Topic: ATTENTION ALL RACE FANS

[MW]

I NEED HELP!!! Would you like to see another local race before the end of summer?
We have the funding to put on a race but we need help. Would any of you like to be on a committee to start a potentially awesome event in our area? To do this right, I think we need to get racers involved in the planning.
It will be held on Arkabutla or the Coldwater where it enters the lake, as the race will be funded by the town of Hernando. Let me know and I'll set up a meeting.

[Trail Monkey]

Hey Mike.. I would be willing to help where I can.. we had already talked about it so count me in.

Eddie

[Elmore]

     Are we dealing with a clean slate here (i.e., course, format, etc. yet to be determined)?

[potterspoint434]

 I wish we would had gone and had the Calico Rock race without them putting it on just a no pay race.
There doesn`t seem to be anything local to do and I have all these new boats I need to paddle and show>

[Trail Monkey]

Elmore.. from our last talks it was a clean slate. Pretty much nothing there. I think the lady that from the City of Hernando had a few ideas but that was really just about it. Ed Moore and I had talked about an even GPS plotted a course from Dub Patton out to the Island and back. But thats about as far as it had went. There was even talk of a Poker Run. I think that would have been fun out of a boat but again, about as far as it had gone.  Unless Mike and some of them have been talking more about it.

Eddie

[MW]

Nope... clean slate. What would bring the biggest crowd/most racers? Do we have a long race for racers and sprint races for spectators? We desperately need some feedback.

[Elmore]

     Because our sport is a small one, I believe that simpler is better, and in most cases that means one race over a distance that appeals to a broad variety of people (i.e., not too short, not too long).  Adding a second race of some kind would be okay as long as a significant number of the racers are interested in doing both.  Such a format worked pretty well at the Mississippi State Games down on the coast a couple of weeks ago: they had a 5-mile race at 8:00 AM followed by a 2-mile race at 10:00 or 10:30, and a major chunk of the 30 or so paddlers in attendance did both.  On the other hand, at the Little Rock race, where for a few years they had an 8-mile race that was restricted to race boats/fast touring boats and a 4-mile race that was restricted to rec boats/slow touring boats, I thought the two-race format was a mistake, both because the 4-mile race seemed too much like a "kiddie" race and because our sport just isn't big enough to bring in large fields for two races where participation in both isn't possible.
     One more thought: a major pool of potential attendees is our friends over in Arkansas and Missouri who focus largely on canoeing.  Their events typically have two or even three races so that each person can race solo, same-sex tandem, and mixed tandem if he wishes.  For them to come to Arkabutla, the race date would have to be something other than August 10-15, when the USCA Nationals are scheduled.
     As far as the spectator situation goes, I'm not very familiar with Arkabutla--is there a logical spectator area?  Keep in mind that over 90% of the spectators will be spouses and friends of the racers... not that they don't deserve to watch a good race just as much as "outside" citizens would.  Anyway, you could have a sprint race that they could see in its entirety, or you could make a longer race with two or more laps that come right by the spectator area.
     Those are my thoughts for now...

[shamen]

Anyway I can help let me know and I would be more than happy to help out.
I have often thought some sort of series of races would be a great idea; with a point system and varying distances and venues. If designed right they keep interest and build a fitness base. It i
I have been involved in several of these in running and biking they are a great way to build a support base and introduce new folks. In Running the Road Race Series ( check MRTC web site) and the Winter Crosscountry Series have become big number events without a lock of big money support in the beginning. Both now are over 20 years old and still getting bigger. The results drawing folks/organizations/businesses willing/desiring to sponsor these races.
If designed right they keep interest and build a fitness base. It is hard to get ready for Outdoor's  3 mile race in May and train through the hot summer and be ready for the Phatwater 43 mile race in October. Races planed in-bewtween could be a great motivator to continue training. The success of the Memphis Marathon has a great deal to do with the planing and design of the Summer Road Race Series leading up to folks being trained by participating in the Series.
I have not missed the Winter CrossCountry series since its beginning, this year doing it with a pretty big injury and coming in dead last for one of the races (dumb on my part but the thought of missing it drove me crazy). I can give you lots of names of folks who were "Roadies" and got hooked on Trail running by doing the WCC Series. The same could happen with the different style of boaters. There lots of Mountain Bikers in the area who were committed Roadies until they did the Winter Off Road Series.
We have an abundance of water in our area so we have lots of venues. It is rather amazing as I paddle these different waters to have so many conversations with so many people asking questions about boating. Somethings specifically to point them to and capture their interest would be really nice.
Peace vincent/shamen

[timmmber]

i really don't have a clue on what i could do, but i know how to help. So my kayak and i are yours to help where needed.    tim 

[BY_1x]

Any updates, any news on this topic?! Just in case, I will be also glad to pitch-in!

Also, I would recommend to get in touch with Keith Benoist (http://www.kayakmississippi.com), founder and main engine behind PhatWater race. While I don't think Keith would be able to work on a new race, but he might be valuable source of "know-how" on starting, developing and running good kayak events  overall, and specifically in MS.

-ILia

[MW]

There was a meeting in Hernando that I could not make and I have not heard any details. I will relay when I find out.

[MW]

Hey guys, you  know of a good place to meet? Garibaldi's?

[Trail Monkey]

Mike.. dont forget Tom. Southaven strore has huge meeting room.

[MW]

Okay guys, tonight at 7:00 pm at Garibaldi's in Germantown. Any and all canoe and kayak racing info will be greatly appreciated. My # is (901)496-0679

Located in the heart of Germantown in the Queen's Court shopping center
Off West Street between Poplar Pike and Poplar Avenue
7521 Queen's Court - 901.756.4444

[BY_1x]

The notice is kinda short...

Won't be able to make it tonight.

Please post what was discussed, and what are the next steps...

-Happy Paddling!