Northbrook Challenge Race Report
Ah, my nemesis, twisty winding technical water in an ICF K1. During the race I swam twice due to recreational canoe pile-ups on the turns. It’s all part of racing. Given that it was an unseasonably warm 90-degree day the first Sunday in May, I actually enjoyed the swims.
This race has a Le Man’s type start, where you stand on shore with your boat and the officials release you in ten second intervals to run down into the water and take off. For those of us (me) who cannot run with a boat down an embankment to the water, get in, and start paddling in less than ten seconds, the start is rather interesting as you try to avoid getting run over by the more competent paddlers putting their boats in the water much more efficiently and quickly.
Once on the water, it is a sea of all kinds of canoes, each trying to squeeze at once through narrow, torturous openings among the rocks and trees. Not the best place for a non-recreational boat, but those of us getting ready for the General Clinton do it anyway, as the Brandywine River in this 9 mile section is very much like the Swamp at the Clinton.
This is another family event, the first Sunday in May, with Girl Scouts heavily featured as well as parent-child teams. I love seeing the children compete, who knows which one may grow up to be the next Greg Barton or Serge Corbin?!
It was a good day.