2018 USCA National Championships 9-12 August 2018

Onondaga Lake Park, Liverpool NY

From 9-12 of August all roads for racing paddlers in the Northeast lead to Onondaga Lake Park just north of Syracuse, New York. In 2016 the United States Canoe Association (USCA) held its annual championships on the Connecticut River near Northfield, Massachusetts. The New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association (NECKRA) hosted an extremely successful event. Now it is the turn of the New York Marathon Canoe Racing Association’s (NYMCRA) to host these Nationals. Thursday 9th August will be for youth sprints, and the following three days will be for marathon races over a 14-mile course which will consist of two loops on the Seneca River. These races will be for canoes, kayaks, touring kayaks, Olympic K1s and surf skis. In addition, there will be age classifications that will range from an open class (18-39) through masters, seniors, veterans and grand veterans.

The race headquarters, parking, and the start and finish will all be close to one another on the east side of the Seneca river near where it flows out of Onondaga Lake in the Onondaga Lake Park. There will be ample space for vendors and easy access to the river to try out the boats they bring to display.

Onondaga Park is easily accessed from the New York State Thruway (exit 38) There is a website: cnynationals.org with more detailed information about the event and driving instructions and hotel accommodations. It is also possible to register in advance but this is not obligatory as it is possible to register on site the day before the race.

Friday will be for K1 Unlimited for women, K1 Touring for women, K1 Touring for men, and K2 Unlimited for men.

Saturday will be for K1 Unlimited for men, and K2 Unlimited for women.

Sunday will be for K1 Sea Kayaks for women and men and Unlimited K2 mixed

All racing will begin at 9 am. Boat number pick up at race HQ will be between 7:30-8:00 am. The National Anthem will be at 8:30 followed by a mandatory pre-race meeting.

In addition, there will be an open water race on Lake Onondaga that will take advantage of the wind direction. It will either go from the north end of Onondaga Lake, near the race headquarters to the Syracuse Inner Harbor, or from the Syracuse Inner Harbor to the north end of the lake. It will be about six miles. This will be on Saturday 11 August with the race starting at 5 PM.

For more information about the Nationals contact: Roger Gocking:  rgocking@roadrunner.com or  Scott Stenberg: chesapeakefarm@gmail.com