Sponsors
We'd like to thanks the following organizations that have made this event possible:
This is 2008 nationals web site version 2.7, last modified 11/4/08.
RESULTS (Canadian teams participated but were not eligible for US National Ranking)
Club A:
1st: Austin Aquabats
2nd: San Francisco Golden Gate Breakers
3rd: North Carolina Storm
Women:
1st: New York Women (Note, also beat Canada Meenies for overall tournament title)
2nd: Austin Aquabat Babes
3rd: UCLA Sparkly Fairies
Club B:
1st: North Carolina Shipwrecks (Note, runner up overall behind Canada B)
2nd: Austin Gentlemen
3rd: Dallas Mayfields
Under 21:
1st: Austin Aquabrats
2nd: Texas Tornadoes (Dallas)
3rd: Mynies (Edmonton, Canada)
Dates: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, October 31, November 1 & 2, 2008
Location: Rio Vista Park, 701 Cheatham St, San Marcos, Texas (30 minutes drive south of Austin)
The San Marcos river is spring fed about 1 mile upstream of the tournament location at about 130 cubic feet per second. The water is crystal clear and 72 degrees unless it's been raining heavily. There will be one pitch. The River Pub is a restaurant/bar with a sunny second floor deck with tables facing the pitch and a shaded first floor deck with tables. Both levels are open air, unheated.
Air temperatures: record high is 88 F, record low 34 F, average 64 F.
Transportation
The organizers will transfer boats to and from Austin Bergstrom Airport (AUS). Please send your flight details to: curt.burdorf@parsons.com
Players must arrange their own transportation to and from the venue. If you stay in one of the closest hotels, you may not need a vehicle in San Marcos.
Map (from google) and Directions
From I-35 S (from Austin), take exit 204B for Rt 12, go straight through light, then take second right, Riverside Drive. There is a tourist info center on the corner. Take first left on Cheatham street (or park in lot on left just before this intersection). See Parking.
From I-35 N (from San Antonio), take exit 205 for Rt 12, keep in far left lane and take U-turn under I-35. You are now on I-35 access road southbound. Move to right lane and take third right, Riverside Drive. There is a tourist info center on the corner. Take first left on Cheatham street (or park in lot on left just before this intersection). See Parking.
Parking
The lot closest to the pitch is the River Pub. You may unload but DO NOT park or leave vehicles unattended in the River Pub lot at any time. You may be towed.
Parking is in the public lot with bathrooms across the street. There is construction fencing along the street near the entrance to the lot but it is still open. There are also two lots in Rio Vista Park on the other side of the river. (See map below.)
Registration
Early Registration closes on Wednesday, October 8 (postmark date). This is the day before the 3 week advance purchase deadline for flights. Late registration closes Monday October 20.
The tournament can accept approximately 25 teams in order to maintain the 5 game minimum (6 game average) with 9 minute halves. We have received estimates of 29 teams as of 8/23/08 not counting Colorado. If we receive too many entries, some Open teams may have to be denied entry. Teams accepted will be based on which teams have players playing on only one team and date registration was received.
Early Registration is $300 per team. Late registration is $375 per team. Banquet is $15 per person additional (menu below). Non-USACK members must pay $10 insurance fee. Fees may be paid by check to Austin Paddling Club and mailed to the address on the form. Payments by credit card through Paypal can be made to
adrian_nye@yahoo.com but add 3% to total. Austin Paddling Club is a 501(c)3 organization.
Registration Form can be downloaded here:
Registration Form in PDF. Please read the division rules below and do not mail your registration until the rules are finalized. Participants under age 18 must have their parents fill out and sign this waiver form:
Under 18 Waiver Form.
Divisions
Club A
Club B
Women
Under 21
Open - please assume Open division will be eliminated due to time constraints. You may submit registration form for an Open team without payment and if we get fewer teams than expected we will reinstate the division.
Any above division may be merged into another division if less than 3 entries. Each team is guaranteed at least 5 games. A player may enter on one team in each of two different divisions, but not both A and B.
The Under 21 division will be played on November 1 and 2 only, so that these players miss less school.
Division Rules
The following are the official rules of the USACK canoe polo committee (USCPC) for the national championship tournament:
"Basic club membership criteria" is generally defined as players who regularly play together. Additionally:
- A player who once regularly played with a club, but moved away, may compete with that club; and
- A player with no local club in a division may play with any club, so long as this would not clearly disadvantage another team
A "US Club Team" is one in which all competitors are US Citizens, Permanent Residents, or hold a current work or student visa for the US, and who meet the basic club membership criteria.
A "Non-US Club Team" includes one or more non-US residents and/or includes one or more players who do not meet basic club membership criteria.
Questions regarding players or teams meeting eligibility requirements should be referred to the USCPC. The USCPC reserves the right to declare a team a Non-US Club Team at any time for failure to conform to US Nationals rules.
| Division Rules |
Club A
| Open to US Club Teams who will compete for the title of US National Champion, and Non-US Club Teams who will compete through the final rounds to the latest point convenient to the tournament organizer. Non-US Club teams will not compete in the US Championship final game. Goal differentials in games against Non-US teams will not count in breaking ties between US teams. Ties between a Non-US team and a US team go to the US team. |
Club B
| Open to teams who meet the same eligibility requirements as for Club A but who feel they are not up to a standard of play to be competitive with the teams in Club A. The local organizing committee will let teams assess their own ability, but reserves the right to move a team up to Club A level if they are of an appropriate standard. |
Women
| Open to all-female teams that meet the same eligibility requirements as for Club A.
|
Under 21
| Open to any team in which all players have a 21st birthday on or after January 1 of the current year, and who meet the same eligibility requirements as for Club A.
|
Open
| Unrestricted |
Players may compete for a maximum of two teams. No player may compete in both Club A and Club B divisions.
Club A/B division is open to women and juniors.
All entries are subject to the organizer's review. At least three entries in a division are required for that division to be accepted
into the competition. All efforts will be made to give each team at least five games during the competition (this will depend on the level of entries).
Scrutineering
All equipment will be inspected for safety. See schedule below for scrutineering times. Players are strongly advised to inspect and repair their equipment before coming. There may not be time to make repairs before your first game.
Team PFDs must match color and have no duplicate numbers.
Equipment for Loan
Use of this equipment is free. All the following equipment will be shared (must be put back in loaner area after each game).
6 Eskimo Gecko plastic kayaks in great shape.
1 Fiberglass Vampire IIs
2 Dagger Vampire plastic kayaks
3 Latvian fiberglass kayaks (fast but tippy)
1 Evolution fiberglass kayak (for small people)
Skirts for above if needed
Black plastic helmets with Stainless Facemasks
yellow/black PFDs
plastic polo paddles (197 and 200, 45 degree and 90 degree).
Lodging
Numerous hotels are available in San Marcos, it's a college town. Within walking distance of the venue (from closest to farthest) are Parkside Inn & Suites, Red Roof Inn, Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, Econolodge, Crystal River Inn (B&B) and others.
Homestays are probably not practical - only one of our players lives in San Marcos, and play starts early in the morning.
Food at Venue
The
River Pub is a full service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a deck overlooking the pitch.
Herbert's Taco Hut is a short walk away on Riverside drive.
Banquet
The saturday night banquet will be held at the San Marcos River Pub at 7:30 PM. It includes appetizer, main meal, dessert, and iced tea. There will be a cash bar. The banquet is $15 for participants and their guests, free for volunteers.
Menu:
Chips, Guacamole, Salsa and Queso
Build Your Own Pasta (alfredo or marinara) with blackened chicken, vegetarian option without chicken
Salad and Garlic Bread
Desert (Blackberry/Peach Cobbler or Truffle Cheesecake)
Schedule (tentative)
| Day | Time | Event |
Thursday, October 30 | 6-9 PM | Scrutineering (by Gazebo)
|
| | 6-9 PM
| Registration (at Gazebo)
|
| | 9 PM | Referee Meeting (downstairs at Pub) |
| | 9:30 PM | Team Captain's Meeting (downstairs at Pub) |
Friday, October 31 | 7:30 AM | First Game Begins |
| (Halloween) | 7:30-9 AM
| Registration for late arrivals
|
| 7:30-9 AM | Scrutineering for late arrivals
|
| | 7:06 PM | Last Game Ends |
| | 6:30-7:00 PM | Scrut/Regis for U21 arriving for weekend only |
| | 7:30 PM | Future of Polo Meeting (Gazebo)
|
| | 8:30-10 PM | Referee Course (Power Outdoor Center)
|
| Saturday, November 1 | 7:30 AM | First Game Begins |
| | 7:30-8:30 AM | Registration for Saturday arrivals |
| | 7:06 PM | Last Game Ends |
| | 7:30-9:30 PM | Banquet (Downstairs at Pub)
|
| | 8:30 PM | Silent Auction Ends (at Banquet) |
| Sunday, November 2 | 6:30 AM | First Game Begins |
| Daylight Savings Time ends Saturday Night | 3:30 PM | Last Final Ends |
| | 3:45 PM | Awards (Gazebo) |
| 4 PM | Venue Takedown (help needed) |
Updates
Note that this group was used for the 2004 and 2005 nationals. You may already be subscribed.
Things to Know
Just below the pitch is the new Rio Vista Whitewater Park, which features three small drops with eddies on both sides. There will be a whitewater event called the Sladeo (combination slalom and rodeo) occuring on one of the competition days. You can run the drops safely in composite polo boats.
It is possible to paddle upstream or downstream from the venue, and both directions have nice scenery. The source of the spring is worth a visit, but you have to go by land because you can't paddle all the way to it (because of a waterfall).
Silent Auction
Various outdoor and paddling gear will be auctioned to raise money for our free kids paddling program.
Contact Information
See you in San Marcos!