About the Race
| About the Race: The Cheat Canyon Downriver Race organizes it's start about one mile downriver of the town of Albright, WV, at the meeting booth for Laurel Highlands Outfitters. The pull off is on the right, right after the campground. Registration for the race usually runs from about 3:30pm till around 5:10pm. The pre-race meeting follows with the safety talk and all other relevant info that needs to be told. Once done, the racers gather up their boats and head on out to the river. |
 |
 |
The bridge is the traditional starting line for the race, with all the boaters lining up right behind it. At approximately 5:25, the race begins. The Cheat Race, unlike nearly all other races, is a mass start. All the boats go off at the same time, creating a massive mix of wakes, paddles, boats and bodies, all slamming into each other. Most definitely one kayaking's most entertaining spectacles. |
| The race course is about 10 miles in length, dropping at a maximum gradient of 40 feet per mile. All the famous (and infamous) rapids are paddled, including Decision, Big Nasty, High Falls and Coliseum. The front of the pack usually reaches the finish line, Jenkinsburg Bridge, in about an hour or so, depending on water levels. The back of the pack, the slower boats, usually finish up around 1:45 minutes. |
 |
 |
The racers usually congregate at the finish line waiting to cheer on those still arriving. Once most of the boats are in, everyone starts heading on up the hill for refreshments. The Cheat Race provides beer, water and snacks for it's racers. Once everyone is in, boats are loaded up on the shuttle vehicles. Race participants do NOT have to run their shuttle...the race has buses for the racers and trucks for their boats. All you have to do is get to the start line and head downriver. We'll get you back. |
| Once everyone arrives back at the starting line, the Cheat Race party begins. Last year the race organizers had a caterer provide food and snacks for everyone. The Cheat Race provides the beer for free of charge. Racers, friends, family and anyone else are all encouraged to come on back for the party. The food is available for purchase to anyone. Drink up and have a good time as we kick in some music and have fun. Later in the evening, if everything hopefully goes right, the Cheat Race announces the results and all the team and individual award winners. Once done, every racer gets his name thrown into a raffle for the chance to win a prize. Last year, courtesy of Jeff Prycl of Rocky Mountain Kayak, we raffled off about 50 prizes. |
 |
 |
Afterwards, drink up, relax, retell war stories from
the day's race and have a good time!!! Information on the Race: Race fee: $20 Items you get for the fee: 1. Entry into the Race 2. Free shuttle ride for you and your boat back to Albright. 3. Free drinks, snacks, and beer at the take out. 4. Free Cheat Race T-Shirt 5. Free $10 admission ticket to the Cheat Festival 6. Free beer at the post Race Party 7. Opportunity to win prizes at the party. |
 |