Town of Huntington, MA Police -- Westfield River Wildwater Races 2006

Rains swell river for clinic
Friday, April 07, 2006
By GEORGE GRAHAM
ggraham@repub.com

HUNTINGTON - The recent rains mean this Sunday's paddling clinic, a kind of warm-up run for the upcoming Westfield River Wildwater races, should go as scheduled.

"We will be good to go Sunday," race coordinator Jeffrey M. DeFeo said yesterday.

The first of three such planned clinics was canceled last Sunday due to low water. "But, it came up quite a bit with that rain and it will definitely be doable (this Sunday)" DeFeo said.

Sunday's clinic and a final clinic set for April 15 will both begin 1 p.m. at the state Department of Public Works yard off Route 112.

The races themselves, however, sponsored by The Republican newspaper and set for April 22 and 23, are not dependent on water conditions because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can raise the water level by releasing water from its flood control dams.

Participants need to show up with the appropriate equipment, including their own canoes or kayaks, DeFeo said. There is no fee or advance registration for the clinics.

This year's races are dedicated to Jurgen G. Igel, a long-time co-chairman of the event with DeFeo, who passed away in July.

The April 22 race, which begins at the state Department of Public Works yard, is eight miles long and is for novice classes. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race begins at 10 a.m.

Professionals and experts compete in a 12-mile race that begins April 23 at the base of Knightville Dam, located off Route 112. Registration begins 9:30 a.m. and the race begins at 11 a.m.

For more information, call DeFeo at (413) 354-9684.

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Wildwater canoes brave big chill
Monday, April 10, 2006
By ELIZABETH ROMÁN
eroman@repub.com

HUNTINGTON - On warm sunny days when the water is calm and the levels are low, an eight-mile trip down the Westfield River is a pleasant one.

Novices hesitant about the water can drift down the river, taking time to figure out calmer and quicker routes. But when the 53rd Westfield Wildwater races, sponsored by The Republican, get under way, the eight-mile ride will be very different.

"It's a lot faster on race day," said Jeffrey M. DeFeo, organizer of the event and longtime competitor as well. "There's over a foot more water and the rapids are stronger."

Every year before the races, paddling clinics are held to give novices and experts a chance to try out the water. Low water levels caused the cancellation of the first paddling clinic last week. For the second clinic yesterday, the weather was perfect. Experienced paddlers and some who had never been in a canoe floated down the river in groups, some getting a dunking but most cruising along.

Jared M. Lubarsky, 8, of Agawam, in a canoe for the first time, was happy to not get wet. He will compete with his dad in the novice race April 22.

"Today was a great day for him to try it," said his dad, Eric Lubarsky, who has participated in the race for several years.

"It was fun going down the rocky parts," Jared said.

"There are a lot more parents doing the race with their kids, and a lot more women doing the races too," DeFeo said. "Before, we used to do them earlier in April, but sometimes there was still snow and ice, so many people didn't come out. Moving it to the third weekend in April has made a really big difference."

Richard Smalls of Chester will be in the novice race with his girlfriend, Sue Touchet of Westhampton. It will be Touchet's first time out, but Smalls has competed for 12 years, and remembers the more treacherous weather conditions.

"It's a different experience coming out here when it's that cold," he said. "I remember sometimes having to paddle around icebergs while it was snowing."

On the corner of his canoe there is a decal of a pink ribbon, the sign of cancer survivors. "My sister and my godmother had cancer, and all the events I do like this and Rays of Hope are in their honor and in honor of all the women struggling with cancer," he said.

One more clinic is set for April 15 at 1 p.m. at the Department of Public Works in Huntington.

The novice race April 22 begins at the state Department of Public Works yard at the intersection of routes 20 and 112. Professionals and experts compete in a 12-mile race that begins Sunday at the base of Knightville Dam, located off Route 112.

This year's races are dedicated to Jurgen G. Igel, a longtime co-chairman of the event who passed away in July.

For more information on the races and registration, call DeFeo at (413) 354-9684.

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Clinic canoeists practice for race
Sunday, April 16, 2006
By ALEX PESHKOV
apeshkov@repub.com

HUNTINGTON - Dozens of novice and experienced canoe enthusiasts participated yesterday in the final paddling clinic before next week's Westfield River Wildwater Races.

The clinic, held despite the low water conditions, started at 1 p.m. in the state Department of Public Works yard on Route 112. Many participants came to the site much earlier, though, to prepare their canoes or kayaks and to talk to each other.

David Andersen and his wife, Diane Duffie, were among those seeking some tips before going into water.

"We've been doing (river canoeing) for a good long time, but this is our first time up here on this river, being involved with this whole event," said Andersen who lives in Belchertown.

The 53rd Westfield Wildwater races, dedicated this year to Jurgen G. Igel, a long-time co-chairman of the event who passed away in July, will be held on Saturday and Sunday.

The Saturday race, which begins at the state Department of Public Works yard, is eight miles long and is for novice classes. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race begins at 10 a.m.

Professionals and experts compete in a 12-mile race that begins the next day at the base of Knightville Dam, located off Route 112. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the race begins at 11 a.m.

"We are not going to do the competitive one on Sunday, but we are thinking about doing Saturday race," Duffie said.

Low water levels caused the cancellation of the first paddling clinic, but for the second clinic the weather was perfect, organizers said.

Erin Lylis, of Easthampton, will be in the novice race with her boyfriend, Joe Green, also of Easthampton.

Lylis said she was excited to have her first actual race.

"I've done river canoeing before, but not any races. It'll be fun. Joe has actually done this race several times - for him it'll be the fourth race - so he's had experience," Lylis said.

She said she enjoyed the opportunity just to be outside, too.

"Canoeing is exciting, it's something to do in the early spring - get outside and get some fresh air. That's what it's all about," she said.

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Low water won't stop Westfield River races
Thursday, April 20, 2006
By GEORGE GRAHAM
ggraham@repub.com

HUNTINGTON - Hundreds of paddlers and thousands of spectators are expected to converge here this weekend as the 53rd running of the Westfield River Wildwater Races gets underway.

Although the water level on the river is low, organizer Jeffrey M. DeFeo said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will try to make up for what Mother Nature has failed to provide. Engineers will turn up the volume both days by releasing water from the river's two flood control dams.

"We will have water, I am sure of that, but it won't be a record-setting year," DeFeo said.

The races, sponsored by the Sunday Republican and

MassLive.com, are the oldest continuously run whitewater races in the country.

Saturday's race, which begins at the state Department of Public Works, is eight miles long and for the novice classes of paddlers.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race begins at 10 a.m.

One of the most popular stretches for spectators, especially for the novice races, is the so-called "Hill and Dale" rapids, which are about one mile north of the state police barracks in Russell.

Professionals and experts compete in a 12-mile race that begins Sunday at the base of Knightville Dam, located off Route 112. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the race begins at 11 a.m.

The professional course record remains at 1:12:32, set in 2001 by Southampton's Edward Hamel and Paul Facteau.

Participants need to show up with the appropriate equipment, including their own canoes or kayaks, DeFeo said. Cost for paddlers both days is $17.

This year's races are dedicated to Jurgen G. Igel, a long-time co-chairman of the event with DeFeo, who passed away in July.

Opening ceremonies Saturday will include the presenting of a service award in Igel's name, DeFeo said.

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Wildwater races relatively tame
Sunday, April 23, 2006
By STEPHANIE BARRY
sbarry@repub.com

HUNTINGTON - Waters were less than wild during yesterday's 53rd annual Westfield River Wildwater Races.

A relatively snowless late winter and previously dry conditions made for low water levels and nonexistent rapids down the eight-mile course. Still, nearly 200 paddling teams registered for the event, the longest consecutively running race of its kind in America, according to organizers.

"It was scratchy," said Rick Boudreau of Huntington, a 17-year race veteran who was first to launch yesterday and first to cross the finish line along with son Nathan, 14. Boudreau's wife, Judy, and 6-year-old daughter, Heather, dutifully cheered the duo on from the sidelines, despite the sleet and rain.

"I've been here in every kind of weather," Judy Boudreau said. "One year I watched him in the snow."

Like Boudreau, many have made the race, sponsored by The Republican and MassLive.com, a tradition.

Second-place finisher Steven Gauthier of West Springfield and Laurie Carosello of Chicopee have raced in the amateur event for six years.

"Rain or shine, it doesn't matter," Carosello said. "It really doesn't matter if you're first or dead last. It's nice to hear the cheers when you cross the finish line."

The amateur event precedes the expert run today, which offers $5,000 in total prize money. Organizer Jeffrey M. DeFeo said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released water from the Littleville Dam yesterday and reserved a second release from Knightville Dam for today.

DeFeo noted the experienced racers were clad in wet suits and rain gear while novices shivered in shorts.

"They'll learn," he said with a laugh.

The race kicked off with presentations of a scholarship and service award in memory of longtime race co-chairman Jurgen G. Igel, who died from pulmonary disease June 30.

Igel's widow, Debbie, sat with the time-keeping team - Bruce and Robert Duval, and Linda Burzdak - at the finish line in Russell. The couple were married 34 years.

Yesterday, Debbie Igel eyed a backpack that had been a constant presence in their lives as her husband's condition worsened. For months, the pack held medications and other supplies required to manage his sickness. She considered packing her race supplies in it, but couldn't pick it up in the end.

"It's been very difficult. This is the first year I've come here without him, and I expect him to come walking out of the woods any time," she said tearfully.

Today's 12-mile race begins at the base of Knightville Dam, off Route 112. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the race begins at 11 a.m.

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Boaters Prepare for 2006 Westfield Wildwater Races

By: Anne Ebeling

They came with their canoes, suited up, and grabbed their paddles to head down the river. It's all in preparation for the 2006 Westfield Wildwater Races.

"This year will be the fifty-third annual, at a little bar down the road in Russell on a bet and it's grown now, we have over three hundred boats," said chairman, Jeff DeFeo.

The race is a local tradition passed down through generations.

"I've got guys now that started with their little sons like this little guy behind you here, and now the kids are in their twenties and thirties and now they're coming back with their girlfriends and boyfriends," DeFeo said.

Joe Barrett's been racing for ten years. "It's just a challenge, it's fun -- trying to compete, trying to do better every year, win," he said.

But others aren't as experienced, and that's what today was all about. Organizers of the race say it's important for participants to know what they're doing before they hit the river rapids.

"The portages are difficult, they go up over rocks, down a steep hill and it's it's very helpful to know what you're getting to before you get there," said DeFeo.

That's why Jeff DeFeo lead today's clinic - teaching others how to brave the waters safely.

This year, however, something's missing. "My co-chairman, Jurgel Igel, we lost, passed away in late, late June, he's been running the race with me since 1983 and we were partners before that, racing all over New England," DeFeo said.

But the race, the tradition, and the spirit must go on. The race will take place in two weeks, on April 22 and 23.