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2003 Cheat Race

Individual Results     Class Winners     Team Results

Cheat Race Summary 2003 Friday, May 2, 2003 Article by Rick Gusic with photos by Don Parks and Julie Black The 2003 Cheat Canyon Downriver Race would take with it many things this year. Past champions returning to dominate yet again, as well as the race now emerging as one of the biggest kayak races in the United States. THE showcase downriver kayaking race in the country! The race truly came into it’s own this year, with over 79 contestants competing, which is almost double what other kayaking races had (the Gore, Upper Yough, and Gauley) This year, the contestants would yet again all line up in for the unique 'mass start'. Then quickly all the racers settling in for what can only be described as a test of endurance and will over the 10 mile canyon. Most racers would be paddling for between one to two hours!

The level on race day would be a perfect 2.25 on the Route 26 bridge gauge, covering nearly all rocks but yet leaving most holes manageable. Unlike last year’s high water level, in which boaters swam, broke boats and numerous people did not finish, this year every contestant would cross the finish line. A good job by all the racers! As far as the race, a past champion would return to dominate. US National Wildwater team member Steve Kauffman would return to top form and recapture the overall title yet again, claiming his second first place prize in a solid 1:09:47. Steve would quickly jump out to an early lead and then beat second place finisher Rick Gusic (1:13:31), who was also paddling a glass wildwater boat. Coming in next were boaters in the ‘B’ class. Finishing in 3rd place, and also winning the ‘B’ class title, would be long time racing standout Mike Moore, who finished in 1:14:53. Moore would also dethrone last year’s ‘B’ division champ Nate Ober, would finished fourth in 1:15:04. Coming in next, was Jeremy Lavicks, who was competing in the A class. Finishing 6th, and rounding out the two divisions, was veteran Scott Stough who paddled his Phoenix Cascade to a time of 1:16:39.

The women's division this year would feature a number of racers. The 2003 overall Cheat champion title, as well as the class C title, would fall to Denise Rabun, who would paddle a close race with second place finisher Lara Voytko by a little over two minutes. Other category winners, the short boat or ‘D’ class would include Kristy McMillion. Back to the men, the class C class or 'Long boat' category winner (boats between the length of 10' and 12'6") would fall to the battling' Kent Stater, David Knox (1:17:54) who would overtake the grizzled, longtime boating warrior Steve Geissler halfway through and hold him off by only 17 seconds. Maybe next year Steve will find a boat that actually keeps water out - as rumors had it he was still dumping water out of it days later. Coming in 3rd place would be the 1999 class C title winner, Rocky Rockwell, with a time of 1:18:33.

In what could only be called a blowout, in the 'Short boat' or ‘D’ class (boats under 10') Dave Shannon crushed the competition. Dave would come in at 1:21:06, easily outdistancing his nearest competitors., Alan Roberts and Ken Gfoerer. For the remaining classes, it was the past repeating itself. Past winners would return to dominate yet again. Two time C1 champion Neal Fleenor would win the C1 division for his THIRD title, beating out Mike Elsea. In the open canoe division, Steve Frazier would return to win his FIFTH title in a row. Over in the K2 division, Pete and Tim Daly would triumph, racking up their THIRD K2 title. For true excitement, the Cheat Race offers the unique team race format and 2003 saw some hotly contested team battles. This format allows companies and paddling clubs to compete as a team to battle for the pride of their respective organization. After months of some of the nastiest 'smack' talk the Internet has ever seen, longtime bitter rivals, the Keelhaulers and the Kent State Kayaking Club would square off against three other paddling clubs for the Club Cup. Needless to say, the air was thick pre-race time as last year's 1st and 2nd place clubs angrily looked over each other. Boatertalk protagonist, Matt Muir, was even seen numerous times being restrained from verbally debasing his Kent State rivals. Adding to the tension, the Pittsburgh based Three Rivers Paddling club would gather up 11 kayakers to form three teams of their own. Five paddling clubs forming 8 teams, all competing for the title.

When the splashing settled, it would be the two time defending champion Kent State Kayaking Club winning yet again with 52 points (low score wins). The only question remaining after their convincing win is how many years will it take these guys to graduate from that school, as they put a convincing ass-whuppin on the other clubs. In somewhat controversial fashion, the Three Rivers Paddling Club would just inch out the Keelhaulers A team by only twelve points, 75 to 87. Almost too close to call as the cross state border rivals may have to settle this again in the future. Returning to the theme of returning champions, as well as the Kent State'ers did in the club competition; no one could match the dominance in the Corporate Team competition. These are teams where its members all originate from the same company. For the third year in a row, Mountain Streams displayed overwhelming dominance. 14 guides from the company would enter fielding four teams. Its top three teams would all score ahead of the team from Kent State, finishing with 32, 33 and 45 pts. As with past years, the same question remains unanswered, why can't any of the other 8 nearby rafting companies find three guides to compete for the honor of their company? An embarrassing state of affairs for the boaters in the town of Ohiopyle.

This year's overwhelmingly successful race could not have happened without the help of a couple key supporters. One, the Friends of the Cheat for helping underwrite the event. Two, Jeff Prycl and his kayak store, 'Rocky Mountain Kayak' (www.rockymountainkayak.com). Jeff donated well over 65 prizes that would be handed out and raffled off to the competitors, as well as helping with the race, running shuttle and hauling boats out. Thanks Jeff for the tremendous effort. Three, Immersion Research (www.immersionresearch.com) for stepping up with a number of prizes and also the race bibs. Thanks Kara and John! Four, safety boater extraordinaire Rich Yester for tirelessly doing the safety work again. Five, Chris Herring for the endless support in helping to organize and run the event. Last, but certainly not least, Mountain Streams for hosting the post race party. As a side note, every competitor would have free beer at the take out and party. They all would also walk home with a prize this year (everyone did) as well as a t-shirt, and a free Cheat Festival pass ($10 value). Kudos again to Mountain Streams for setting the world record for hauling boats out, getting 57 boats on a single truck - wow. Hope to see you next year when the race will be shooting for 100 contestants!