Sunday, March 5, 2000 -- Ohiopyle, PA
Mid Atlantic WW Series #1 - The Lower Yough
Story and photos by Eric DeBoni

[Details] [Coverage] [Overall Results] [Pic Set 1] [Pic Set 2]

Jesse Whittemore & Stacey Cardin get loose

The Lower Youghiogheny, a popular stretch of whitewater located in sunny Ohiopyle State Park, was the site for the first Mid-Atlantic WildWater Series race of the millennium. Chris Norbury, by way of internet and word of mouth, organized some of the finest local and distant talents to compete in this "Classic" race from Ohiopyle to Bruner Run, and the first race of the Mid-Atlantic Wildwater Series.

Registration took place out of the back of Chris's truck from 10-11 am. Many of the racers spent time before the race duct taping and getting their boats river worthy. The race would start at the put in below the Ohiopyle waterfall and continue through 7.5 miles of class 3 white water down to the take-out at Bruner Run. The river level was a fun 2.9 feet at the put-in.

A beautiful day for boating

Seventeen racers showed for the race, which according to Chris, was a good turn out for an unadvertised race. Hopefully, the series will grow with each race and the turn out will grow. The race began in an interval fashion at 12. Stacey Cardin was the first racer and the only woman in the race. Racers were spaced out in 1 minute intervals.

In the Classic race, Heinz Roethenmund(45:31) was the fastest person on the water this day, with Jesse Whittemore(46:11) less than a minute behind. Whittemore and Roethenmund both paddled Wildwaters, and the fastest Wavehopper was piloted by Chris Iezzoni(46:48)

After the classic race a sprint race was done from Entrance Rapid to Cucumber Rapid. The combined times of the two races would be used to determine series standings. Chris Norbury(2:44.65) barely held off Heinz Roethenmund(2:45.01) for the win, with less than 1/2 second between the two. Jesse Whittemore(2:52.67) finished third.