Starting Options

Boats will start in intervals as before, EXCEPT that all boats will start in packs for that catagory. Packs will be limited to a max of 10 boats. Race head to head against your buddies, or follow someone if you don’t know the river well! This also builds another safety net into the race.

Competitiors range from World Champion Rodeo Boaters to U.S. Wildwater Team members, professional videographers, river professionals on raft teams, as well as amateur recreational boaters.

Over the years the race has been a huge success, with more than 100 competitors annually coming from all over the continental United States, Canada, Japan and Europe. The race has also enjoyed considerable media coverage on the local, regional, and national level through television, newspaper, radio, American Whitewater magazine, Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine, an “Adventure Update” on Outdoor Life Network, and Outside magazine online. The event has also been included in the hour-long Outdoor Life Network production for the World Rafting Championships, which was distributed around the world.

Boat Classification for The Animal Upper Gauley Race

This Race is for Experts Only!!!

Kayaks
Wildwater Class: Any kayak or over 13’2” in length, except the Wavehopper & Speeder.
Wavehopper Class: Wavehopper & Speeder
Slalom Class: Kayaks under 13’2” and more than 8’6” in length
Playboat Class: Kayaks 8’6” or less in length

C1
Wildwater Class: Any C1 or over 13’2” in length.
Slalom Class: Any C1 under 13’2” and more than 8’6” in length
Playboat Class: Any C1 8’6” or less in length

OC1
Open Canoe: Solo and/or Tandem. No electric pumps.

Rafts
Raft Team: Six Person teams, paddle boats only. 12 – 14 foot length. Please pre-register.

Open Class
ALL other boat types are invited to compete, however it does take three boats of a type to make a class and be eligible for prizes.