West Virginia’s Raft Race Team; Sweets of the East

Thousands of people come to West Virginia for world class whitewater rafting every year.  The New River and Gauley River offer a variety of sections to suit any type of paddler, new and old. As the sport of river running has grown in the mountain state over the last 50 years, it has also been evolving around the world. This fall, a local team, the Sweets of the East is competing in the Senior World Rafting Championship in Argentina!

When is the world event and where?

The Senior World Rafting Championship is organized by the World Rafting Federation every two years. This year, 2025, it will be in Alumné, Neuquén Province, Argentina, from November 3 to November 9. Rafters will go down the Ruca Choroi River, and a wide section of the Alumine River.

“Our local team of event organizers, whitewater professionals, and volunteer staff are eager to welcome whitewater athletes from all over the country to our ‘Almost Heaven’ home! We’re committed to creating a high caliber racing event that challenges your mind and body, and warms your soul. We know you’ll find our rivers challenging, our views breathtaking, and our people simply amazing. Welcome competitors!” Event Organizer, Mike Cassidy.

How is the competition structured?

Rafting competitions consist of 4 categories, with teams of 4 competing. Categories are Senior Men, Senior Mixed, Senior Women, and Para-rafting. Each group can compete in four disciplines: downriver, slalom, RX, and race.

The Sprint is a hard, fast, short burst of speed for the teams. It is ideally over a fairly short distance and is about 2 to 3 minutes of hard paddling for 10% ofthe overall points. It is always done first, cannot be on a Class 5 rapid and teams are set off one by one, hence racing the clock and not each other.

The Head-2-Head is without doubt the most visually exciting discipline as it is pitting two teams together in a fast paced sprint for the finish line. It is ideally over a shortish distance but must be through a rapid, normally taking teams about 2 to 3 minutes to run the course. The two teams are set off together with the team having the best time in the Sprint being given lane choice. Although the race organisers always try to have the lanes as even as possible this is not easy as a river is so dynamic and changing river levels can also create problems. Ideal locations for a H2H have more than one line through the course allowing teams to overtake. It counts for 20% of the total points and  is an elimination race in which pairs of teams race down a section of powerful rapids. The winner of each heat proceeds to the next round and eventually just 2 teams will remain for the Final.

The Slalom is the most technically challenging event and counts for 30% percent of the total points. This event demands a high level of technique and teamwork to negotiate the rafts through 12 downriver and upriver gates in powerful rapids. Touching, failing to pass or intentionally moving a gate results in a penalty. Each team runs the course twice and their best time is used to determine the results.

The Downriver is the star event and is worth 40% of the total score. The race is close to an hour of racing along of a section of continuous and powerful rapids. Technical ability and endurance are essential elements to ensuring a good position in this event which is crucial for the teams that aspire to win the Championship. The points earned by the teams in the previous events determine their position in the starting line-up in groups up to 5 rafts.

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Total points from each race determines the overall winner;

• Sprint/Time Trail 100 points
• Head to Head 200 points
• Slalom 300 points
• Downriver 400 points

Who is on the team?

This dedicated group of ladies have worked, played, and trained hard together this year to proudly represent the home team. The Sweets of the East team started in 2015 and has rotated team members over the years to accommodate R4 and R6 competitions.

2018 Sweets of the East team members from left to right; Sarah Merritt, Margaret Cadmus, Katee Knight, Jo-Beth Stamm, Abbie Clasgens, Melanie Seiler and not pictured alternate Christian Mullins.

Previous accomplishments of the Sweets of the East team

USRA National Rafting Championships

2nd place overall 2018 1st place Sprint race 2017
2nd place Slalom race 2017
3rd place overall 2017 R4
4th place overall 2016 R6
3rd place overall 2016 R4

Animal Race, Upper Gauley River, WV
1st place 2017
1st place 2016
1st place 2015

Sweets of the East 2025 Sponsors

To become a team or event sponsor please contact