The Ninth Annual American Whitewater Ohiopyle Over The Falls Festival Sat, August 25, 2007 Cancellation dates, in case of high water: August 26 and September 15 or 16, 2007

Ohiopyle Falls Access, Clinic and Festival Update
For additional Information see: www.FallsRace.com

We have submitted a number of proposals to the Bureau of State Parks and had a number of conversations with Ohiopyle State Park. After some positive conversations in 2006 we were disappointed with the Bureau of State Parks; response to our proposals. After subsequent proposals and conversations the Park has agreed to let area outfitters who wish to participate in a specific program allowing access to Ohiopyle Falls. The details are still being worked out but paddlers will have access to the Falls by contacting participating outfitters after the details are worked out. We hope to have these details soon along with final confirmation of this plan.

As a result of this, we will not be having our tentatively scheduled Ohiopyle Clinic on July 22, 2007. We will, however, still have a “How to Run a Waterfall Clinic” during our Ohiopyle Over the Falls Festival on August 25, 2007, along with all the other usual activities:

Over the Falls Race
Over the Falls Freestyle Event
Practice Runs
How to Run a Waterfall Clinic
“The Upstream World Championships” held on the Lower Yough and sponsored by Wilderness Voyageurs
Silent Auction
Town Party with live band 706 Union
Film Festival
Falls Under Lights

Visit the www.FallsRace.com website for updates. We expect to have registration information soon. We will also have information about the Outfitters’ Falls access program as soon is we get the details and discuss this program with the participating outfitters.

In addition, the Bureau of State Parks has indicated that they will meet again on our request for limited access to the Falls for 2008 at the end of July 2007. We will keep you updated on our discussions with the Park. We hope to have a positive announcement prior to the Festival this year.

Ohiopyle Access Committee

Kevin Colburn
AW National Stewardship Director

Charlie Walbridge
Safety Editor and AW Board Member

Barry Tuscano
Former President of AW

Mark Singleton
Executive Director of AW

Barry Adams
Ohiopyle Over the Falls Festival Coordinator

John Lichter
Three Rivers Paddling Club

Pat Norton
Safety Coordinator – Falls Festival