1996 Cheat Race

Cheat Race Summary – FIRST ANNUAL CHEAT RACE!!!

May 3rd, 1996
Albright, West Virginia

Veteran river guide and racer extraordinaire’ Roger Zbel, racing in his sleek new downriver wildwater boat, smoked the competition at the first annual Cheat Canyon Downriver race, held on Friday, May 3rd, in Albright, West Virginia. Roger would complete the course in 41:46, a fast time considering the water level was a somewhat burly 3.75 on the route 26 bridge. Coming after wins in last years Upper Yough and Gauley races (in 1995), Roger, at the age of 40, has now won the three biggest white water downriver races in the country. He has established himself as the Godfather of racing and the preeminent (class IV+) white water downriver racer in the United States. Congratulations Roger!

This race originated under the idea of Rob Vorhees, who in partnership with the Friends of Cheat, were looking for a complimentary event for the newly created Cheat Festival. The inaugural event used a new concept of a ‘mass start.’ ‘’New’ in terms of what downriver whitewater racing usually uses, which utilizes timed, solo starts by racers. The racers started near the old washed out bridge and raced to the bottom of Coliseum Rapid (the pool below Pete Morgan)

Coming in behind Zbel, two minutes behind (43:47), was his friend Steve Kauffman. Over two minutes behind the two racers, were a thick pack of racers battling it out for the third spot. Veteran riverman Phil Coleman, making a surprising return from his Costa Rican banana farm, would ultimately prevail in 3rd with a time of 46:53. Right behind were racers Billy Zollars (46:56), Rick Gusic (47:08), Mike Herrera (47:15), and Scott Stough (47:31).

Once the results were tallied up, Phil Coleman would be declared the winner of the ‘B’ division (wavehoppers, sea kayaks, and other racing boats) while Billy Zollars would take the ‘C’ class (boats under the length of 13’2”). Jan Steckel would win the women’s class, coming in a time of 55:18.

The Friends of the Cheat and the West Virginia River Coalition, the sponsors of the Cheat Festival, have said they hope the Cheat Race will become a permanent part of the festival tradition.