Open Canoe Nationals (Slalom Racing)
If you want to test your technique, meet some fantastic paddlers and great people, I highly recommend attending the 2023 North American Whitewater Open Canoe Slalom Championships in Wausau Wisconsin this year. It is a great way to get extra tips from some of the best paddlers in North America!
From the American Canoe Association:
Open Canoe Nationals are coming back to Wausau for 2023. June 21-25, The North American Whitewater Open Canoe Slalom Championships are returning to Wausau, Wisconsin, with 3 days of practice followed by 3 days of racing at what has proven to be one of the favorite venues for OC Slalom Nationals. We will do our best to set a course which is accessible to Citizen Class racers and fun and challenging for top level Championship Class competitors. We intend to offer the full slate of classes, with some modifications to the combined classes as practicality and preferences dictate.
The course provides viewing and access opportunities along the full length of the East Channel of the Wisconsin River, at Wausau Whitewater Park, with a paved walkway paralleling the course through its full length. Competitors will find camping at the course, a minute’s walk from the East Channel and an easy carry for boats, as well as a variety of nearby camping and lodging options. Wausau is a medium sized, active community with many options for dining, shopping and entertainment. Water and Weather temps in June are typically very comfortable, allowing most competitors to paddle in shorts and a quick drying top, though paddlers should always prepare for atypical conditions or personal preferences.
We invite you to join us in Wausau this June, whether you are looking to test your metal against some of the best OC slalom racers, or whether you are entirely new to salom and looking to hone your skills and take advantage of what the course and fellow competitors can teach you. Slalom racing is a tremendous way to develop or improve both individual skills in solo boats and team skills in tandem boats, whether you're focused on competition or simply want to improve your boating skills and paddle with greater precision.
Go to wausauwhitewater.org for registration information and for photos, video and more general information about the course. See you in Wausau.