AW Ohiopyle Falls -- Clinics

Ohiopyle Falls Clinic Update as of August 2

The forecast looks good for our required water level. Keep checking this web site for additional updates. We are fortunate to have Clay Wright as our lead instructor for the August 5th clinic. Clay has written numerous articles for American Whitewater and is sponsored by Jackson Kayaks. In addition, Roger Loughney from Immersion Research and LJ Groth from Wave Sport will also be instructing. LJ has run some of the biggest waterfalls in the world during various expeditions and is also a certified instructor. See below for additional details.

American Whitewater will sponsor three clinics during 2006: July 8, August 5, and during the Festival, August 26. These clinics are meant for experienced paddlers. Those participating in the clinics will be entered into a database that we hope to share with Ohiopyle State Park. We have proposed that those entered into the database be allowed to run Ohiopyle Falls on a less structured basis in the near future. The Park and DCNR have indicated a decision on this proposal will be made after our clinics are concluded.

The first two clinics will be from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM and the third will be run during the Festival, which is an all-day event. For the first two clinics we encourage you to be there by 2 PM, but you should definitely arrive before 5 PM. For the Festival you can arrive anytime but should be there before 3 PM.

See the Press Release dated June 6, 2006 for additional information or www.FallsRace.com for updated information.

You can pre-register (click here). We encourage you to pre-register to save time and give us an estimate of the number of participants but you can also register the day of the clinics. Please complete form prior to the event. Registration is $15. We do reserve the right to limit the number of participants. All participants will be required to assist in the safety of these events for some period of time depending on the number of participants. We do not anticipate this being more than one hour(?) All participants must sign a waiver before running the Falls. There will be a separate registration form for the AW Ohiopyle Over the Falls Festival on August 26, 2006.

Water Level and Cancellation: We cannot run the clinics over 1.8 feet on the Ohiopyle Gauge. The Corp of Engineers has indicated that they will try to accommodate the appropriate level but cannot guarantee the level. If the appropriate level cannot be attained all money will be refunded.

Note: All those running the Falls must wear a bib. A $20 cash deposit is required when the bib is picked up. The deposit will be returned when the bib is returned.

For additional questions contact Barry Adams at: bj2adams@juno.com or 412-242-4562 or Wilderness Voyageurs at 800-272-4141.