2023 Annual TVCC Ocoee River Race

PLEASE READ EVERYTHING (yes we know it is a lot of information here)!!! Most of the signups, registration and information we are sharing with you that we normally would do in person has gone virtual to minimize time and paper waste.

Please remember that this event is volunteer run, so please complete the entire registration process to make our volunteers lives a bit easier!

RACE COURSE: The course is on the middle Ocoee from the put in eddy to the raft located just below Powerhouse rapid. Paddlers will be released at 1 minute intervals unless there is traffic. Any person leaving the eddy prematurely will be disqualified. Finish time will be determined when the paddler tags the time keeper raft with their kayak. The time keeper raft will be in the river right eddy below Powerhouse rapid (YOU MUST PHYSICALLY TOUCH THE TIMING RAFT TO FINISH). Verify your race number with a time keeper before continuing down to the takeout. The winner in each division will be determined by fastest time. In order to comply with our Forest Service Permits, we ask for racers to paddle down to the private boater takeout.

PLEASE RETURN YOUR RACE BIB TO THE RAFT FOLLOWING THE FINISH LINE. Any paddler not returning their racing bib will be disqualified from awards and will be banned from all future TVCC Ocoee Races.

RACE DIVISIONS: In the spirit of amateur competition, all professional, sponsored, and members of any paddling race team must race in the elite division. Long boats are defined as any kayak 9’1” or over in length or any open boat 9’3” or over in length. Race divisions include Elite Men’s Long Boat, Elite Men’s Short boat, Elite Women’s Long Boat*, Men’s Long Boat, Women’s Long Boat, Men’s Short Boat, Women’s Short Boat, OC1 Long Boat, OC1 Short boat, C-1, Hand Paddles (short boat only), Tandem**, Tandem-Adult and youth** (youth < 16 years old), raft, and shredder/slice. Medals are NOT garunteed for these classes if 3 people have not registered in the class before September 22, 2023. Paddlers who do not fit into one of the above categories will race for time only, unless you can find two other people to register in the same craft, then you will qualify for a class! Additional classes can be made if more than 3 racers of that craft pre-register. All 3 must register by September 22nd to get a medal for the class. 

*This class may be combined with Women’s Longboat if less than 3 boaters pre-register.

**Tandem partners racing ONLY in the tandem class do not require a separate registration.

Race Divisions are subject to change!

REGISTRATION: YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER. THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO DAY OF RACE REGISTRATIONS!!!

The race is free for all racers with current TVCC membership and account in good standing (i.e., no open invoices due). You must be a club member to race!  One Time Guest Memberships are not authorized for this event.  You must be a either an Indiividual or Family Member of the club to race.  Rafts must make a $30 donation to the Race benefactor and have one person as a TVCC member. Membership applications can be completed at www.tvccpaddler.com/join

Racers can race in up to two divisions only. Long boats will race first, followed by short boats, then second classes. There may be a cap on the number of racers, so please pre-register early for a spot!

Junior participants (age 17 and under on race date) must have a parent/guardian sign the waiver and present on race day.

TVCC reserves the right to deny race entry to any paddler for any reason.

SAFETY: All paddlers competing in the race must wear an approved PFD and helmet. All boats are required to have appropriate flotation. On-water safety will be set up along the river at key locations, but you are primarily responsible for your own safety. The expectation is that you are an highly experience whitewater paddler and are knowledgeable in river safety. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the Middle Ocoee prior to the race. We will have an in person safety talk with all of the participants at 10:15 am.

There will be an awards ceremony at adventures unlimited.

The race is a benefit for the Swift Water Rescue Program at the Mowbray Mountain Fire department. (Their jurisdiction includes the North Chickamauga creek and other awesome whitewater rivers in the area). We encourage you to make a donation to them if you are able, they really do amazing work so let's do our best to continue to support them!

PRELIMINARY RACE DAY SCHEDULE:
8:30a-10:00am Check-in and number pick up at the upper parking lot at the middle put in. We will be staggering check-in times and start times ahead of the race, check your email for specific details on when you need to be at check-in and when your race time is.

10:15am Safety Briefing

11:00am Racing begins

Saturday evening: Awards Ceremony at Adventures Unlimited

RACE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND CANCELLATION: USFS has the ultimate say on whether this event will proceed. If the event is cancelled, there is no refund on membership costs.

We will be sending an email to the participants prior to the event with additional critical information about race day procedures. Please make sure you check your email!

QUESTIONS: Direct all questions to Cat Vogel at ocoee@tvccpaddler.com