Wausau Kayak/Canoe Corporation Grabs Event of the Year Award ACA Recognizes Open Canoe Slalom Nationals & North American Championships
Celebrating 130 years as a nonprofit, member-supported canoeing and kayaking organization, the American Canoe Association this week recognized the remarkable success of the Open Canoe Slalom Nationals & North American Championships, hosted by the Wausau Kayak/Canoe Corporation earlier this year.
Nominated by ACA members and paddlesport event participants, the award recognizes the top ACA-sanctioned event in the country, considering elements such as participation, event organization, professionalism, competitive aspects, and alignment with ACA’s motto of “Education, Recreation, Stewardship and Competition.”
The ACA Open Canoe Slalom Nationals & North American Championships hosted by the Wausau Kayak/Canoe Corporation truly exemplified how a diverse group of volunteers, along with the support of a community, can host an international ACA-sanctioned event. Participants came from across the U.S., as well as Canada.
There was a two day pre-event clinic, two days of practice water releases, and three full days of competition. The race also promoted youth development. Junior Olympic athletes attended, as well as several youth who raced in the Jr/Sr races. The support for these classes at this event was significant and firmly illustrated their commitment towards the future of paddlesports.
The organization and professionalism of the three Race Directors and the Wausau Kayak/Canoe Corporation staff and volunteers was exemplary throughout the entire event.
“The American Canoe Association is proud to sanction literally thousands of paddling events around the country each year,” said Martin A. Bartels, Executive Director of the ACA. “So it’s no small achievement to develop a competitive event that hits so many high marks. The leadership exemplified by the race directors, staff and volunteers with the Wausau Kayak/Canoe Corporation is a great example for other communities and clubs who want to take advantage of their recreational waterways.
Such events not only encourage and empower people who want to explore the outdoors, they also increases paddler safety by exposing them to highly trained instructors, and draw attention to the need to protect our recreational waterways.”
The ACA National Office Staff
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