The Great Falls Paddlers Club

        Our club is a mixed bag of paddlers that include kayakers, canoeists, and rowers. We share an appreciation of our local rivers and its paddling opportunities. Our emphasis is on fitness and improving paddling skills.

Upcoming events:

        The 6th Annual Montana Cup Canoe-Kayak race will be held Sunday, June 29th, 2008 starting at 10:00 AM with a mass start. The race will be on the Missouri River between Helena and Great Falls off the I-15 on the recreation (frontage) road. Approximately 25 miles SW of Great Falls. The starting area will be located at the Fish Wildlife and Parks Spite Hill fishing access site and will finish at Pelican Point public fishing access. The course is flat water with three Class II rapids. Decking and skirts are highly recommended for these rapids. The distance for this years race will be approximately 14.5 miles. We will again include a team and individual format. Register at starting areas on race day between 8:00 - 9:30. Entry fee of $30.00 per person, which includes t-shirts and lots of door prizes. Food will be available after the race during the awards.

          The 2007 Montana Cup went with a East vs. West of the divide concept, with the East team edging the West squad, which could be the format for this year's race as well.

          Individual format:

                    All boat categories will be timed and ribbons will be awarded.

          Team format categories:

                                1) Men's tandem canoe

                                2) Women's tandem canoe                               

                                3) Mixed tandem canoe

                                4) Men's kayak

                                5) Women's kayak

                                6) OPEN

           Team Rules:

                1) Points will be awarded for placement, not for time in the six categories listed above.

                2)  When teams register their boaters for their particular category, they can not be switched into another category at the end of the race.

                3) Each team will decide at the finish of the race which five boats will give them the most points.

                4) Teams do not have to enter any particular category (Example: 4 boats in Men's tandem canoe, 2 boats in Mixed tandem, and 1 kayak, after finishing, the team will decide which 5 boats they want to count for points)

                5) Points given as follows: 1st : 10    2nd : 8     3rd : 6     4th : 5      5th : 4

                6) Ties will be decided at the bar over a pint of beer.

            Race Rules:

                 1) PFD's are required in boat(s)

                 2) No length requirement for canoes, and the three canoe categories are single blade only.

                 3) No length requirement for kayaks. Any kayak is legal.

                 4) This is a human powered only event, propellers, and sails are illegal in any category.

                 5) The OPEN category is for any boat that does not fit in the above five categories. If any canoe uses a double bladed paddle, they will be put in the open class.

                 6) The race is officially over at 2:30.

         There are many public camp sites near the race: Mid Canon, Prewett Creek, Pelican Point.

         Keep visiting www.bighornwilderness.com for future updates or call John at 406-453-2841  or Bob at 406-899-5517

         Hope to see you there!

Click here for Montana Cup 2008 results 

Montana Cup 2008:           More pictures are available under the results page.