The Freedom Race 100

1. General Information

2. Entry Fee per racer and Registration

3. Pre-race Meeting

4. Start

5. Official Checkpoint

6. Finish

7. Classes

8. Class Definitions

9. Goodie Bag

10. Prizes

11. Raffle

12. Rules

13. Craft requirements

1.  General Information

The race begins at 9:00am at De Bourgmont access point on the Lamine river, a nice calm body of water that will host the contingent of racers when the gun fires. In just 3 short miles, racers will find themselves merging onto the wide Missouri River, where 60 miles of suffering awaits them.

The only official checkpoint during the race will be at Cooper's Landing, 37 miles into the race. Racers are not required to stop, but it is their responsibility to ensure that the race officials acknowledge them and record that they have passed. Not checking through can result in disqualification. All racers must be checked through and back on the water by 2:30pm.

If any racer decided to quit the race early, they MUST notify race officials by phone.  Ground Admin is Hoot Mann:  816.289.3051 

There will be several other access points along the way for ground crews and spectators to make contact with the racers. The official finish line is “Wilson’s Serenity Point”, a beautiful sandy beach literally 2 inches next to Noren boat ramp, and your time is recorded when the bow of your boat breaks the plane of the boat ramp. 

A free meal to all racers, crew, and families will be available beginning at around 4:00pm and will be open until about 6:00pm (or whenever they run out). 

The awards ceremony and raffle will begin around 5:00pm. This time will be a little flexible based on finishers. The goal is to get all racers there, or as many racers as possible.

2. Entry Fee per racer and Registration:

$80

3. Pre Race Meeting (Checkpoint 1):  8:00am same location as Start

4. Start Location: 9:00am De Bourgmont Access Point.  Mo Dept Conservation Link: http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Applications/MOATLAS/AreaSummaryPage.aspx?txtAreaID=7220

5. Official Checkpoint: Cooper's Landing: http://www.cooperslanding.net

Race officials will be there to monitor the racers. Cooper's landing has a general store with lot's of things to purchase to eat and drink. The cutoff time is is 

2:30pm. All racers must be PAST the boat ramp at 2:30pm - If you elect to continue after 2:30pm, you will do so at your own choosing, and we cannot guarantee that we will have a safety boat available should you need assistance.

6. Finish Location:

Wilson’s Serenity Point, next to Carl Noren Access Point, Jefferson City MO.

7:00pm cutoff time.  Mo Dept Conservation Link: http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moatlas/AreaSummaryPage.aspx?txtAreaID=200003&txtAreaNm=&txtCounty=CALLAWAY&txtRegion=&txtUserID=guest&txtDivision=

Food and Liquids will be free to all racers, families, ground crews, and spectators at the finish. 

7. Classes*:

Men’s Solo Unlimited

Women’s Solo Unlimited

Men’s Tandem Unlimited

Women’s Tandem Unlimited

Mixed Tandem Unlimited

Team (3-6)

USCA C2 (Standard up to Proboat - if we have enough entrants, we will make 2 classes)

Sea Kayak Class (18’ max length) Men’s

Sea Kayak Class (18’ max length) Women’s

SUP Class

*There must be minimum 3 in a class. Race director reserves the right to combine/split classes if we have small/large number of entrants in certain classes.

8. Class Definitions:

Unlimited Class

There are no restrictions on the design of the canoe/kayak. They may be single or double bladed, or a combination of both. Gender and number of participants (solo or tandem) will be the two criteria for these classes.

Team Class

There are no restrictions on the design of the canoe/kayak. They may be single or double bladed, or a combination of both. The only criteria are that there must be no less than 3 people and no more than 6. The boat paddled must be designed for that number of paddlers. Most stock canoes will be acceptable for 3 paddlers.

USCA Canoe Class

Canoes that fall into either USCA definitions below will meet the criteria for the USCA Canoe Class. If we have 3 or more canoes for each class, we will hold these two classes separately.

USCA Standard Canoe

Max length: 18’6”

No mechanical aids allowed, i.e. Rudders and electric bailers.

Must be paddled with single blades only.

No restriction on boat materials used for construction.

Most canoes manufactured will easily meet these specs, i.e MNII, all USCA competition crusiers, Alumacraft etc. 

Pro boats are not allowed.

Women’s and Mixed teams may compete in this class.

USCA C2 Cruiser/Proboat Canoe

All two person canoes that can race at the USCA nationals and that include the following boat specifications: 3X27 (Pro-Boat), 4X32 (USCA cruiser), and USCA Standard C2

Max length: 18’6”

Min Width at the 3” waterline: 27”, at the gunwale: 33”

Min bow and stern height-15/10

The minimum-height gunwale line shall form a continuous, smooth arch-curve.

No mechanical aids allowed, i.e. Rudders and electric bailers.

Must be paddled with single blades only.

No restriction on boat materials used for construction.

Mixers and Competition Cruisers will meet these specs.

Women’s and Mixed teams may compete in this class

Sea Kayak Class

Max length: 18’

Min Width: 21”

SUP Class

Stand Up Paddleboard

9. Goodie Bag:

All racers will get a pre-race goodie bag with a race wear article and Hammer Gel.  

10. Prizes: 

All racers will receive a prize for competing in the race. There will be special awards for class and overall top finishers.

11. Raffle:

All racers will be eligible for the raffle immediately following the award ceremony.

12. Rules: 

1. All racers must attend the mandatory race check-in and safety meeting at 8:00am at the De Bourgmont Access Point

2. The Missouri River Freedom Race will officially start at 9:00am Central time on the Lamine River at the De Bourgmont Access Point. All classes and boats will start together.

3. The race will officially end at 7:00pm (10 hours) or when the last boat has reached Noren Access Point, whichever comes earlier. A team’s participation in this event ends when they have reached Noren Access Point before 7:00pm or when they notify race headquarters that they have withdrawn. Participants still on the Missouri River 7:00pm are electing to continue independently of the race.

4. Each race craft must be propelled exclusively by human power while on the water. No sail or kite is permitted.

5. All participants agree to appear in this event related media coverage free of charge.

6. For any “shortcut” to be legal, it must have a flow of river water through it. Overland portages are not allowed. Portages over exposed “wing dams” for convenience are not permitted. Outside assistance is not permitted.

7. Outside assistance that provides intentional aid in the forward progress of a canoe/kayak is not allowed. This includes towing, wake riding, deflection of wind and “rafting up”. However, limited interaction between the competitor race craft, as is the case in most canoe and kayak marathon races, is acceptable. This will be restricted to only wake riding and wind deflection. No towing of race craft is permitted.

8. Ground support is allowed for racers but is not mandatory. A ground crew may assist with procurement of supplies, preparation of meals, etc. Ground crew may not, in any way, assist with

propulsion of the boat. They may only touch the boat when the boat is in contact with the shore. Physical contact with support can only occur when the boat is grounded. No contact on the water is allowed. No support provided from a support boat is allowed.

9. Infractions of any rule during the event will be grounds for time penalties or disqualification to be reasonably and fairly determined by the Judges Committee.

10. Deliberate littering of the river is illegal. Teams must keep their trash in their canoes/kayaks and either transfer it to their support teams or go ashore themselves to properly dispose waste.

11. All team members should understand there are serious risks involved in this endeavor. The hydraulics associated with many of the wing dams along the river are inherently dangerous. The greatest risk, however, is from the numerous large and small power craft that ply the great river.

Constant vigilance, clear thinking, and quick reaction will be essential at all times. Good judgment must dictate when it is time to rest. All team members (racers and support personnel) will enter this race at their own risk and will not hold this event’s organizers, judges, officials, and sponsors liable for accidents to personnel or damage to any property.

12. Anyone paddling solo in this event must be at least 18 years of age on race day or at least 12 years of age if part of a tandem team accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. (Note that the parent or legal guardian must sign the liability waiver for under 18 years old.)

13. All participants in this event, including paddlers and other team members must agree to the “Amateur Athletic Waiver and Release of Liability”. This waiver is required by the United States Canoe Association for participation in this event.

14. Multiple teams may not share paddlers. Teams may share ground support.

15.If you are not going to make a checkpoint by the proscribed deadline, you must make contact with a race official by phone prior to that deadline. If you elect to end your race you must make it a priority to contact race officials and let them know.

16. Each racer must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life preserver at all times while on the water. A whistle and an emergency chemical night light must also be attached to each life preserver at all times. A PFD must be worn at all times while on the water. This is per the United States Coast Guard as part of our race permit.

17. Boating at night is dangerous and the organizers do not allow this, as all racers are required to finish before 7:00pm. If a racer decides to continue independently of the race, they should be aware that full navigation lights are required for night travel as per Missouri State boating law. http://www.boat-ed.com/mo/handbook/lights.htm This would include red/green lights on the bow and a white stern light. Paddlers should also have an LED or chemical light affixed to PFD in case of emergency. A white light (flashlight) for signaling should also be aboard.

18. Boating in foggy conditions is dangerous and is neither required nor recommended. Assistance from race officials may take hours, especially in adverse conditions, and all racers need to be prepared to self-rescue and hike out if needed.

19. In formulating the rules that govern this event, every effort has been made to foresee all situations and problems that may rise, however, officials of the Missouri River Freedom Race retain the right to change or amend these rules at any time without liability or recourse from any party regardless of the circumstances. Should such changes or amendments be made, every effort will be made to notify all entrants.

13. Craft Requirements:

1. The original craft must be paddled from start to finish. Repairs may be made to the craft during the race, but other alterations are not permitted.

2. Any part of the craft (rudders, outriggers, etc.) which will be below the water line during any portion of the race must be “on board” from start to finish. A space must be available on each side of the canoe/kayak close to the bow on which to affix the official race number. Each team may choose their own 4 digit number upon entry on a first come, first served basis. Race numbers are to be affixed by the racers themselves, prior to the start of the race. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A RACE NUMBER ON YOUR BOAT, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RACE!!! We need to be able to identify you!!! We promise that we will not sell the identity of your boat number to the NSA, so please put your boat number on your boat.