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Westfield River Wildwater Races 2026

71st running of one of the oldest whitewater races in the US

Welcome to the 71st running of the Westfield River Wildwater Races!
Saturday, April 18, 2026




Expert Races (advanced/expert paddlers only)

Knightville Dam, off Rt. 112 in Huntington

8:30AM Boat Inspections Start

9AM Racer Meeting

9:30AM Start (30 second intervals)


Classic Races (intermediate/advanced/expert paddlers)

Huntington, off the Rte 112 green bridge by the MassDOT Maintenance Yard

10AM Boat Inspections Start (ongoing as racers arrive)

10:30AM Racer Meeting (ongoing as racers arrive)

11AM Start (30 second intervals)



Registration and Place Allotment

  • All registration is online at westfieldriver.org/races.

  • IMPORTANT: Start times for both the Expert and Classic Races will be in chronological order based on when people register. The earlier you register, the sooner you will start on race day.

  • IMPORTANT: If you want to paddle the race next to your family or friends, organize a time when you all are registering at the same time to receive start times very close to each other. Start times are based on the chronological order that registrations are received on the registration page.

  • The Early Bird registration fee is $35 for the Expert and Classic (up until 3/15 at 11:59PM). Registration March 16 - April 12 11:59 PM is $45. Registration 4/13-15 is $75. Please register early. You will save money and it helps make check-in for everyone seamless.

  • Racing as a team? First establish one person as the “Team Captain” to register and establish the team name. Make sure that you both know who is the captain and who is the partner to make registration easier. The Team Captain pays the registration fee for BOTH paddlers at the time of registering. Your partner then needs to register under the “Team Partner” option while looking for the team name you have designated. Each person is required to sign their own waiver or the registration will not be complete.

  • Do not create two separate team registrations. Make sure the second (Partner) person registering looks for the team name that is already established. Otherwise you will pay twice! Know ahead of time who is the Captain and who is the Partner!

  • The Meister category is only for expert level paddlers wishing to paddle both races. There is a $20 additional fee per person. Meister teams must be the same two paddlers using the same boat for both races. Tandem, solo paddlers and SUP paddlers must use the same boat/board.

  • All registrations include a $10 insurance fee and those registered must sign the insurance waiver on the registration site or you won’t be allowed to race.

  • Registration closes Wednesday, April 15th at 11:59PM.

  • You will be emailed your start time by Friday 4/17 at 3PM. Start times are based on the chronological order that registrations were received other than Meister racers who will start last in the Classic Race.

  • Racers will start at 30 second intervals.

  • If you miss your assigned start time you must wait until the start official allows you to enter the water. This could be soon after you arrive at the start line or it may be after all other racers have started. Racers who miss their start will not be allowed to interfere with other racer's timely, safe, scheduled starts. Please note that your original start time starts whether you are ready to go in your boat or if you are still getting set to go.

  • All Meisters will start the Classic Race after all other Classic classes have been started to allow time to rest and to coordinate shuttles.


Race Bibs

  • Race bib pickups for the Classic will be at the Classic start line in Huntington from 9AM to 11AM. Expert racer bibs will be available at the Knightville Dam start line at 8:30AM.

  • The race bibs are single use. There is no need to turn them in at the end of the race – keep them as a souvenir, just don’t litter. Each tandem boat will have two numbers. Each paddler must wear a bib attached to the FRONT of their PFD. Solo paddlers and kayakers must attach their numbers to both the front and back of their PFD.


Parking for Racers

You need to drop off your boat at the starting area for your selected race. You then need to park your vehicle at Strathmore Park as there is no parking near the finish line because of Woronoco Road being closed down. We will bus you back to the Park once you finish the race. It is your responsibility to find a way back to the starting area after parking your car. Try to set up personal shuttles ahead of time with other racers or friends.


NOTE: Woronoco Road is currently closed due to Strathmore Paper Mill structural integrity concerns so there is no parking of vehicles along Woronoco Road. All cars must be parked in Strathmore Park. Buses will transport you back to the park once you finish the race. Trailers will transport your canoe, kayak or SUP back to the park and drop them off near the pavilion to be picked up by you.


Finish Line Protocol for Personal Boat Pickup or Taking the Shuttle to Strathmore Park

There are two options for loading your boats and getting to Strathmore Park.

  1. If you are being picked up, call your support vehicle to come pick you and your boat up in the “Self Pickup” loading zone once you arrive at the finish line. Drivers should park in the designated “Self Pickup” zone on the right hand (river) side of Woronoco Road up hill from the finish line as you are heading towards Rt. 20. Load your boat and drive to Strathmore Park for the awards ceremony. There is limited “support driver” parking along Woronoco Road so please be quick with loading boats and exiting. Drivers must remain with their vehicles. They CANNOT leave their vehicle to watch the race or meet their racer.

  2. If you are parked in Strathmore Park and planning to use the bus shuttle, leave your boat at the trailer shuttle loading zone at the finish line and take one of the school buses to Strathmore Park to where your vehicle is parked. Your boat will be taken by trailer to the park where you will pick it up to load on your vehicle.

  3. No spectators are allowed on the steel bridge to watch finishers. This is a narrow bridge which must be kept open for the residents who live on the other side of the river and to allow emergency vehicles to cross unimpeded. Please adhere to this regulation.


Note: Paddlers and spectators: please honor all NO PARKING signs along Rte 20. You will be ticketed unless you are parked in a designated spot.


Rules

  • You must race at your designated start time.

  • If you want to race in your boat with a group of friends or family in their boats, then coordinate all of you registering on the same day and time to receive start times close to each other. Race officials cannot alter start times once they are established.

  • Important information will be announced at pre-race meetings at Knightville and the Classic start area. Attendance is strongly encouraged. The pre-race meetings will start at 9AM for the Expert Start and 10:30AM at the Classic Start. Race meetings for the Classic Race will be ongoing as paddlers arrive for their assigned starts.

  • Every paddler is required to wear a Coast Guard-approved or ISO certified, over-the-shoulder life jacket at all times while on the water!

  • No alcohol will be allowed in and around the start area of both races or at Strathmore Park. In the interest of safety we ask that all paddlers and spectators refrain from the use of alcohol before, during or after the races.


Safety

  • The Westfield River Classic Race contains Class 2 rapids and has several challenging sections including the Hill & Dale Rapids which is rated as Class 3. There is a marked bypass around these rapids. The Expert Race has a much higher level of paddling difficulty with some Class 3 rapids. The Expert Race is for experienced whitewater paddlers only. If you have never swum rapids and have never self rescued your boat after capsizing, you do not belong in the Expert Race. There is no support for this race and no one positioned to help you. This is truly an expert race only!

  • If you have never paddled whitewater before, you should not attempt either race unless you are an experienced flat water paddler with the correct whitewater boats and equipment as well as the proper clothing/wetsuit/drysuit to protect you against cold water immersion. You should plan to attend one of our two clinics for instruction on how to paddle rapids and what to wear for proper paddling clothing.

  • If you are new to whitewater we STRONGLY suggest attending one of the two race clinics and learn from experts on what to expect on the course. We have had class winners who attended both clinics and increased their skills immeasurably.

  • Every paddler is required to wear a Coast Guard-approved or ISO certified, over-the-shoulder life jacket.

  • Helmets are mandatory for all kayakers and SUP paddlers, and recommended for all other boats.

  • 8’ tie down ropes on the bow and stern of canoes as well as grab loops on kayaks are required to help with boat rescues in the event of capsizes.

  • We STRONGLY recommend that all open boats have flotation devices attached. This can be in the form of professional canoe/kayak air bags, truck inner tubes or styrofoam blocks secured inside the boat. This will absolutely help you and others self rescue your boat if you go over.

  • It is every paddlers responsibility to look out for other paddlers needing help or rescue. See someone in distress? Give aid to those in need.

  • Please ensure your boat hull is clean to avoid introducing invasive plants to the river.


Awards and Race Celebration

  • Strathmore Park off of Rt. 20 one mile upstream of the Classic Race finish line is the post-race venue.

  • Awards will be distributed at approximately 3:00 PM once all racers are accounted for.

  • Strathmore Park has a large pavilion and restroom facilities.

  • Racers, family, and friends are all welcome.

  • There will be two food trucks. Please bring a garbage bag with you and be sure to take your trash out. We want to leave the river and Strathmore Park as pristine as we found them.

  • Alcohol is NOT permitted in Strathmore Park per regulations of the Town of Russell and the Russell Police.


A Note on Assumed Personal Risk

Paddling whitewater in early spring conditions with cold water and chilly air temperatures is an inherently risky undertaking that assumes personal responsibility and acceptance for all risks encountered while paddling rapids and the constant risk of capsizing. You are responsible for your own level of personal fitness and any heath conditions that would prevent you from undertaking the physical exertion of the race and the shock of entering cold water if you capsize.


You should think carefully about your decision to register for this race if you have never paddled whitewater before. It is important to realize that despite all of the safety measures the race organizers have in place, they cannot guarantee your total safety from injury or worse once you set off on the water on your own. This is not a controlled environment and your safety cannot be guaranteed by race officials.


Race officials apply to the Army Corp of Engineers for a specific water release from Knightville Dam but river conditions are always changing that are out of the race officials' control with varying water levels, unknown and hidden obstructions such as rocks and logs, and changing severity of rapids. It is important to note that water flowing in from the West Branch of the Westfield is not controllable and it can rise and fall quickly based on the amount of rain fall and snow melt upstream. The West Branch can influence how much water is in the main branch.


Outdoor adventure outings including paddling whitewater rapids requires physical conditioning, experience, knowledge, prior whitewater paddling instruction, proper protective clothing and footwear to guard against cold water/air exposure. Canoe and kayaks designed for whitewater are recommended to be outfitted with air bags/flotation devices. Kayakers and SUP paddlers are required to wear approved whitewater helmets. Canoeists should carry spare paddles, bailers, and have 8’ painters on each end of the canoe and grab loops on kayaks. You must be comfortable with self rescue of yourself, your partner and your boat if you capsize as there probably won’t be anyone around to render assistance if you need help. The Expert Race is only for experienced whitewater paddlers who are able to self rescue if they capsize.


If you are questioning your ability to safely navigate this river because of any of the previously mentioned points, you should not register for this race. This event is not for first time beginner paddlers. Please read the article on hypothermia that is attached to the race website.


Cooperation and Assistance

Everyone’s cooperation is needed to make sure the races and the awards ceremony runs as smoothly as possible. Let’s make sure everyone has a good time and that the race continues its historic history. Please remember that it is your responsibility as a paddler to render assistance to other boaters who are in need of help or rescue on the river as you approach them.


Send questions to: races@westfieldriver.org


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