Team Race Information

 

1. What is the team race?

 

The team race is a side, additional competition that goes on during the Cheat Canyon Race. It is simply boaters grouping up into 'teams', then racing down the river. At the end of the race, we simply count up how each team member did and compute their placing to find the team score. Low score wins the titles. People who enter a team are still eligible for all the individual awards.

 

2. How many people do I need to form a team?

 

Teams are formed with either three or four boaters. Your fastest three boaters will comprise your overall team score (adding together their places)  If you have an additional fourth boater, view him or her as a backup in case one of the others doesn't do so well.

 

3. How are the teams composed?

 

There are three classifications for the Cheat Team Race. If any one of your teammates are paddling a wildwater boat (Class A), then your entire team falls into the first class, the 'Pro Category'. The other two categories are the 'Club' and 'Corporate' divisions. With the latter two categories, each teammate in a group must be able to loosely link themselves together by either belonging to that same club or company.

 

4. Can teammates all paddle together?

 

Team members can do whatever they want, paddle together or separate from the slower group members. If you are new to the race, joining a team is a great way of following someone down the river. Or a great way of helping a friend through the race (if their new).  Due to the nature of the mass start, everyone is racing together (at least for a while)  So if you have a few equal skilled paddlers from similar clubs, get everyone together. Drafting is allowed and working together to get down the river is encouraged.

 

5. How many teams are being entered into the race?

 

In 2005, there were 19 teams entered in the Cheat Race. Two teams entered in the Pro Division, while 17 entered the Club/Company divisions. The latter competition saw many of the past years standouts return. Long time running outfitter Mountain Streams formed three teams. Ohio's two two premier boating clubs, the Kent State Kayaking Club and the KeelHaulers returned. Pittsburgh powerhouse club, the Three Rivers Paddling Club formed a few. Other clubs came from Baltimore, Virginia, Washington DC,  and West Virginia.