August 30 – September 2, 2024
Whitewater King of New York is back for another year August 30th-September 2nd! We have partnered with Beaver Festival and The Beaver River Rendezvous this year to bring you bigger and better than ever!
Here is everything you need to know for the best whitewater weekend of the year!
Volunteers needed!!! SAFETY and TIMING!
This year we are offering partial and full discounts for volunteers on camping as well as industry swag! Please message us directly!
PLEASE Pre-Register for the festival and races and purchase raffle tickets here.
Google Map of the area (super helpful with spotty cell service-full cell service at festival site).
Race Schedule
Friday August 30th
“Bottom Moose Race” “Bottom Bottom” section Moose River
The old Bottom Moose Le Mans start race is back! Agers falls to Crystal! This race is a Le Mans start-meaning you run to your boats to start the race!
Registration: online or at put in
Safety meeting: 4pm
Race start: 4:30pm (practice lap mandatory)
Race style: “Le Mans” Mass start
Location: parking lot on river left above Agers falls
(Results may or may not be included towards overall results depending on participation)
Saturday August 31st
“Raquette Race” Stone Valley section Raquette River
Registration: online or at put in.
Safety meeting: 10am at put in.
Race start: 1pm (practice lap mandatory)
Race style: Start list 1 minute intervals
Location: Put in Colton Volunteer Fire Department Colton, NY
Sunday September 1st
“Eagle Race” Beaver River Eagle section
Registration: online or at put in
Race start: 1pm
Race style: “Round robin” no start order
Location: see google map for Eagle section coordinates.
Weekend Description
The Whitewater King of New York race series, hosted by the Great Falls Foundation , and the Beaver River Rendezvous takes place every year on Labor Day weekend on select rivers within the Adirondack mountains of northern New York. The race series has been in existence since 2011 and consists of 3 class V whitewater races. The races are held during recreational dam releases, acquired by American Whitewater and attract hundreds of paddlers to the area to enjoy a long weekend of guaranteed water levels and camping with friends in this unique and beautiful whitewater destination.
The Beaver River Rendezvous hosts the weekend camping festival at the Snow Ridge Ski Resort in Turin, NY. Camping opens Thursday night and ends Monday. See the Beaver Fest link for details! On site bar/restaurant, bathrooms, hotel, RV hook ups and car/tent camping with live music Saturday and Sunday night!
This year, the first race will be held on Friday afternoon on the Bottom Moose near Lyons Falls, NY. The race will start around 4pm and is a Le Mans style mass start race from Agers falls to Crystal. This is a class five race through 4 large rapids and waterfalls and long flatwater pools in a 1.5 mile race side by side with the other racers! A practice lap is required for first time racers.
The next race is held on Saturday on the Stone Valley section of the Raquette River near the town of Colton, New York (1hr45min drive from festival). The water turns on at 8am and the race starts at 1pm. A practice lap is required for first time racers. The Raquette race is the most challenging race in the series and features Colton Falls, a massive cascading slide at the start of the course and continues with 4 more large rapids and waterfalls in a 1 mile section.
The two remaining races are held on Sunday on the Eagle Section of the Beaver River near the town of Belfort, New York. Each racer does 2 laps on the short and steep creek course. This is the least challenging race in the series and registration is available for each individual races. Racers record a time in a long boat and then hike back up to record a second lap in a short boat in a round robin style race. If the Bottom Moose race is included overall racers can choose to race just one boat category. TBD.
***You can do all 3 races in a short boat-long boats strongly encouraged!!!***
The combined scores of all 3 races determines the overall winner of the series.
The King and Queen of New York are crowned on Sunday night at the Snow Ridge Ski Resort in Turin, NY- site of the Beaver River Rendezvous.
There is also an online and in person raffle with prizes from various paddle sports industry sponsors with proceeds going to the Great Falls Foundation and American Whitewater.
So stoked to see everyone again and long live the King of New York!!!