODGING: There are small efficiency cabins located on the banks of the Esopus at Railroad Rapids. Call "Simpler Times" (river left land owner at the race site) at (845) 688-5410 to reserve one of their cabins. Many other cabins and motels are located nearby in the Catskill Region; click here for additional lodging information.

COURSE SET-UP: The slalom course will be set during the day on Friday. If you can be available to help, please contact John Coaror at JCoraor@optonline.net or by phone before 9 PM at 631-271-3909. We would really appreciate any additional hands we can muster for this detail. Any person assisting with course set-up on Friday will have their FunFest registration fee waived!