A whitewater race that began as a bar bet in 1953 with two cases of beer at stake will celebrate its 71st year this April.
The Westfield River Wildwater Races—one of the country’s oldest canoe, kayak, and SUP races—will take place on the Westfield River in western Massachusetts on April 18.
The races include two courses—a classic 8-mile course for all abilities, and an expert 5-mile course for advanced paddlers.
The classic course starts in the center of Huntington and features a mix of flatwater, Class II rapids, one Class III rapid, and two portages. The course is open to all ability levels.
The expert course starts at Knightville Dam with challenging conditions that include a mix a Class II and Class III rapids. The course is for advanced paddlers only.
CLASSIC RACE: 8 mile race starting in the center of Huntington with a mix of flat water, class 2 rapids, one class 3 rapid and two portages. All ability levels welcome.
EXPERT RACE: 5 mile race starting at Knightville Dam with challenging conditions including a mix of exciting class 2 and class 3 rapids. Expert paddlers only.
All participants—especially novices—are encouraged to attend two paddling clinics held the first and second Saturday of April to familiarize themselves with the course.
The Westfield River is considered so pristine, it was given “Wild & Scenic” designation by an act of Congress over 30 years ago.
Considered one of the country’s oldest whitewater races, the event originally began as a bar bet over some beers.
According to event organizers, a group of friends were sitting around the bar of the Whippernon Club in Russell in the winter of 1953 regaling each other with tales of their canoeing prowess. Dick Waterhouse, the club owner, challenged the braggarts to prove their skills in a race down the Westfield on the first Sunday in April. The prize would be a cold case of beer, courtesy of Waterhouse.
Word of the challenge reached Al Hodges, owner of the Wildcat Springs Restaurant, situated on the West Branch of the river in Chester, about 10 miles upstream of the Whippernon. Hodges added another case of beer, doubling the prize. With that, the course of the race was set, starting at one bar and ending at the other.
Word of the challenge spread and, on race day, a half-dozen canoes with a dozen paddlers congregated in the chilly water. Mostly locals, the racers felt confident that the prize would be won by one of them and shared with the others. Instead, a team from Southwick won and took the prize home, leaving the locals to buy their own beer.
Learn more about the Westfield River Wildwater Races.
Learn about other spring paddling races in the Northeast.
