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Monday, September 24, 2007 -- Summersville, WV / Gauley River Dam
15th Annual ANIMAL Upper Gauley Race (iPO Event Id#: 10395) --- Official Website: gauleyrace.com

2007: [Photos] [Coverage] [Overall Results]

Coverage: [1998] [1999] [2000] [2001] [2004] [2005] [2006]

This event coinsides with the 2007 American Whitewater Gauley River Festival, September 21-23.

The Gauley River. Just the mere mention of it conjures up mental images of a mystical and powerful place. It is truly an icon of legendary proportion in the minds of whitewater enthusiasts around the world.

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2007 Race Photos will be provided by iPlayOutside.com
This marks the 15th year for the event known as the "Animal" Started in 1992 as a friendly competition and a way to highlight the Gauley River and surrounding area, the race on the Gauley has become one of the premier Extreme Events in the country; a downriver sprint on a legendary section of river. Racers come from all over the U.S. to compete in kayaks, rafts, shredders, duckies and even riverboards! "It's almost like a reunion every year, and certainly one of the highlights of Gauley Season." says race director Donnie Hudspeth. This year is no exception!

About the River: The Gauley is a wonderfully busy river with an outstanding number of high quality rapids throughout it's 24 mile length from the Summersville Dam to Swiss. The character of the river is pool-drop and on the upper 9.8 mile section from the Summersville Dam to Mason's Branch, the most challenging rapids are at the lower limit of class V.

Several other rapids on this river come in just a hair below this and are rated class IV+. The implication is simple. A paddler will need excellent endurance and very solid skills to prevent trouble on this long, powerful river. Bomb-proof bracing and 2-sided rolls, along with big water skills and precise maneuvering, are required to have reasonable assurance of a safe and an enjoyable run.



Start Date: 2007-09-24
Event Name: The ANIMAL Upper Gauley Race
Location(s): Summersville, WV 26651
Summersville Dam
Event Type(s): Paddle
Event Distance(s):
Contact(s): Gauley Race Contact
   Phone: 304-658-5016
   Email: info@gauleyrace.com
Affiliate(s):
Comments: Upper Gauley Downriver Race
Offsite URL: www.gauleyrace.com