The Penn Cup is a fall series of four races designed to introduce paddlers to the sport of slalom racing. Races are held on Sundays, with Saturdays reserved for course construction, practice, and clinics. Clinics are taught by experienced racers -- including some of the top-ranked paddlers in the state and in the US -- and serve to introduce beginners to the sport, and to help more experienced racers advance from the basics of running the gates to discovering and paddling the most efficient lines.
Awards are presented at each race, and overall series awards (earned on a point system) are presented after the final race. Overall series awards are given in the following classes: K-1, K-1W, C-1, C-1W, C-2, C-2W, C-2M, OC-1, and OC-2. Additionally, competitors representing regional paddling clubs contend to earn the coveted club trophy.
There are many, many classes available at each race for open and decked boats, solo and tandem boats, juniors, cadets, masters, and well, just about everyone. The emphasis is on fun and learning, and so the races in this series make an excellent introduction to the sport.
Individual Competition Eligibility: Participation in the series is open to all boaters and competition for the Pennsylvania Cup is optional. To compete for the Pennsylvania Cup, individuals must:
-Compete in 3 of the 4 races in one or two of the contested classes.
-Be ranked C or D, or unranked, in the current NWSC rankings.
-Have never ranked A or B in the contested class(es). For tandem boats, this applies to only one of the paddlers.
-Have not placed in the top 50% in an international slalom competition or a US Slalom Team Trials.
-Have not previously won the Penn Cup award for the class you are entering.
-Use legal race boats (per NWSC rules). Cruising boats must be at least 4 meters in length.
Individual Competition Awards: Competitors are awarded for first, second and third places based on their individual performances in the series. These will be determined by the points earned at their best three races in the contested class(es). Winners are determined by the lowest accumulation of points. Points will not be calculated for non-Penn Cup competitors. Note that these points are earned on the basis of the Penn Cup class, not the race class (in other words, K-1W cadet, K-1W junior, K-1W, and K-1W master are combined when determining series points). Points will be awarded as follows: 1st Place earns 1 point; 2nd Place earns 2 points; 3rd Place earns 3 points; etc.

Club Competition Eligibility: Any number of club members, of any skill level, racing any or all of the competitions, may compete for the Pennsylvania Cup Club Trophy. To be eligible, competitors must:
-Be a bona fide member of the club they represent.
-Race for the same club throughout the series.
-In tandem racing, both partners must represent the same club.
Club Competition Awards: A revolving club trophy and a permanent club trophy will be presented to the overall club winner based on the performance of club members in each of the competitions. All skill levels will be totaled to determine the winning club for the Pennsylvania Cup. Individuals will be awarded club points inversely to their order of finish as follows: Last Place earns 1 point; 2nd to Last earns 2 points; 3rd to Last earns 3 points; etc.
Classes of Competition: All standard classes (according to boat, gender, age, and ability) will be contested provided the three boat minimum is met. The registrars have the right to reclassify paddlers to assure fair and competitive classes. Penn Cup awards will be presented in the following nine categories:
Men's and Women's Solo Kayak (K-1/K-1W) Solo and Tandem Open Canoe (OC-1/OC-2)
Men's and Women's Solo Decked Canoe (C-1/C-1W) Men's and Women's and Mixed Tandem Decked Canoe (C-2/C-2W/C-2M)
Race Clinics: Special-training clinics will be taught by successful racers, coaches and US Slalom Team members. Please indicate on your entry form if you are interested in participating. Note: Courses are CLOSED for practice during races and clinics.
Scoring Rules: The races will be conducted according to current Whitewater Slalom Rules of USA Canoe Kayak. A two (2) second penalty will be assessed for each touched gate, and a fifty (50) second penalty for each missed gate. One exception: places will be determined by the better of the two runs rather than combining the scores of the two runs. We will however, send combined times to USACK for ranking.
How to determine which age group you're in (for the year 2007) If you were born during or before 1967, you're a master. If you were born in 1992, 1991, 1990 or 1989 then you're a junior. If you were born in 1993 or later, then you're a cadet. If you were born in any of the years 1967 to 1988, then you're not a master, junior or cadet.
Volunteering: Participants are expected to help with gate judging and event clean up. Please arrive early and stay late.
**ALL RACES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE RACE ORGANIZERS**
Race #3: Fiddler's Elbow Slalom, Hummelstown, PA, September 29-30, 2007
Location: The slalom course will be set on Swatara Creek at the Fiddler's Elbow Road bridge southwest of Hummelstown, PA between Hershey and Harrisburg. From US 322 East take the Hummelstown/Middletown exit, make a left on Middletown Road, make an immediate left onto US 322 West (you just did a U-turn). From US 322 West make a right on West Main Street at Hoss's, make a right on Fiddler's Elbow Road; and go 1.1 mile to race site.
Parking: Please park in designated areas only. Parking in other areas will ruin our relationship with the landowners, who so graciously allow us to use their properties for this race. Therefore, parking violations may disqualify you from the race. We will provide an unloading area near the center of race activities. Additional parking will be available at the garage and quarry driveway across the bridge from the race site. Do not block the truck traffic on the quarry driveway.

Schedule:
Saturday, September 27, 2008
9:00 - 1:00 PM - Hang slalom gates
9:00 - 3:00 PM - Check-in
12:00 - Dark - Practice runs(except during clinic)
1:00 - 3:00 PM - Slalom clinic (course closed)
Sunday, September 28, 2008
6:30 - 8:00 AM Practice runs
8:30 - 9:00 AM - Competitors' meeting (course closed)
9:00 AM - Race starts
PM - Course take-down and awards

Food: There will be a food stand at the site on Sunday, and possibly on Saturday.
Lodging and Camping:
-Hershey Highmeadow Campground, off Hershey Park Drive, HERSHEY, PA; (717) 534-8999.
-Harrisburg East Campground, 1134 Highspire Rd., Harrisburg, PA; (717) 939-4331.
-Hershey Conewago campground on Rt. 743 between Hershey and E-town. (717) 367-1179. It's about 13 miles from the site. www.hersheyconewago.com.
Other: At the landowners' request, PETS AND VENDORS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT THE RACE SITE. Please leave your pets and crafts at home. Also, the course will be closed for practice during the race and clinics. Pedestrians have the right of way on crosswalks in Hummelstown and watch your speed on Fiddler's Elbow Road!

For more infomation contact:
fiddlerselbow@ccghpa.com
or phone: 717-938-6302