River remains undefeated at Iowa Games Whitewater Competition

By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
CHARLES CITY — When Ned Beatty’s “Bobby” exclaims to Burt Reynolds’s “Lewis” “We just beat that!” after the two canoeists successfully negotiated a rough patch of rapids in the ill-fated adventure/drama Deliverance, Reynolds/Lewis corrects, “You never beat the river.”

On that note, we can say that the Cedar River remained undefeated in the wake of Saturday’s Iowa Games Whitewater Competition at Charles City’s Whitewater Park. Rather, it was the course set up along the river that the boaters were trying to beat.

“If you can get through all the gates without touching a single pole, sometimes that’s better than placing first in your division,” said veteran whitewater competitor Max Wellhouse … “Just like the coffee maker,” he says … about the slalom competitions at the day-long event.
“They give you a little star if you can achieve that,” Wellhouse said. “When you do, it sure gives you the confidence to take on the rapids on places like Arkansas … Colorado.”

Currently a Cedar Falls resident, Wellhouse has lived in Arkansas. An avid kayak/canoe competitor, Wellhouse has only missed one Iowa Games Whitewater event since they started holding them in Charles City shortly after the park was made in 2008.

“Being a grandfather, I don’t get to do this as often as I used to,” he said, “but I love coming out here to Charles City.
“There are other waterparks in Iowa, like in Manchester that has seven dam drops. This one only has three. But this is far more challenging. Other parks may be good for beginners, but this waterpark is designed for the advanced and experienced novice boaters.”

Wellhouse came away with his share of medals while paddling in the kayak and open canoe divisions.
Other multiple winners included Dave Hillman, Traci Ott, Paige Harmon, and Piper Wall, who was the event’s chief organizer.
Though the Charles City Whitewater Park is a man-made attraction, it’s still powered by Mother Nature.

And the sometimes tumultuous weather as of late — in particular weather north of Charles City — promised a fast and resistant flow.

“Right now it’s going at about 1,800 CFS,” Wellhouse said, meaning the river is flowing at about 1,800 cubic feet per second. “Even when it’s at 400 CFS, it can be a challenge.”

Iowa Games Whitewater
Competition
June 29
AT CHARLES CITY
WHITEWATER PARK
Division Medalists
K1 DOWNRIVER (F 12-17) — 1. Paige Harmon 1:11.30.
K1 DOWNRIVER (F 18-29) — 1. Traci Ott 1:10.00.
K1 DOWNRIVER (F 51-60) — 1. Shawnna Larrison 1:12.10, 2. Becky Fenelon 1:17.18.
K1 DOWNRIVER (M 41-50) — 1. Brad Lunning 1:02.50.
K1 DOWNRIVER (M 51-60) — 1. Dave Hillman :59.00, 2. Sonny Shepherd 1:02.20, 3. Jim Howe 1:08.60.
K1 DOWNRIVER (M 61-70) — 1. Lyle Danielson 1:00.50.
K1 DOWNRIVER/NOVICE (F 18-29) — 1. Paige Jewell 1:12.10.
K1 DOWNRIVER/NOVICE (M 18-29) — 1. Thomas Getz 1:04.50.
OC2 DOWNRIVER (MM 51-60) — 1. Dave Hillman/Lyle Danielson 1:15.60.
SUP DOWNRIVER (F 18-29) — 1. Traci Ott 1:39.50.
K1 SLALOM (F 12-17) — 1. Paige Harmon 3:52.30.
K1 SLALOM (F 18-29) — 1. Traci Ott 3:57.60.
K1 SLALOM (F 51-60) — 1. Piper Wall 2:49.80, 2 Shawnna Larrison 4:47.0, 3. Becky Fenelon 5:20.9.
K1 SLALOM (M 41-50) — 1. Dave Hillman 2:51.1, 2. Sonny Shepherd 4:04.9.
K1 SLALOM (M 61-70) — 1. Max Wellhouse 2:56.18, Lyle Danielson 3:28.7.
K1 SLALOM/NOVICE (F 18-29) — 1. Paige Jewell 4:05.5.
K1 SLALOM/NOVICE (M 18-29) — 1. Thomas Getz 4:24.6
OC1 SLALOM (F 51-60) — 1. Piper Wall 3:37.4.
OC1 SLALOM (M 41-50) — 1. Glenn Harmon 3:45.6.
OC2 SLALOM (MF A/<18) — 1. Glenn Harmon/Paige Harmon 4:04.7.
OC2 SLALOM (MF 51-60) — 1. Piper Wall/Max Wellhouse 3:50.78.
OC2 SLALOM (MM 51-60) — 1. Glenn Harmon/Max Wellhouse 34:20.5
RAFT4 (FFFM 51-60) — 1. Shawna Larrison, Erika, Becky Fenelon, Jim H 2:07.7
RAFT 4 (MFFF 18-29) — 1. Paige Harmon, Paige Jewell, Traci Ott, Thomas Getz 2:24.37.
RAFT 3 (MMM 41-50) — 1. Glenn Harmon, Dave Hillman, Brad Lunning 2:07.9.
RAFT 2 (MM 51-60) — 1. Jim Howe, Max Wellhouse 2:06.34.
RIVERBOARD/NOVICE (M 18-29) — 1. Thomas Getz 1:46.90.
RIVERBOARD (M 51-60) — 1. Jim Howe 1:22.03, 2. Sonny Shepherd 1:36.60.
THROW ROPE (F 12-17) — 1. Paige Harmon :17.9.
THROW ROPE (M 61-70) — 1. Lyle Danielson :18.1.
SWIM (F 18-29) — 1. Paige Jewell.