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Chute Out Series 2007

October 3, 2007

The 2007 MD Chute Out Series Champions are crowned!

It's been a shallow, flushy year for the MD Chute Out Freestyle series, but we proved we can have fun together no matter what. As always -- thanks to the great participants, volunteers, and sponsors for their support. You are the reason this whole thing works!

And now without further ado, I give you the 2007 Champions:

• K1-A -- Jim Hubshman
• K1-B -- Anatoli Mnev
• K1-W -- Monique Hubshman
• Juniors -- Peter Lutter
• C-1 -- Jordan Poffenberger

Let me call particular attention to the C-1 class--a discipline for which DC is world-famous in both slalom and freestyle. This was the first year since 1999 that the C-1 series champion was not named Joe or Seth!

Also, this is Jim and Monique's 3rd year in a row as dual winners. Jim won B class in 2005, and this is his second year atop the A class.

As in years past, Anatoli and Andre Zuban battled it out for the B class title. Don't worry--they're getting bumped to A next year, like it or not. :-) No more sandbagging, guys.

Finally, I'd like to recognize Howard Morland. He and the Hubshmans were the only 3 folks to make it to every Chute Out event this year. Remember kids: the first ingredient to success is just showing up. :-)

Hope to see you next spring! (I promise more water.)

- James Sneeringer

2007 Results: Final Series Results, April, May, June, July, August, September
2006 Results: Final Series Results, April, May, June, July, August, September
2005 Results: Final Series Results, April, May, June, July, August, September
2004 Results: Final Series Results, April, May, June, July, August, October
2003 Results: Final Series Results, April, May, June, July, August, September
2002 Results: Final Series Results, April, May, June, July, August, September
2001 Results: Final Series Results, April, May, June, July, August, September
2000 Results: Final Series Results, April, May, June, July, August, September.
1999 Results: Final Series Results, April, May, June, July, September, October,

The Maryland Chute-Out is a whitewater rodeo competition series for paddlers of all skill levels, held on the Potomac River below Great Falls. It will give local paddlers, many of whom learned to kayak on the Potomac, a chance to "strut their stuff" in a low-key, relaxed, and fun competition. The rodeo will be free to all competitors.

The Chute-Out series will be held the last Thursday evening of every month, starting in April, and will run through September. Registration will be from 4:30 - 5:30pm in the lower lot at Angler's; competition begins at 6:00pm. Classes of competition will be: Mens' K1-A, Mens' K1-B, Women's K1, Junior K1, and C1.

Prior to each event, information will be posted on:

Paddle Prattle:  http://www.monocacycanoe.org/mccboard/mccboard.html

BoaterTalk:  http://www.boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk

Format

The competition will be held in either a hole riding format, or a "free riding" format, where boaters perform tricks as they move downstream through a rapid. Hole riding will take place in a round-robin, with each boater getting two or three rides, scored until they wash out of the hole, or up to 30 seconds.  Free riding competitors will get one 90-second run through the rapid, from an eddy above across a set finish line.  Any move performed within that time period in the current of the river will be scored.  Moves performed in eddies will not be scored, although eddyline moves will be.  A point penalty is assessed if the boater is late across the line.  The decision of format for each event will be made that day, mostly based on water levels.

Prizes are awarded every month through a raffle--all participants and volunteers are eligible. Scores will accumulate to determine series winners after the final event in September. Series champs get cool medals and the all-powerful bragging rights.

Judging

Judging will be performed by competitors or volunteers, and consists of two components: technical and variety. For the technical scoring, volunteer technical judges will score all direction changes. Possible technical scores are:

• 1 point for each 180-degree flat directional change in the hole
• 2 points for each elevated (45 degrees or more) end
• 4 points for each vertical (70 degrees or more) end (including loop ends)
• Double points for each clean end

If a qualified volunteer variety judge is available, that judge will score variety once per trick according to a set score sheet. Sample variety scores are:

Hole or wave

• 10 points for cartwheel or blunt (45 degrees and more)
• 15 points for splitwheel or backstab (45 degrees and more) or mystery move
• 20 points for tricky wu, loop, space godzilla, sidekick or air blunt
• 30 points for pan am, flipturn, or donkey flip
• 40 points for helix

Freeriding

• 10 points for rock spin, eddyline wheel, splatwheel, or wavewheel
• 20 points for kickflip or macho move

Variety notes:

• Moves can be scored in both directions, such as both left and right cartwheels, or front and back loops
• Moves completed that result in a flush will still be scored
• Splitwheel, tricky wu -- one end must be vertical
• Loop -- no distinction is made for air loops
• Sidekick, air blunt, pan am, flipturn, donkey flip, helix -- separation from the water must be clean and full
• If a qualified volunteer variety judge is NOT available for a particular class, the variety will be judged by each technical judge on a 1-10 scale

Variety point values will only be scored once per move per ride, and added directly to the technical scores.

Special awards

There will be additional awards for the following:

• "Broken Paddle" award for best rodeo carnage (awarded as called for)

If you'd like to enter any of these events, all you have to do is show up. The site of the rodeo will be determined on a month-by-month basis and announced online (see above). However, due to predictably low water levels during the summer months, most competitions will be held at Maryland Chute.