Bethesda Center of Excellence - BCE Whitewater Training & Racing

Meeting Regarding C&O Anglers Inn Canal Breach

Potomac, Md. - The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
and the C&O Canal Trust will host a free community forum on Saturday,
October 4, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. to address issues related to the serious
breach in the canal near Angler’s Inn in Montgomery County. The forum
will take place on the canal just downstream of the breach. Parking is
available across the street from Old Angler’s Inn restaurant which is
located at 10801 MacArthur Blvd in Potomac, Maryland.

Kevin Brandt, Superintendent, C&O Canal NHP, and Matthew Logan,
President, C&O Canal Trust, will be on hand to provide the public with
information about how the breach will affect visitors’ use of the area
and how the initial and long-term repairs will be undertaken. In
addition, Brandt and Logan will detail ways the public can help in the
repair effort.

The damage to the historic canal occurred September 6th during the
heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Hanna. Cracks in the
towpath first appeared on September 5th and grew rapidly into a
full-scale breach when the downpour arrived the next day. It is now
estimated to measure 125 feet across at towpath level and is
continuing to grow. The affected section of towpath, between the
popular Angler’s Inn parking area and Great Falls, is currently closed
to visitors.

“The breach at Angler’s is the most serious in the park since the two
major floods of 1996″ according to Superintendent Kevin Brandt. “We
look forward to providing information to the public and answering
their questions on October 4th.”

Matthew Logan of the C&O Canal Trust reports “Over 700,000 visitors
come to this part of the park every year. Getting this area repaired
is a huge priority for all of us, and the public has an important role
in making these repairs. I look forward to working with families,
civic groups, neighborhood associations, local businesses, and
everyone else who wants to see our park returned to normal as soon as
possible.”

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park was created to
preserve and interpret the park’s unique historic and natural
resources. The 184.5 mile long park is located on the north shore of
the Potomac River between Georgetown, Washington, DC, and Cumberland,
Maryland. For more information about the park, visit www.nps.gov/choh.

The C&O Canal Trust, the official fundraising partner of the park, was
founded in 2007 to protect, restore, and promote the Chesapeake & Ohio
Canal National Historical Park. The Trust seeks to ensure that the
park’s natural, historical, and recreational potential is fully
realized. For more information about its work, visit
www.canaltrust.org.

Fall Feeder Slalom Classic - Click here for ONLINE Registration & Payment
Date and Time: Saturday, October 25, 1-3pm.
Fee: $10 entry fee for BCE members, $15 entry fee for non-members. No on site late registration.
Components: Penn Cup format (open practice, best of two runs, awards for any classes of three competitors).
Who Can Compete: Open to all ages and classes.
Forerunners: All 2008 National Team members are invited to forerun to set the pace! No entry fee for forerunners, just send Dana an email Dana Chladek at dana@telecamfilms.com to receive a bib assignment.
Course Open: Course will be up by noon October 24th, and there will be open practice until 12:30, October 25th at the top of the Feeder Canal by 12:30 Saturday.
Check-In: October 25th at the top of the Feeder Canal by 12:30
Online Registration Deadline: Thursday October 23, 2008 at 12 midnight ET.

Triathalon - Click here for ONLINE Registration and Payment
Organized by: Liquid Adventures and BCE Racing Team.
Date and Time: Sunday, October 26th, 8:30 am.
Fee: $10 entry fee. No on site late registration.
Three components: Bike from Feeder to Fletchers and back, run to Sycamore Island and back, and race down Little Falls to Chain Bridge. It will be an approximately 60-80 minute race. No team races, all competitors must compete in all three events. If participants are unable to run Little Falls, or if the water is too high on race day, a Feeder Canal loop will be offered. We will have safety boats at all the rapids.
Who Can Compete: It will be for youths only this year. Prizes for top three in K-1 junior, K-1 cadet, K-1W junior/cadet, C-1 junior/cadet.
Check-in: will be at bottom of the Feeder Canal by 8am.
Online Registration Deadline: Thursday October 23, 2008 at 12 midnight ET.

We need 3-4 volunteers per event, so please come and help! If you have any questions about these two events or would like to volunteer, please contact Dana Chladek at dana@telecamfilms.com, or 301-229-6131 (home), or 202-213-8506 (cell).

Here are the results from the 2008 U.S. Whitewater Slalom National Championships held last weekend at the Adventure Sports Center in McHenry, Maryland. 
Also, click here to download a pdf of the results.

Live Audio Podcast

Click on orange buttons just above for
An Interview with Dana Chaldek
Head Coach of the BCE Racing Team

Cliff Notes of Podcast: Dana Chladek is a double U.S. Olympic Medallist in whitewater slalom kayaking. Derick Moore, whose son Cole is an athlete in the BCE Racing program, talks with Dana about her innovative coaching program integrated with the BCE.

Chladek and her team of coaches oversee whitewater training programs for young people who are intent on pursuing high levels of excellence, including Olympic and World Cup level competition. Chladek’s program is based on the Potomac River in the Wasington D.C. area.

The BCE Racing program is open to young people of all levels: newcomers to advanced. For those athletes who do not own their own equipment - paddling equipment will be provided.

Chladek’s hand-picked coaching team is the highest level provided in the United States.