The Classiest of Classic Wildwater Races
36th Annual Southeastern US WILDWATER Championships
The Southeastern U.S Wildwater Championships is one of the oldest and most prestigious races in the United States. The Georgia Canoeing Association with the assistance of the Nantahala Outdoor Center and the Nantahala Racing Club did a fabulous job of hosting the race again this year.
The classic top to bottom 8 mile wildwater run is character building as it requires endurance for the long shallow flats and demands whitewater skills for rapids ranging up to class II-III such as Patton's Run and Nantahala Falls. This race has a long and rich tradition with many of the great names of wildwater participating over the years. They include John Sweet, Payson Kennedy, Alan Button, Dave Mason, John Butler, Angus Morrison, Andy Bridge, Terry White, Kath Bolyn, David Jones and Mike Hipsher. The Georgia Canoeing Association offers a $100 bounty to any Southeastern’s racer who can beat the course records for the 8-mile top to bottom race. The records are:
 | K-1 – Terry White (1981) 42:04 |
| K-1W – Kathy Bolyn (1989) 45:20 |
| C-2 – Mike Hipsher/David Jones (1989) 45:11 |
| C-1 – John Pinyerd (1997) 46:43 |
The 2004 races had a solid turnout with several US Wildwater Team Members competing. In spite of the fog and just average water levels, Maurizio Tognacci (K-1) turned out a blazing time of 44:39 and had the fastest time of any boat down the river. John Pinyerd (C-1) won his 9th Charlie Patton award this year with a time of 52:17. The Charlie Patton Award is presented to the fastest solo canoe (open or decked). Wildwater Junior Team member, Erin Wilder (K-1W), won her second Julie Wilson Award with a time of 57:40. The Julie Wilson award is presented to the fastest female competitor.
Joel Abrahams deserves special recognition for helping a fellow wildwater paddle rescue his brand new race boat after the racer got mixed up with a raft. This is the spirit of wildwater racing as we support each other however we can. Our $1200-$2000 composite race boats are not only expensive, they are difficult to replace and we deeply appreciate Joel’s aid to a fellow racer.
It would not be the Southeasterns without John and Tee Browner serving as the Wildwater starters (as they have started me at the Southeasterns for more than two decades). Racing classic canoe designs is also a part of the rich history of the race. The circle of life is also complete for me as Roger Nott raced his Blue Hole OCA to a first place tie in OC-1 with Larry Castillo.
The fun run was just that, an organized wildwater training trip. Larry Castillo led the group and demonstrated why he has won the Southeastern’s so many times with his excellent lines. Peter Chau (who was fully equipped with safety gear) and I ran sweep.
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2004 Wildwater Results |
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OC1 (Open Canoe - Solo) |
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Place |
Time |
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1 |
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Larry |
Castillo |
Master |
1:04:34 |
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1 |
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Roger |
Nott |
Master |
1:04:34 |
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3 |
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Peter |
Chau |
Master |
1:13:02 |
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C-1 |
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1 |
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John |
Pinyerd |
Master |
52:17 |
Charlie Patton Award |
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1* |
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Joel |
Abrahams |
Junior* |
1:04:23 |
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K-1W |
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1 |
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Erin |
Wilder |
Junior |
57:40 |
Julie Wilson Award |
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2 |
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Bailey |
O'Sullivan |
Junior |
58:12 |
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3 |
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Anne |
Connolly |
Open |
59:39 |
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1* |
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Tierney |
O'Sullivan |
Cadet* |
59:53 |
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K-1 |
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1 |
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Maurizio |
Tognacci |
Master |
44:39 |
Fastest boat |
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2 |
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Lincoln |
Williams |
Open |
51:13 |
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1* |
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Clay |
Wilder |
Junior* |
52:12 |
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3 |
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Rob |
Murphy |
Open |
53:58 |
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4 |
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Bern |
Collins |
Master |
1:01:21 |
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2004 Fun Run Results* |
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Larry |
Castillo |
Master |
33:00 |
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Peter |
Chau |
Master |
33:10 |
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Daniel |
Gosney |
Cadet K-1 |
33:20 |
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John |
Pinyerd |
Master |
33:30 |
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*It was a fun run, so we posted fun times (for real time, add 15 minutes) |
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