USA Surfski Team Trials - 2017

USACK has appointed the 2017 Gorge Downwind Champs (July 20-22) as the trials for selecting the USA team for the ICF Surfski Ocean Racing World Championships.

The 3rd ICF World Championship for Ocean Racing (Surfski) will be held November 18-19, 2017 in Hong Kong. Each country is limited to 2 male and 2 female entrants in each of the following age classifications.

Junior – Under 18 years as of January 1, 2017

Under 23 – Under 23 years as of January 1, 2017

Open – Any age (often considered Senior)

The top 2 USA male and female finishers in the Junior, Under 23, and Open age groups will be offered positions on the USA team for the World Championships. If an athlete declines to attend, the next highest USA finisher in that classification will be offered a position.

Note: The USA team is NOT funded. Participants in the Ocean Racing World Championships will need to fund their own travel and expenses to the event.

Entries at the Gorge Downwind Champs

Entries in the Gorge Downwind Champs are sold out. If you wish to qualify for the USA team in the Junior, Under 23 or Open classes then an entry slot can be made available to you by petitioning the race organizer. Provide a list of your finishes in major surfski events during the past year to prove that you have a legitimate chance of qualifying for one of the USA team positions.

Masters Events

There will be masters classifications beginning at age 40 and older at the Ocean Racing World Championships in Hong Kong. Entrants are NOT limited in the masters classes, and qualification or team selection is NOT required. You are not required to race the Gorge Downwind Champs in order to race the masters events in Hong Kong.

The masters races will be held at different times and/or days than the Open race. If you are over 40 and want to line up with and race together with the World’s best elite open racers, then you’ll need to qualify at the trials for the Open team.

Further Information on the Ocean Racing World Championships

There is limited information at this time. More information on entering, logistics, etc. will become available as the event draws near. Here are a few links

ICF Announcement http://www.canoeicf.com/event/2017-icf-ocean-racing-world-championships

Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/2017-ICF-Ocean-Racing-World-Championships-1742252076045383/

Further Questions? Contact Greg Barton at greg@epickayaks.com