The Gritty

Race Details:

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

Pre-race safety meeting starts around 9:00am at the Lawrence Riverfront MB Park Ramp.  Racers must attend the safety meeting, or they will not be allowed to race.  It is recommended that all racers arrive around 8:00am to prepare their gear, sign their insurance waiver, and pick up their goodie bags.  

As soon as the safety meeting is over, racers may begin launching in anticipation for the race start.

The race begins at 10:00am at the Lawrence boat ramp on the Kansas river just east/past the dam.  The official finish line is Edwardsville, 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 3:00pm

Medals will be handed out as you finish.

2. Entry Fee per racer and Registration:

$30 online or day of race.  

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: None

6. Finish Location:  Same as start

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)

Kayak Class (18’ max length)

SUP Class

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

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 the top 3 boats in each class.

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 Gritty will officially start at 10:00am Central time on the Kasnas River.   All classes and boats will start together.

3. The race will officially end at 4:00pm (7 hours) or when the last boat has reached the finish, whichever comes earlier. A team’s participation in this event ends when they have reached the finish before 4:00pm or when they notify race headquarters that they have withdrawn.  Participants still on the Lamine River after 4:00pm are electing to continue independently of the race.

4. Each race craft must be propelled exclusively by paddle power (double or single blade) while on the water. No rowing configuration is permitted. 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 Race Director.

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 14 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. 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.

16. Boating at night is dangerous and the organizers do not allow this, as all racers are required to finish before 4:00pm. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.