63rd Annual Salmon la Sac Downriver and Slalom Races

60 racers from age 7 to age 75 converged at the Cle Elum River for the weekend of the 63rd Annual Salmon la Sac Whitewater Races near Roslyn, Washington. People traveled from all over the Pacific Northwest to attend this event including Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia. The Salmon la Sac Whitewater Races represent the longest consecutively run whitewater slalom race in the United States. This was my 2nd time attending this event and competing in both the downriver and slalom races. I’m still relatively new to slalom but eager to learn more and get better.

On Saturday, I participated in a class 2 downriver whitewater race on the Cle Elum River featuring wildwater race kayaks, slalom kayaks, a sea kayak, and whitewater kayaks. I hopped in my leaky slalom kayak and hoped it would stay afloat by the time I got to the finish line. The wildwater kayaks and C-1’s were SO FAST! The race was about 30 minutes in duration and led me to huff and puff and be very fatigued by the end of it. My kayak stayed afloat, even though I had a ton of water in my boat by the end of the race. I was proud to have finished 5th among my fellow paddlers in slalom kayaks.

This event location has another special perk. Near the slalom course is the “China Gorge” class IV-V section of the Cle Elum River and the class IV-V Cooper River. These are both world class sections of whitewater. I was fortunate to hop on the Cooper River in my Jackson Kayak Gnarvana prior to some practices slalom laps and the downriver race. The Cooper River reminds me a lot of southeast U.S. paddling, featuring tight and technical creeking moves. The put-in of the Cooper River features a gorgeous waterfall to enjoy while cooling down after the hike-in. We were fortunate to enjoy this river relatively wood-free, except for a log jam below the final rapid named Wall of Voodoo. There were plenty of boofs, skipping over holes, and enjoying of quality whitewater on a Sunday PNW day. I had a wonderful day on the Cooper, leaving with a big grin on my face.

On Sunday, I practiced and participated in a full day of slalom racing. I entered two divisions this year: 1) Senior Men’s Composite K-1 and 2) Handpaddling. This event is as welcoming as it is competitive. Being relatively newer to the slalom scene, I’ve greatly appreciated the positive and welcoming atmosphere around the PNW slalom circuit. We have multiple slalom races around the PNW at the Cedar River, Cle Elum River (Salmon la Sac), Bull Run, Chilliwack, and more. It’s empowered me to start slalom, learn more, try different paddle crafts in races, and get better each race. It’s also incredible to see the lightning fast young and experienced slalom paddlers dissecting each course with proper technique. I depart each race feeling “Oh, I did better this time” and “I’m glad I competed.” These races also get me excited to watch the slalom athletes at the Olympics.

Slalom has helped me to get better acquainted with what I love about paddling, versatility. I love paddling at different places, different rivers, different sections, and in different paddle crafts. I personally whitewater kayak, sea kayak, tandem kayak, slalom kayak, hand paddle, sit-on-top kayak, whitewater canoe, and prone paddle. There are so many wonderful flavors of paddling beyond what I do. I’ve tried to take this versatility into the races, competing in as many different divisions as possible and progressing weaker styles. I want slalom to feel inclusive of all appropriate whitewater crafts and paddle types. This Salmon la Sac slalom race was the first time I had a fellow competitor in hand paddles. This meant a lot to me! I’ve been competing frequently at races in hand paddles to show that it’s possible to paddle a river kayak (even slalom kayak) with hand paddles, navigate all the gates with hand paddles, and compete. I’m starting to contemplate competing on a sit-on-top and prone paddling. I’m thankful to have placed 3rd in Senior Composite K-1 and 1st in Hand Paddles.

Slalom is a great example of paddling harder moves on easier water. If you’re looking to get to the next level of paddling, I highly recommend spending time at a slalom course. Slalom moves are often quite technical, involve quick changes in direction, and precise movements. I’ve seen my “vertical” forward strokes getting more vertical, my cardio on the water getting better, and progress toward pivot turns. I also look at rapids differently and try to imagine what a challenging slalom course might be and try to make those moves. I can turn a class II rapid into a challenging class III through my imagination. I’ve progressed from paddling a whitewater kayak through the course to having my own composite race boat. Slalom courses can be developed for all sorts of waterways from flat water to challenging whitewater rapids. If you don’t have a slalom course in your area, consider partnering with members of your paddling community to purchase gates, the equipment to hang them, and develop your own course with landowner approval. Pursuing slalom has fired me up about paddling in a whole new way and I hope for some of you it may help do the same.