Whether you’re looking for a change of scenery, an adrenaline rush or a break from the fast-paced corporate world, the waters of West Virginia are the place to be.
Don’t be surprised that this landlocked state has a lot to offer when it comes to its lakes and rivers. According to NSTATE, LLC’s website, West Virginia is approximately 240 miles long and 130 miles wide, and 145 of those miles are covered by water. For such a small Appalachian state, the opportunities for both water adventures and water-related leisure activities are huge.
Gauley Season in Southern West Virginia draws adrenaline junkies from all over to raft in some of the most intense whitewater out there. In the capital city of Charleston, SportsFEST hosts the Pro Watercross Tour, which highlights the talent and athleticism of jet ski racing. The Mountain Mama Hospice Regatta draws in 25-30 sailboats for a weekend-long festival on the water.
Whether you’re chasing the next big thrill or a moment to catch your breath, West Virginia’s lakes and rivers will not disappoint.
Whitewater rafting on the Upper Gauley. Photo by Adventures on the Gorge.
Gauley Season
By Angela Sundstrom
Every autumn, just when leaves begin to turn, an event takes place that invigorates the outdoor adventure communities of Southern West Virginia. Whitewater rafting guides, weary from the long, hot days of summer, perk up. Area hotels and resorts cannot answer their phones fast enough. Local restaurants assemble the troops and prepare for an onslaught of visitors. It’s Gauley Season, and there’s nothing quite like it.
Gauley Season occurs annually in September and October, beginning the Friday after Labor Day and culminating on Bridge Day weekend. This six-week period provides intense whitewater—some of the best in the country—compliments of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE releases water from Summersville Dam so Summersville Lake can be lowered to its normal winter pool. This release of water turns the Gauley River into a spectacle, providing adrenaline junkies the world over with steep drops, technical maneuvers and huge waves. In the 1970s, local whitewater rafting outfitters took notice of the conditions created by the dam’s release, and Gauley Season was born.
The Upper Gauley River, known as the Big One, is not for the faint of heart. It hosts five consecutive Class V rapids, including Insignificant, Pillow Rock, Lost Paddle, Iron Ring and Sweet’s Falls. Prior experience is strongly encouraged. Those who are up to the challenge will reap the rewards.
The Lower Gauley River, though somewhat less extreme than its sibling, is nothing to scoff at. This section actually has more rapids and offers a roller coaster-type journey. Since there is more time to catch your breath between rapids, boaters can fully appreciate the stunningly rugged landscape.
In 2015, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources logged nearly 18,000 commercial rafters during Gauley Season alone, and that number doesn’t reflect private boaters. Even after decades of adventure, the intrigue of Gauley Season still has them clamoring back for more.
The Mountain Mama Hospice Regatta. Photo by Clayton Spangler.
Mountain Mama Hospice Regatta
By Marianne Taylor
Every August, 25-30 sailboats converge on Summersville Lake, West Virginia’s largest clear water lake, for the annual Mountain Mama Hospice Regatta. The unusual site of sailboats on the lake draws more than 3,000 people to the area for the weekend-long regatta. This is a family-friendly event that receives a lot of support from the community and the region with food vendors, awards, music and raffles at the beach and picnic areas near the Battle Run boat ramps.
Sponsored by the Sewell Mountain Sailing Association, this charity event is the only one of its kind in West Virginia and raises money to benefit Hospice of Southern West Virginia. The event has raised more than $50,000 for the charity over the past five years.
“Summersville Lake is a fantastic location for the event due to the clean, clear water and the better prevailing winds,” says Clayton Spangler, commodore for Sewell Mountain Sailing Association. “The lake is well patrolled and easy to navigate.”
This two-day event will be held August 26-27, 2016 and will include three races on Saturday and three races on Sunday. Awards are given for first, second and third places in each of four divisions, which generally include eight-foot, 12-foot, 12-foot to 20-foot and 20-foot and above, as well as the novice division for students. These races are governed by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Rules of Sailing.
SportsFEST’s Pro Watercross Tour. Photo by Burns Exposure.
SportsFEST
By Samantha Carney
Nine years ago, the city of Charleston and the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted an event focused around jet ski racing. At the time, it seemed out of place considering Charleston’s geographic location. Today, it’s an annual event that exhibits impressive talent and athletic ability.
Held every August, SportsFEST includes the Pro Watercross Tour, which is the leading personal watercraft racing series in the United States and consists of an elite group of both professional and amateur athletes. Watercross features athletes who are masters in speed, technique and ability. Participants race each other in a course where they will reach speeds of up to 90 mph to claim the winning title. Participants come from all 50 states, Indonesia, South Africa, Kuwait and Canada to compete for national championships during their stop in Charleston.
Individual Pro Watercross Tour classifications include the Pro Runabout Open, consisting of sit-down watercraft races; Pro Runabout Stock, an event that races low-cost jet skis; Pro Freestyle, featuring back flips and other aerial or acrobatic techniques, and the Pro Ski GP, which requires balance and endurance for this standing race.
While the Kanawha River is full of watercrafts throughout the spring and summer, this is the only organized and competitive jet ski racing event in the state.
Other events taking place during SportsFEST include the EVP beach volleyball tournament, West Virginia State Grappling Champions, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, slalom skateboarding and cheerleading and tumbling. SportsFEST will be held on August 20-21, 2016.
