USA Canoe/Kayak Team Trials highlight October release season

Paddlers from all over the world are about to descend on the friendliest little whitewater town in the east. Every weekend in October, Elkhorn City will be filled with kayakers, canoeists and other random water junkies to challenge their skills on the legendary Russell Fork.

Team trail competitors compete in specialized "wildwater" boats.

This year’s season is highlighted by the USA Canoe & Kayak wildwater team trials, the first such event to be held in Kentucky. Competitors from all over the country will arrive for the two events on October 15-16 that will determine the USA wildwater team for next year’s World Whitewater Championships in Europe.
Saturday’s downriver event sends individual racers down a 2 mile course ending in downtown Elkhorn City. These racers will compete in the sprint race on Sunday at the Breaks River Access. Over 50 competitors are expected.
This premier event isn’t the only attraction for the month. The 4th annual Baddlun on the Russell Fork, an extreme triathlon featuring biking, kayaking, and running, is at noon, October 8. The first annual Baddlun-lite (less extreme) is at 4pm, also on the 8th. It will be followed by the annual Paddler Appreciation cookout at Elkhorn Beach.
The 15th annual Lord of the Fork extreme downriver race returns on October 22. This race brings the best downriver kayakers in the world into the Breaks Gorge trying to post the fastest time through 2 miles of Class V rapids. Last year’s winner, from New Zealand, will return to defend his title. There’s extra incentive this year, as a cash prize is being offered for the male and female with the best accumulated times in the three biggest extreme races in US whitewater: the Animal on the Gauley River, the Lord of the Fork on the Russell Fork, and the Green River Race.
The Russell Fork is a world recognized whitewater river with sections for every level of paddling enthusiast. The Breaks gorge is the best known section, 4.5 miles of Class V rapids and waterfalls. Commercial rafting is available on the upper and lower sections of the Russell Fork. Both sections are class III.
The colors of the fall season combined with hundreds of boaters and adventure seekers make Elkhorn City a must visit in October. For more information about whitewater, check out www.russellfork.info. For more about Elkhorn City, visit www.elkhorncity.org.