Annual Over the Falls Race

17th ANNUAL OHIOPYLE OVER THE FALLS FESTIVAL October 1, 2016
Ohiopyle, Pa. – American Whitewater, and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds & Rivers announce that the 17th Annual Ohiopyle Over The Falls Festival will be held October 1, 2016. Whitewater paddlers nationwide will gather there to race over the spectacular eighteen-foot waterfall in the picturesque mountain village of Ohiopyle. Spectators are invited to watch paddlers sprint and cartwheel, end-over-end, off the waterfall.
Other event features include the Falls Under Lights, Town Party, and Silent Auction. The area also offers biking, hiking, camping, magnificent scenery, photographic opportunities, history and cultural activities. Please visit www.FallsRace.com for more information and registration details.
Here is the event schedule:

Saturday, October 1
Registration will begin at 8am in Ohiopyle State Park.
9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon: Waterfall Practice Runs
12 Noon: Two competitions: Falls Race
200-yard whitewater course includes two-foot, four-foot and eighteen-foot drops.
After race - Freestyle – Kayakers will surf the rapids above the waterfalls’ eighteen-foot drop, and do routines and cartwheels competitively, end-over-end, off the edge for points. Waterfalls practice runs will continue afterwards until 3:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.: Ohiopyle Town Party
The party will be at Falls City Pub. In addition, lights will be cast on the eighteen-foot waterfall, making it a spectacular spectacle and party centerpiece.
Volunteers needed for the event.

Boater Information
We need plenty of help and this year we will require everyone 18 and over who wants to run the Falls to give the event at least one hour of safety! Registration fees have been reduced to $15 and volunteers who give us at least two hours of their time will receive a cool T-shirt. Registration forms and waivers are included on this Website. We ask that you download the forms and bring them with you to the event in order to save time or send them in to the address indicated in advance. You can sign up for the race and/or freestyle competitions or to just do practice runs the day of the event.
We have prize money (www.fallsrace.com/Classes.html) this year for both the Race and Freestyle Events. Tell your friends!
It is important that everyone realize that running this waterfall should be for experienced boaters only. Running this class-IV waterfall has all the potential hazards involved with any other class IV rapid. Our safety at the base of the falls only involves helping swimmers if and when they wash out from under the falls. As with any whitewater activity you are responsible for judging your own capabilities and for your own safety. If you do not have the experience to run the falls please do not attempt to do so.

This event is dependent on getting enough Safety boaters. The time commitment for volunteers is minimal. Those interested in assisting with registration or race administration should contact me in advance. We also have a separate registration form for volunteers only for safety and administration
Note the Private Boater Ohiopyle Falls Access Guidelines have changed as far as the time that the Falls can be run. The new times are as follows:
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Runs over the falls will be permitted: April 1st through the weekend before Thanksgiving with the last permit issued or sold 45 minutes prior to end of the posted office hours.
Posted office hours are the main office in the new Visitors Center which can vary but are currently to 6PM; however, you should call ahead of time at 724-329-8591.
Barry Adams, Festival Coordinator 412-242-4562 Bj2adams@juno.com