Codorus Slalom ~ September 12, 2004
Penn Cup Slalom #1 Results
Courtesy Dave Kurtz of Mach One

Four paddlers fresh out of the basic training box showed quality results from kayak racing at the beginner Codorus Slalom in York, PA today.  Matt Schmidt from State College, Shane McMinn from Bellefonte, Nate Hashagen from State College, and Graham Bell from Boalsburg took first through fourth places in the cadet kayak class. Two weeks ago these kids were just learning how to dip the paddle in the water. Today they showed skill and style in their performances. Schmidt took first place in 156 seconds. McMinn, a youthful 11 years was second in 174 seconds just edging Hashagen for third in 179 seconds. Nine-year-old Bell finished the race in 210 seconds. All these paddlers represented the Junior Olympic Development group, the Mach One Slalom Team.
 
Older or more experienced paddlers won the prizes in other classes. Jeff Gette from Philipsburg took first in junior kayak class in 123 seconds with Joey Warner from Bellefonte in second at 131 seconds. Kyle Nearhoof from Bellefonte burned through the course in 142 seconds. All these paddlers, also from Mach One, were first year juniors only a year ahead of Schmidt and Hashagen or the same age but having started some time before.  Nearhoof started paddling only in May, but has trained numerous times not only here at the Sunnyside Paddling Park but also at a week long camp in Wausau, WI.
 
Some of the more experienced paddlers came to this race to sweeten their chances for a Penn Cup class trophy since this was the first such slalom this year. Gette was one of those. Others include Rachel Thomas, cadet paddler from Boalsburg, who won the cadet women's kayak class in 135 seconds.  AJ Chapman also from Boalsburg was out to win the Penn Cup trophy in singles canoe, but he tripped up in the junior singles canoe class by taking second in 152 seconds. Gette played the spoiler role by winning this class in 143 seconds.
 
The 15-year-old paddler from Parkesburg, Rick Powell, took the top score in the open kayak class in 117 seconds. It was the fastest time of the day. Craig Horlacher of Mt. Gretna whose grandmother is still a State College resident took third in 148 seconds.
 
Kurtis Palmero, Keewaydin Aquatics paddler from Pomeroy, took first in the singles canoe class in the second fastest time of the day, 126 seconds. Both Powell and Palmero also represent Mach One in the standings.
 
Dave Kurtz of State College, coach and president of the Mach One Team won the master's kayak class in 134 seconds, just edging Jim Powell who scored a 137 second run. Powell is the father of Rick. Rod Thomas of Boalsburg finished 4^th in 156 seconds.
 
In the doubles canoe classes the two junior paddlers form Bellefonte, Joey Warner and Kyle Nearhoof teamed together in winning that class in 170 seconds. The two cadet paddlers from State College, both 14-year-olds, took the gold in that class in 260 seconds.
 
In open canoe competition Kurtis Palmero won the class in 159 seconds with Gette taking 3^rd in 220 seconds. The junior open singles canoe class was won by Rick Powell in 171 seconds while the women's open canoe singles was won by Sandy Powell, Rick's mother in 212 seconds.
 
The next slalom in the Penn Cup series is next weekend in Allentown, PA. We may have even more beginners testing their newly earned paddling tools at this race.

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