Olympic Team Trials Qualifier, San Marcos, Texas
I wanted to clear up my error in my last post. The race that was held 2/17 at Rio Vista Park was the Olympic Team Trials Qualifier and not the final Olympic Team Trials that will take place later this spring.
Beginning of Kayak Race Course
The US Canoe & Kayak (USACK) board awarded Red River Racing Team a 2008 Olympic Team Trials Qualifier. Some of the best racers in the country came to San Marcos on the road to becoming part of the Olympic Team! The top 3-4 placing finishers in each of the 4 categories (K1, K1W, C-1 and C-2) will go on to compete in the Olympic Team Trials April 26-28th in Charlotte North Carolina!
Second Chute of Kayak Course
We saw some serious kayaking on Sunday. The gates hanging down are either green or red. You have to go through the green gates with the flow of the water, downstream. You must go through the red gates against the flow of the water, upstream. You must go through the gates in order and if you hit one of the poles, it is a 2-second penalty. If you go through a gate out of order, all the gates you missed are “dead gates” and cost you 90-seconds each.
Lower 2/3 of Kayak Course
It was a beautiful sunny day and we enjoyed watching these kayakers. Some were young, some were old, some were robust and in the prime of their life. They were all athletes, serious athletes. The water flow was probably between 200-300 cubic feet per second.
Stop and Paddle Upstream
Turn on a Dime
I have always wondered about the purpose of those poles (gates) that hang over the water. Now I know. They are to confound and disappoint kayakers both coming and going. . . LOL.You do not have to be an olympian to have fun on the San Marcos River. The San Marcos River flows directly through town. Visit the website of the San Marcos River Foundation, for information on the San Marcos River.
Tandem Kayakers
Photographs by Eileen Trainor, all rights reserved. However, if you were in this race, I may have a picture of you coming down the first chute. Use the contact me button and I’ll be happy to forward to you.
