The 2024 North Branch Blast Downriver Race - the North Branch of the Potomac River (1,070cfs)

The Second Annual North Branch Blast Downriver Kayak Race: Featuring the "Bloomington" section of the North Branch of the Potomac River, from Barnum, West Virginia to Bloomington, Maryland
Kayaking the North Branch of the Potomac River

I am seeking assistance in coordinating the 2026 race, and would be both very grateful & thankful for any level of support and outreach, in yearning to work to have the race become an official race, in acquiring insurance for liability (in addition to the current waiver), and working with an official organization (such as Mineral County Parks and Recreation) or kayak club in na effort to where the race can be publicly advertised to more efficiently get the word out to increase the turnout with the dream of having the North Branch Blast amount to becoming an annual regional whitewater classic race. Unfortunately, the 2025 race had to be cancelled due to: unexpected high water (300cfs above the 1,200cfs threshold), low registration turnout, and environmental conditions in the week preceding the race, due to the catastrophic historic flooding of Westernport, MD, which resulted in the inability to scout the course beforehand for the reasonably high likelihood of hazardous strainers. The race greatly benefits Whiskers Inc., a local in need, "nonprofit 501(c)3 no-kill volunteer animal rescue, serving Allegany County MD and the surrounding areas in nearby Maryland & West Virginia."

The debut 2023 race lived up to its name, and helped to get the word out to grow the 2024 race, even with the wind, a new course record was set (47:58), new friends made, making for a memorable and safe time all around. The 2024 race was moved from the originally proposed fourth release to the second release due to the fourth release occurring during the weekend of the Stonycreek Rendezvous, and the third release occurring during the weekend of the Cheat River Festival. Future races will also be tentatively for either the third or fourth spring whitewater release, to avoid coinciding with the Cheat & Stonycreek race/festival weekends.

This race was thought of, advertised, and organized by myself, ‪‪@glenndouglass9921‬ (Safety Coordinator & Senior Raft Guide with ‪‪@RiverTrailOutfitters‬) and Caitlin Yanko (Donation Outreach Coordinator). Shredder safety support and photography at Robin's Nest was provided by ‪‪@jerkonoza7812‬ & Mrs. K. Awards were generously handcrafted & donated by ‪‪@lisamassee2139‬. The timing team consisted of Caitlin Yanko and Bobby D. All race donations benefit Whisker's Inc., "Whiskers is a nonprofit 501(c)3 no-kill volunteer animal rescue, serving Allegany County MD and the surrounding areas in nearby MD and WV." Caitlin Yanko single-handedly served as the Outreach & Donation Coordinator. In total $1,128.00, and many pounds of cat food were raised and donated to Whiskers Inc. Interested in this race: to either compete, volunteer, take pictures, or just be part of the fun? If so, then reach out for the information and come out next year! This race course makes for a great dynamic mixture of stretches of continuous rapids and flat stretches, giving this one a much more livelier feel than some of the other regional races that largely consist of fewer rapids separated by long expanses of riffles/flat water.

Details:
Date: April 20, 2024
Racecourse: 6.2 Miles
Class: I-III
Level/Stage (flow rate):
Potomac River: 4.37ft./1,070cfs
Water Temperature: 51°F
Stream Gauge: USGS 01595800 North Branch Potomac River at Barnum, WV
Location: The North Branch of the Potomac River: "Bloomington" Section
Starting Line: Barnum Whitewater Area Put-In - at the front of the bridge pillar with the visual gauge markings
Finish Line: the largest tree (slightly leaning) at the traditional Take Out (approx. 275ft. upstream of the Bloomington Viaduct), just before the beach like path at the outflow of the treated wastewater
Barnum Whitewater Area
North Branch Potomac State Fish Management Area
Allegheny Wildlife Management Area
Barnum Rail Trail
Featured Kayaks:
Prijon T-Slalom
The "Bobby Miller" Dagger Vanguard ‪@skaterspk‬
Dagger Green Boat ‪@FrankensteinDIYkayak‬

#godscreation #potomacriver #river #whitewaterkayaking #kayaking #maryland #westvirginia

Scenes:
Introduction: 00:00
Starting Line 0:37
Woodsmoke: 1:52
Rocks & Rhododendron 2:54
Easy Out 3:33
Lead in to "The Slides" 4:49
The Slides AKA The Ledges 5:29
Folly Run AKA Shoal & Eddies 6:18
Blue Hole 7:22
Lunch Stop 8:01
Rick's Ride 9:11
Warnick 9:51
Before Robin's Nest: 10:58
Robin's Nest AKA Bear Ledge/The Falls 12:19
Top of the World 18:33
Rock Face 19:17
Piney Swamp Run 20:02
First Railroad Bridge 20:24
Bloomington 21:12
Finish Line 23:15
Tale Out Talk 25:16
Race Results & Donations 28:02
Take Out Talk 28:42

"A River of Fire Was Flowing, Coming Out From Before Him. Thousands Upon Thousands Attended Him; Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand Stood Before Him. The Court Was Seated, And The Books Were Opened." - Daniel 7:10