Blog Archive

2019-05-01 2019 World R6 Rafting Championships

We have just converged on Tully in northern Queensland, Australia for the 2019 World Rafting Championships. There will be a couple of weeks of training ahead of us as we learn the fast lines on the world famous Tully river. .more...

2017-10-02 2017 World R6 Rafting Championships

After a long flight, and a night in an airport hotel in Osaka, we have made it to Miyoshi city, Japan. Our accommodation overlooks the Yoshino river, and the food is fantastic. more...

2015-11-27 2015 World R6 Rafting Championships

We have arrived! After some lengthy travels for many of us, we are almost all assembled at the venue for the 2015 World Rafting Championships in West Java, Indonesia. Still to arrive are Bill (and most of our paddles), and Jenny our team nurse. All being well, we will see them tomorrow more...

2015-06-07 2015 Canadian R4 Rafting Championships

We again headed over to the Rouge river and New World rafting for a very well organised race. The first day was certainly busy, with the first 3 events all happening in one run down the river. The field was the biggest seen in recent years more...

2014-10-19 2014 World R4 Rafting Championships

On Oct 8th, 2014 I started my journey to the south, escaping the soon to be cold of the north yet again. This time however for a much better reason then usual. Myself and a few other Canadian boys were elected to be the R4 national Canadian team in summer of 2013. We trained hard up 'til the date of departure more...

2013-11-08 2013 World R6 Rafting Championships

We are all now in Rotorua, New Zealand, ready to get some training in for the upcoming World Rafting Championships. The team managed to converge on Okere Falls today for a few familiarisation runs down the Kaituna river. For some of us, it was the first time down, and it really is as good as everyone says! more...

2013-06-10 2013 Canadian R4 Rafting Championships

The first day of the Canadian rafting championships saw some great racing from the ladies teams. The Petawawa river was the venue for the sprint course, down Lovers and Catwalk rapids. Water levels were good, and provided challenging conditions for all the entrants. more...

2012-09-21 2012 Pan-American R6 Rafting Championships

At the end of September we made our way to Quebec to compete in our first international rafting event; the World Cup/Pan-American Championships. This event was not only our first international rafting competition but it would also act as the Canadian Championships, deciding which team would represent Canada at the 2013 World Rafting Championships in New Zealand. more...

2011-06-04 2011 Canadian R4 Rafting Championships

Fresh from our recent success at Hell or High Water 2011, we were determined to do well at the Canadian championships, our aim being to win and thereby qualify for the 2012 R4 worlds. On arriving at the Jaques-Cartier river north of Quebec city we found a quality run of fairly continuous grade 4 water on the Tewkesbury section. more...

2011-05-07 Hell or High Water 2011

The annual Hell or High Water festival is fast becoming an established Ottawa valley boaters favourite. After having had such a great time at last year's event; Hell or High Water 2010, we put in some training in the week leading up to the race - more...

2010-09-02 2010 Canadian R6 Rafting Championships

This is it! After countless early mornings training hard we were on our way. We had arrived in the Saguenay region of Quebec the previous night after a long drive from the Ottawa. Keen to hit the rivers and get some practice in before our first race against the Qubec teams, we drove up to St Stanislas and the Mistassibi. It did not dissapoint - more...

2010-06-08 The Rouge - Seven Sisters

Fresh from our successful run of the Kipawa, we set our sights on the series of drops on the Rouge river in Quebec. As soon as we could get a team together, a check of the levels confirmed that the waterfalls known as the Seven Sisters were all good to go. This time we bought some kayakers with us to run safety cover. more...

2010-05-07 The Kipawa

After having taken delivery of our brand new raft (thanks SOTAR!), we were keen to get out and run some rivers. The only problem - the driest spring and summer in living memory! With our plans for adventures further afield scuppered, we settled upon a low water Kipawa trip. more...

2010-05-01 Hell or High Water 2010

A fresh Mayday weekend in the Ottawa valley - what better opportunity to get out for the first run of the season? We wrapped up warm and headed to the superb Hell or High Water event. This event usually sees the Petawawa river in full spring flow, and this year was no exception. more...

Canadian R4 Rafting Championships

2013-06-10 2013 Canadian R4 Rafting Championships - Sprint and H2H

The first day of the Canadian rafting championships saw some great racing from the ladies teams. The Petawawa river was the venue for the sprint course, down Lovers and Catwalk rapids. Water levels were good, and provided challenging conditions for all the entrants.

The Ladies of the Ottawa River run Lovers rapid

There were a few unplanned manouvers in the practice runs in Lovers rapid, caused by the crashing waves in the outflow. Both ladies teams had good race runs though, with team Atlan taking first place by a narrow margin.

Taking on the waves below Lovers rapid

Despite being the only mens team entered, Petawawa raft team were going all out in a bit to at least beat the ladies teams. The waves below Lovers didn't let them through easily though.

The boys having some fun at Lovers as well

Moving upstream, the Head to Head race was held on Railroad rapid. With a choice of lanes in the head to Head event, team Atlan were the favourites. and after some contact, took an early lead. Both teams opted to take the right hand bridge arch, and run the chute below. The Ladies of the Ottawa river weren't giving up without a fight, and saw their opportunity to pass as team Atlan were slowed down at the base of the chute.

Team Atlan leading in the Head to Head race

The rest of the course had enough to keep both teams busy, although team Atlan made a spirited attempt to regain the lead coming into the finish. In the end, the Ladies of the Ottawa River prevailed in a very closely contested event.

The Ladies of the Ottawa river out in front

All that was left was the run down by the unopposed mens team. They finished in fine style, and completed an exciting day of racing. Going into the remaining events tomorrow, The Ladies of the Ottawa river are ahead of the defending champions team Atlan, but there is everything to play for in the Slalom and Downriver race.

2013-06-11 2013 Canadian R4 Rafting Championships - Slalom and Downriver

The second day of the Canadian rafting championships saw some exciting racing. The venue for the Slalom was Little Trickle rapid on the Middle channel of the Ottawa river.

The Ladies of the Ottawa River

Both the ladies teams raced well, with team Atlan ahead by 6 seconds after first runs. There was everything to play for though, as both teams had missed a gate, giving them a 50 second time penalty each.

Team Atlan at gate 3

Photo: Stef McArdle

The only mens team racing, Petawawa Raft Team, had a fast first run, but missed gate 7, giving them a 50 second penalty as well.

The Ladies of the Ottawa River at gate 3

Going into second runs, team Atlan started first, and improved their total time by 9 seconds despite still missing one gate. Following behind them, the Ladies of the Ottawa River just managed to get all the gates, and improved their time considerably. This gave them the fastest time of the day and another victory!

The competitors continued down the remainder of the middle channel, and after lunch gathered at the top of the Lorne rapid on the Ottawa's Main channel for a high water downriver race.

Team Atlan clearly showed their race experience here by taking an early lead and picking fast lines down an unfamiliar course. The Ladies of the Ottawa river didn't give up though, and were at their heels for almost the entire way down. An attempt to pass below Blacks rapid saw them edge ahead briefly, but they couldn't maintain their momentum and team Atlan regained the lead to the finish. That ended an exciting day of racing, with each ladies team claiming victory in one event.

The final results can be downloaded here. The ladies teams were tied on overall points, but in this case, the tiebreaker is the result of the slalom competition, meaning that we have brand new Canadian R4 champions - the Ladies of the Ottawa River! Congratulations ladies, and good luck for the 2014 R4 World Championships in Brazil.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who gave up their time to help set up and run the event, Petawawa Raft Team for organising, and River Run Rafting for kindly hosting the event at their riverside resort and providing the rafts. Thanks also to Colin Coyle and the town of Petawawa recreation department for their assistance, and Kait Graham at Burn Fitness for providing the delicious prizes.