Sponsored Content: Excitement Builds for Canoe and Kayak Championships

August 9, 2021

WARREN, Pa. – The United States Canoe Association Marathon Championships are coming back to Warren County.

The association describes itself as a nationwide community of canoe and kayak racers who race hard, train hard, and know how to have fun, and they will be in Warren County for their national event Aug. 12-15.

“This will be their ninth time in Warren,” said Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry Director of Chamber Operations & Tourism John Papalia. “We’ve hosted more than anywhere else in the country. Their original venue, they were going to be in Michigan and then there were some changes out there and the USCA reached out to us last minute.

“Normally we plan for a couple of years, but they were in need of a venue and we sort of jumped at the opportunity to bring them here to our community. It’s just a big benefit for us here in Warren County.”

And, as Papalia points out, Warren County provides the perfect venue to play host.

“We’re able to provide a great venue,” Papalia said. “We do the sprint races at Chapman State Park on Thursday, then the marathon races down the Allegheny River. A big thanks to the Army Corps of Engineers. They help adjust the water level so we can guarantee great water conditions. That’s a huge benefit to us when we go to bid on these things.”

The event usually draws a big crowd, and this year should be no different.

“We’re anticipating a few 100 paddlers here in Warren County,” Papalia said. “We’ll probably start seeing them arrive on the 11th (Wednesday) to start practicing the course, with the sprints at Chapman and the various marathons starting Aug. 13 through the 15th down the Allegheny River.”

Papalia also pointed to the benefits of having the paddlers come from outside of the area.

“Most of them do (come from outside the area),” he said. “It’s great for our community. It brings them in, fills the hotels, you know you see people out at restaurants. I want to throw a big thank you out to the community. They always embrace the paddlers when they come here and make them feel welcome. Warren’s a great place and I think that’s part of the reason we’re able to keep getting them back here.”

And for those wanting to catch a glimpse of the paddlers, they will have plenty of opportunities to do so.

“The marathon course starts at the tailwaters,” Papalia noted. “They come into town, through the Veterans Memorial Bridge, down to the train trestle, turn, come back up and around the bridge again and finish at Betts Park. It’s about 12.5 miles total. It’s a pretty good course.

“You know it’s exciting because it falls during fair week. The paddlers, when they’re done paddling they can go to the fair, they can go downtown and do a lot of great things that Warren has to offer this time of year. We’re really excited for the event to be coming up.”

Papalia also thanked Glade Township and the City of Warren for their assistance, especially when it comes to water safety.

“We’re fortunate to have partners we can bring to the table,” he said.

Those wishing to volunteer spotting canoes and kayaks as they race from the Kinzua tailwaters to Betts Park (shifts from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.) are encouraged to contact WCCBI at (814) 723-3050.

         

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