60th Annual Potomac Downriver Race!

On Saturday, May 16th, NORSA paddlers Steve and Adam joined 42 other whitewater paddlers in the 60th running of the Potomac Downriver Race. Starting in Mather's Gorge right below Rocky Island, the racers took off in groups of 5-6 down the Potomac River to the finish line at Sycamore Island. At a relatively slow level of 3.5 ft, the racers slogged through a fair bit of flatwater, however they still enjoyed some excitement navigating the DC whitewater staples of Wet Bottom, Maryland Chute, Yellow Falls, and Stubblefield Falls. The hot sun proved itself a greater burden than the rapids; fortunately The Sycamore Island Club hosted a refreshing post-race party.

Results:
Steve: 1:14:25; 13th overall; 3rd in class (K1 Short); 3rd in age group.
Adam: 1:15:23; 16th overall; 10th in class (K1 Long); 4th in age group.

Start of the first wave.
Steve: #42 (third from right).
Adam: #39 (fourth from right)

2015 Cheat Downriver Race!

On May 1, 2015, veteran NORSA paddlers Steven and Adam, joined by NORSA newcomer Tom A, participated in the annual Cheat Downriver Race.  Billed as the largest mass-start downriver race (thus gaining the nickname, the "Massacre-ence"), over 160 paddlers raced down the 11 mile Cheat Canyon en mass, over and through continuous class III-IV rapids, including the notorious "Big Nasty," "High Falls," "Colliseum", and "Pete Morgan."

Adam:

The NORSA team had been training all winter long for this day, braving 20 degree days on a frozen Potomac river, high spring flows, and long weekend drives out to the Cheat and N. Branch of the Potomac.  Having had only run the Cheat once before, the NORSA veterans teamed up with Liquid Adventures' "Cheat Training" - a rite of passage for many DC paddlers - for weekday evening attaining and weekend downriver racing practices.

Steve:

The spring of 2015 was fortunately beset with weekly rains that kept the rivers flowing swiftly.  Come race day, the Cheat was at its lowest level all season.  At 5 PM, the racers lined up at the old washed out bridge in Albright, WV.  The NORSA racers were startled by the horn signaling the start of the race, and had to work their way up the pack.  As soon as they entered Decision rapid, the team was well on their way - gaining ground on the pack and giving up few spots for the remainder of the race.  The lower water level led to a slower race, with some changes in the rapids - BigNasty wasn't so big and nasty; Pete Morgan featured a new, giant hole in the run-out.

Tom:

An hour and a half and 11 miles later, after a couple flips, some unintentional surfing, and one swim, Team NORSA crossed the finish line under the Jenkinsburg Bridge, all within a few minutes of each other and comfortably in the top 1/3 of the pack, with a 10th place finish for TeamNORSA.  The racers celebrated with a rousing post-race party back in Albright, and as of the next morning were already looking forward to next year's MASSACRE-ENCE!

Results!

Potomac River: Fun Due to Matt White's Absence

Due to the torrential downpour of three rain drops in the mid-morning Washington DC area, Team NORSA's impromptu initiation Potomac kayaking and canoeing tour for Justin Kahrl lost notorious slugabed and member-in-poor-standing Matt White to a case of chronic fatigue syndrome and agoraphobia. Nick Douglas ably stepped in and took photos on his iPhone...which is something Matt White does not own.

Veterans Steven L. and Tom gave Justin a useful primer on making a wet exit of a kayak despite the presence of a copperhead snake. Matt White would normally have started off the trip on a down note by calling into question the wisdom of boating in such waters. Good thing he was picking out pillows at Bed, Bath, & Beyond instead!

From there, Team NORSA proceeded down river, blissfully unburdened by White's somber mood and fun-last priorities. First stop: rope-swing. Douglas chose not to get wet in an effort to mimic White. The rest of us swam about in the rapids, chatting with the at-risk youth group that had built a small fire and appeared to be smoking marijuana. Good thing Matt White was eating crumpets and watching Wimbledon rather than saying something stupid to start a fight.

Next, Team NORSA stopped on an island that, being tall and white, might just have come to be known 'Matt Island' if only he were present. But thank heaven he wasn't, because he would totally have nixed the rock-skipping and firework lighting that followed.

In short, a good time was had by all because Matt White did not show up. Thank you Matt White.

James River 09 / Newest NORSA Films Production!

On Friday, July 3, 2009, NORSA members Steven L. and Adam D. left their respective homes in Maryland and North Carolina and converged in Richmond, Virginia - home of NORSA member Andrew Latimer and a NORSA paddling staple: The James River.

Although it had been paddled extensively by NORSA members in the past, a paddling trip had not been made to the James River in nearly three years. This trip proved to be as good as any of the prior, with an almost perfect water level, beautiful weather, plenty of bathing rednecks, and the traditional hot tub trip to Andrew's former apartment complex.