Racers
Who can race?
All students welcome
The CWF is an inclusive event designed for current students, whether you're in K-12 or enrolled 1/2 time or more in higher education. Contact us if you have questions about whether your current schooling qualifies.
Two races:
Intermediate & Advanced
The race is designed for paddlers of two skill levels: intermediate and advanced. Each racer can enter ONE race in ONE craft so we can spread the love, competitively-speaking.
Race Descriptions
Intermediate
The intermediate race starts at the North-South confluence of the Skykomish river and ends right after Anderson Hole Rapid. This is a class III run with 4 rapids spaced covering just over 1 mile of paddling. Every rapid will have a team of safety boaters, as well as all of the advanced racers cheering you on. Also, if this is your first time racing, or you need some extra support, just let us know and we can offer a couple extra safety options to support you.
Not sure which race you should do?
It's normal to feel nervous about racing. At the CWF, our goal is to support student boaters in making safe and supported decisions. If you want to talk to someone about the runs, reach out. There are lots of local boaters who love to talk about the Sky!
Advanced
The advanced race starts right above Boulder Drop rapid and ends at Split Rock. This is a class IV+ run with 4 rapids spread out over almost 1.5 miles. It is open to paddlers who can confidently and independently paddle Class IV+ rapids, you must have paddled Boulder Drop before racing. If you are not sure whether you are ready for this race, you can always switch to intermediate.
Awards and Prizes
All four 1st place finishers (men and women-intermediate and advanced) will win a brand new straight shaft paddle from Werner Paddles! Then, any other 1st place finishers in other categories (must have at least three entries to create a category) get first dibs at the regional-famous CWF swag station! 2nd and 3rd place finishers get next dibs at the swag station, before we give every racer/volunteer a chance via a lottery system. We do have separate categories for "male" and "female" racers, but encourage racers to race in the category that feels right to them.
Time
The fastest three racers are recognized in each category
Level
Awards are presented to intermediate and advanced racers.
Gender
The race recognizes winners in the "male" and "female" divisions. Racers should choose the division right for them.