The Grand Prix rolled straight into the Big Water Boatercross event only a day after the Gladiator freestyle competition on the Ottawa River. The Rouge, which is often overshadowed by the well-known surf spots of the Ottawa, lived up to every expectation competitors had for a Big Water race in this part of the world, famous for its massive rivers. “It’s a perfect place for this race,” said Brian Kirk who ended up taking 2nd place in the competition.

Rush Sturges noted that the mass-start format would likely create some chaos as boaters scrambled for race positions while threading the needle through house-sized holes and waves. “I think with 22 people out there it is going to be a total carnage fest,” said Sturges. “It’s going to be great.

The mass-start, which established the seeding of competitors in the heats, ended up being as rowdy as predicted. The race course, a series of four crashing waves with some stout holes pushed people from right to left, surfing some, flipping others, and allowing lucky ones to pass through relatively un-harmed. “It’s unpredictable in there,” said Casper Van Kalmthout, a competitor representing the Netherlands.  From the placings of the mass start, organizers broke the competitor field into four heats eliminating the last 6 paddlers. Devyn Scott, who was one of the first 6 paddlers eliminated, snapped his paddle in the first big wave taking him out of the race and becoming the first victim of equipment failure. “I planted my blade to take a stroke and just got nothing,” said Scott.

A driving rain and steep rocky banks along the side of the river made it a difficult environment for organizers and judges. Competitors had to walk back up to the starting line after each race hauling their kayaks over fallen trees and small cliff bands. “I got up there with no breath and had to jump right into my kayak for the race,” said Anton Immler a Swedish paddler who gained notoriety while working on the White Nile as one of the world’s best big water paddler. In the finals Nick Troutman ended up accelerating out of the middle of the course to take first followed by Brian Kirk and Anton Immler in third. Check the out the full results here http://www.whitewatergrandprix.com/en/results.html.

Next up on the tour is the Time Trial, which will be held outside the town of La Tuque on the Petit Bostonnais and features a series of slides and waterfalls. Those who didn’t finish well in the Big Trick Competition as well as paddlers who couldn’t pull off a top 10 finish in the Big Water Boatercross will need to set their sights on the Time Trials in order to stay competitive in the overall rankings.

Website: www.whitewatergrandprix.com