Nashville World Kayak Rock Island Open Events 1 & 2

Updated with more details:

Come on down Saturday (the 27th) to Rock Island State Park in TN where World Kayak, TSRA, WeStroke and the Outdoor Experience will be on hand for the Nashville World Kayak Rock Island Open Events 1 & 2. 

The water most likely will be high so get ready for some fast moving water. Meet at the park boat ramp by 9am where registration for the races will be held. You can find directions below. 

The first race will be Timed Race and will commence around 10am and end around lunch. This is an endurance race that starts at the top of the first island, circles the island, goes through top wave and then to the right of rodeo wave. The racecourse continues through the Blue Hole, then goes to the right of the second island and ends at the lake. We will all break for lunch and then come back for the second race.

The second race will be the Boater Cross and will start around 2pm. The racers will divide up into heats and race. The racecourse starts at the top of the first island just like in the timed race. Then it circles around the top of the island, heads straight through top wave and second wave and then goes to the right of rodeo wave. It then heads to the right through the backstage area to the finish line at Blue Hole. At that point paddlers will hike their boats back up to the top along the trail that extends along the edge of the river. Winners from the heats will then go head to head to figure out who the main winner is. Afterwards hopefully you will stick around and we can all eat somewhere locally together. 

Something to keep in mind for this event... The State Park is limiting the amount of competitors to 30. You need to make sure you go online and register NOW rather than later. You can still show up and register at the event IF the 30 competitor limit has not been met but why chance it? 

There is camping available at Rock Island and it would be a great show of support to the park if you decide to stay there. I mean hey, what's better than waking up and being beside some world-class kayaking right? You can register to camp here. 

Also, don't forget that there are 2 more Rock Island Open Events on May 11th.  This will be the Rock Island Freestyle Cup. There will be a Regular Freestyle competition in addition to a Downriver Freestyle competition. 

Directions to Boat Ramp from Nashville: 

Geocoordinates for the boat ramp are: 35.841195,-85.642548

1. Take exit 239A to merge onto TN-26 E/US-70 E/Sparta Pike toward Watertown
Continue to follow TN-26 E/US-70 E
33.9 mi

2. Turn right onto TN-56 S/Hwy 56/S Congress Blvd
Continue to follow TN-56 S/Hwy 56
9.3 mi

3. Turn left onto TN-287 N/E Green Hill Rd
Continue to follow TN-287 N
10.2 mi

4. Turn left onto Beach Rd
1.1 mi

5. Turn right

Important Links:

Register Online Here

Visit the Rock Island State Park website and register to camp here.

Be sure to go read Nashville World Kayak Amabassador Philip Byard's write-up on the event at regions.worldkayak.com

You can find out more information about kayaking at Rock Island at americanwhitewater.com.