Logo by Dave Karaken

Information about the French Broad River Classique Canoe & Kayak Race

Event Classes

It is our intent to offer as many of the USCA championship classes as we can (for example, C1 Woman Master). Generally, we will combine age and gender groups when there are fewer than three (3) boats in a class. Additionally, no one 14 years of age or younger will ordinarily be permitted to enter the two-day Classique race unless racing tandem with someone 18 years of age or over. Click here to access the entry forms when they are available (generally January of each year).

Race Courses

Saturday, Classique Race: Blantrye Access to Westfeldt River Park
Henderson County, North Carolina
18 miles, no rapids but swift water, possible strainers

Sunday, Classique Race: Westfeldt River Park to Asheville Outdoor Center
Buncombe CountY (primarily), North Carolina
16 miles, some Class I rapids, definitely some rocks to dodge

Sunday, 8 mile Fun Race: Bent Creek Access to Asheville Outdoor Center
Buncombe County, North Carolina
8 miles, some Class I rapids
Please confer with the race registrar about age minimums. PFD's must be worn at all times in the Fun Race.

The French Broad River is a terrific venue for canoe and kayak racing. The Saturday course has good views of Pisgah National Forest and the Sunday course takes the competitors by the historic Biltmore House. The water level is not dam-controlled and, therefore, can vary dramatically. The median flow for late April is around 1,000 CFS, but the run can be made at considerably lower flows. At extreme high or low flows, it may be necessary to adjust the start and finish points of the race. Flow information for the French Broad at Blantyre (the location of the start of the Classique on Saturday) can be found at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?03443000

Some information about the course for the 8 Mile Fun Race and the surrounding area can be found on the Boating Beta page; see http://www.boatingbeta.com/runs/fbbiltmore.htm

To view some photos and videos of the race and/or the river from previous years, click here or on the link above.

River Access

River access is very convenient thanks to the tireless efforts of RiverLink, an advocacy organization for the French Broad, and others. The Blantyre Access at river mile 34 and the Westfeldt River Park at river mile 52 are maintained by the Henderson County Parks and Recreation Department. The Bent Creek Access (start of the Fun Race) is at river mile 60. The Asheville Outdoor Center is located at river mile 68. All of these can be found on a terrific map published by RiverLink. For an on-line version (1.3 MB), see: www.riverlink.org/riverguide.pdf

Check-in and Race Facilities

Race headquarters will generally be the Asheville Outdoor Center which is the finish line for both the Classique and the 8 mile Fun Race on Sunday. Check-in and registration for the Classique will be set up there on Friday evening, as will check-in and registration for the Fun Race on Sunday morning. The Saturday night picnic and the Sunday awards will be held at the Asheville Outdoor Center also. Please note, however, that check-in and late registration for the Classique on Saturday morning will be at the Westfeldt River Park. For both days of the Classique, we will run shuttles for drivers only from the finish area back to the start line. This will require Classique competitors to drop their boats and gear off at the start area each day and arrive at the finish area within the time windows shown on the schedule in order to catch the shuttle back. For the Fun Race, we will be able to transport boats and gear as well as competitors; just check-in at the Asheville Outdoor Center during the time window shown on the schedule above. The Asheville Outdoor Center usually has some boats available for rent for the 8 mile Fun Race. If you would like to rent a boat to use for the 8 mile Fun Race on Sunday, please make those arrangements directly with the Asheville Outdoor Center by calling (828) 232-1970.

Classique Competitor/Sponsor/Volunteer Picnic

The Competitor/Sponsor/Volunteer Picnic for those participating in the two-day Classique race will be held at the Asheville Outdoor Center at 5:00 on Saturday evening. The cost is $10 per person and we have a limited number of additional meals for the guests of competitors; just indicate the total number of meals desired on the appropriate section of the entry form.

Directions

The following directions are provided using the Asheville Regional Airport as a starting point. The airport is located just off of Interstate 26 at Exit 40. These directions should be used in conjuction with a map or a GPS. We will have some maps available at race check-in.

Blantyre Access: GPS Coordinates: N35 17.952 W82 37.402 From the airport, go south on Route 280. Go approximately 10.5 miles. Look for a sign directing you to the town of Etowah and, just past it, turn left onto Brickyard Road. Follow Brickyard Road for approximately 4 miles, right through the middle of the golf course. Near the end of that 4 miles, at a stop sign, you have to make a 90 degree turn to the right to stay on Brickyard Road. Shortly after the 90 degree turn, you will come to a stoplight which is the town of Etowah and the intersection with Route 64. Turn right (west) onto Route 64 and go approximately 2 miles. Not long after crossing into Transylvania County, turn left onto Grove Bridge Road. Cross the railroad tracks CAREFULLY BECAUSE there are no warning gates or lights!! After crossing the tracks, you will cross the river and the Blantyre access area is on your left.

Westfeldt River Park: GPS Coordinates: N35 25.317 W82 32.508 From the airport, go south on Route 280. Proceed about 1.25 miles around the airport and past the fairgrounds. Just before crossing the river, turn right onto Old Fanning Bridge Road, then immediately left into Westfeldt River Park. This is the Classique finish for Saturday and the Classique start for Sunday.

Asheville Outdoor Center: GPS Coordinates: N35 33.947 W82 35.265. From the airport, get on Interstate 26 West (which is actually going north) for 9 miles, then merge onto Interstate 240 East for 2 miles. Take exit 1C, Amboy Road. Turn right onto Amboy Road and go a tenth of a mile. Asheville Outdoor Center will be on your right, 521 Amboy Road.

Accomodations

A lot of the Classique competitors enjoy camping at the nearby Lake Powhatan Campground , maintained by Pisgah National Forest. We can't call it the "official" campground of the Classique, but you will find many Classique competitors there!

There is tent camping available at the Asheville Outdoor Center (no pets). See http://www.paddlewithus.com or call 800-849-1970. There are other National Forest Service campgrounds and other private campgrounds in the vicinity as well. There are lots of motels in Hendersonville and Asheville. Those near the Asheville Regional Airport (town of Fletcher, NC) will be convenient because they are within a mile or so of Westfeldt River Park, the Saturday finish and Sunday start. The airport (Fletcher) exit is Exit 40 off of Interstate 26. Some of those motels there are:

Fairfield Inn (828) 684-1144 (on same side of Interstate 26 as Westfeldt Park)
Days Inn (828) 684-2281 (across Interstate 26 but close to Westfeldt Park)
Econo Lodge (828) 684-1200 (across Interstate 26 but close to Westfeldt Park)
Budget Motel (828) 684-2200 (across Interstate 26 but close to Westfeldt Park)

Weather

The average high temperature in the area for the end of April is 70 degrees and the average low is 45 degrees but, as always, be prepared for extremes and for rain.

Click here for Asheville weather from National Weather Service

Event Rules

The event will be run in accordance with the Competition Rules of the United States Canoe Association, revised as of June 23, 2009. For complete rules, click here.

Race Organization

The French Broad River Classique Canoe & Kayak Race is hosted by FB Canoe Racing, Inc., a North Carolina nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to promote canoe and kayak races, especially on the French Broad River in North Carolina.

Event Contact and Registrar: Tom Blue; 400 Tinkerbell Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27517; (919) 428-4302 (mobile); fbracechair@earthlink.net (E-mail is preferred method of contact for questions and will generally be returned within 24 hours; thanks). Click here to access the entry forms when they are available (generally January of each year).

Race Chair: Andy Kluge; 828-231-4794; beckykluge@att.net

Last update April 27, 2011