The Hell or High Water whitewater festival on the Ottawa Valley's Petawawa River is May 1-2, 2010. Register now for the downriver race, Ottawa Valley Rafting Championships and more. Your participation increases awareness of threats to the beloved Pet, and raises funds for a great cause.

After the success of last year's inaugeral Hell or High Water (HOHW), this year’s event has grown into a weekend affair with boat demos, free clinics, prizes, an upper Pet expedition, the Ottawa Valley Raft Championships, the popular downriver race, a good party Saturday night and heaps of other stuff. For the non-paddlers there's even a flatwater demo day and a photographer’s shootout.

“If ever there was a venue – and a cause – to showcase our sport, really the true river-running roots of our sport, this is it. It must be it. “

The new Ottawa Valley Rafting Championships pit local teams of amateurs or professionals against each other in an all out race. The top three teams will advance to a head-to-head combat style challenge to claim the title. This is one race not to be missed.

The downriver race through Petawawa's Town Run returns for more carnage and courageous acts. Around 75 paddlers will race the clock, and each other, competing for the top spot. The racers will launch into river just above the first - and largest - rapid known as Railroad (found off of Portage Rd. on Wilson Ave) and will cross the finish at Catwalk Rapid (Centennial Park, below City Hall). In last year’s event, most of the boats finished the roughly one-kilometre section of class III and IV rapids in six to eight minutes, with one tenacious soul dragging his soggy bottom to the finish marker 22 minutes and two swims later.

“HOHW for 2010 is really growing. We had a good crowd out last year, and so we’re trying to build on that,” says Philip Kompass, one of the festival organizers.  “The Ottawa Valley Raft Championships are a chance for any interested person to get in a raft – or make their own team – and join in the fun.  We’ve arranged with Esprit rafting to supply all the equipment and a guide for the teams that need it. All you need to do is paddle!”

The other components of HOHW have also grown; several of the local professional kayakers will be competing as well as stepping up to offer free clinics; there will be a flatwater and touring kayak boat demo session for those who like the calmer waters, as well as freestyle demonstrations (surfing and tricks on a wave) and an expedition to tackle the even more difficult rapids of the Upper Petawawa River in Algonquin Park.

"The Petawawa River is an absolute gem of a river," explains Kompass, who along with Mike Crouzat, Brad Wipp, Dave Doyle and Kim Barrington is co-organizing this year’s event. "With the threat of the river being dammed and diverted in the next few years, this is an ideal opportunity to showcase the sport and the river! The waves in Railroad and Lovers' can get just as big as those on the Ottawa. Couple that with more technical rapids, and I am sure both the racers and the spectators will be in for an entertaining afternoon."

Most importantly, the event will be raising money for two local causes close to the hearts of those in the Ottawa Valley: Soldier On, a charity that works to help injured Canadian Forces members get back on their feet; and Whitewater Ontario, an organization working to help keep Ontario’s rivers clean, safe and accessible.

The Ottawa Valley Raft Championships will begin May 1st at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Hell or High Water Race at 1:30 pm.  Throughout the day there will be demos, clinics, activities and some of the local outdoors shops on hand. There are plenty of spots to view the action, as the river follows the Millennium Trail walking path right in the heart of town, but the bulk of the activity will take place at Centennial Park (Catwalk).

“Even if you prefer to stay on ‘terra firma’ there is plenty to take part in this year. We’ve got a photo shootout (free entry) and a dinner, tons of prizes, videos and a live band on Saturday night. It’s early May in the Ottawa Valley; do you really have something better to do? Come on out and enjoy yourself!”

The athletes, volunteers and organizers are warmly welcoming all spectators, paddlers or interested people to come down to the river on May 1. Paddlers will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the river, the sport or the race.

To register, please contact Philip Kompass (p_kompass@hotmail.com) or check out the Facebook page.

Learn more at www.five2nine.ca, Facebook or www.petawawariverrats.com.

More Info on the Pet and Upper Ottawa Valley

The Petawawa River is not just for experienced paddlers. It has whitewater challenges for paddlers of all abilities. Once the spring melt begins to taper off, beginners and intermediates can develop their skills in the warm waters of Catwalk Pool and the easier rapids, like Golf Course or Big Eddy. There is an active kayak club and the cost to join or borrow the equipment is very reasonable.

"The Petawawa River is a kayaker's dream, with warm water, a wide range of both technical and easy rapids, and a long season; it would be a real shame to lose it," explains HOHW co-organizer Mike Crouzat. "It is such rare thing to find a river of this quality, right in town; so easily accessible for everyone."

"Petawawa has so much to offer in terms of outdoor recreation," adds Crouzat. "They are really supportive of this event, and hopefully we can spread the word about the great whitewater, and in fact all kinds of other recreational opportunities as well, that exist here in Petawawa and the Upper Ottawa Valley.

"If you have ever considered taking up the sport, this event is not to be missed."