WESTFIELD — Race Director Harry Rock announced that registration for the 71st running of the Westfield River Wildwater Races is open at www.westfieldriver.org/racer at $35 per person, with the rates increasing on March 16 to $45 per person.
The races will take place on Saturday, April 18. The Expert Race will kick off at 9:30 a.m. from Knightville Dam and end at the Route 20 pull-off across from the Hilltown Community Health Center. The Classic Race will start at 11 a.m. from the Route 112 MassDOT maintenance yard in the center of Huntington and end in Woronoco Center. There will be classes for solo canoes, tandem canoes, kayaks and SUPs.
Two instructional clinics are planned for April 4 and 11 for paddlers to learn more about proper clothing, paddling equipment, proper paddling technique, self-rescues after capsizes, and how to correctly run the river and cross the two portages.
Race day start times are based on the order in which people registered. If you are the 10th person to register, you are the 10th person to start. The earlier you register, the earlier you will start, Rock said.
“If you want to paddle as a group with friends or family members, organize a day and time for everyone to register at the same time, and chances are very good that your start times will be next to one another or very close. It is very difficult for race officials to change recorded start times after people are registered, so please plan ahead,” he added.
Popular viewing spots with parking, porta toilets, and trash receptacles include the Expert Race start line at Knightville Dam and the Expert Race finish line at the Route 20 pull-off across from the Hilltown Community Health Center. The Health Center has graciously offered its parking lot for spectator and racer vehicles.
The Classic Race viewing spots include the previously mentioned Route 20 pull-off, the Russell Main Street Bridge with parking at Frog Hollow Road, the Route 20 Whippernon pull-off, and from Strathmore Park by hiking down to the river. Spectators are not allowed at the Classic Race start line or the Classic Race finish line in Woronoco at Valley View Road, due to limited space for vehicles at the two locations.
The awards ceremony will take place after the races in Strathmore Park between noon and 4 p.m. There will also be prizes for best costumes and for the best team names.
There will be two food trucks on site, including the Butcher Block featuring burgers, brisket and pulled pork sandwiches, and La Veracruzana, a Mexican menu. DJ Kevin Crane will provide music and announcements throughout the afternoon. Everyone is welcome to attend the event at Strathmore Park.
Send questions to races@westfieldriver.org.
