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On Rappahannock

Canoeists Sponsor Slalom

Canoeists In Covered Canoe Struggle Through White Water On Swollen River To Make Next Gate In Slalom Competition

University's Outing Club Will Sponsor Canoe And Kayak Slalom Races For All Comers On Rappahannock River Near Remington

With winter over and spring fast
approaching, the snows are melting
and the Virginia rivers are swollen
to roaring torrents. The University
Outing Club has taken to the rivers
for some fierce and wet canoing
action.

This Saturday the club will
sponsor their first event of the
season with a canoe and kayak
slalom being held on the
Rappahannock River at Kelly's
Ford. The main purpose of the
races is to promote the
conservation of the area which is
now being threatened by a
proposed Army Engineer dam.

A canoe slalom is an obstacle
race over river rapids which requires
great skill and balance. The race
includes an up-river portion as well
as a down-river portion. Gates are
set up which the canoes have to
maneuver through, just as in a ski
slalom race.

Canoeists from the entire
Eastern coast are expected for this
course and the event should draw
many spectators. The Canoe
Cruising Association of Washington
and the Coastal Canoeists will send
the greatest number of participants.

With all the canoeists, Virginia's
Outing Club will not be outclassed.
Canoeist Stim Lankard is currently
nationally ranked and is favored in
his events.

During the winter the outing
club has been practicing basic
canoing techniques in the pool at
Memorial Gym. Over spring break
the club had a white water week for
canoeists in the rivers of Virginia
and West Virginia.

Other events will be coming up
this spring. Not all of these will be
canoing. The club takes part in
such things as caving, hiking, and
skiing.

The way to this Saturday's races
is up route 29 to Remington, Va.,
then down route 651 and follow
the signs.