Camp Cup

The world’s largest youth paddling event.

July 15 & 16,2019

Nantahala Outdoor Center, North Carolina

Over 100 young paddlers come from across the country for two days of noncompetitive whitewater paddling. Summer camps with great paddling programs come to the Nantahala River to participate in a Downriver Race, Freestyle Throwdown, Slalom Race, Ice Cream Social, Pizza Party, Free Raffle, and more.

Schedule

Monday:

• 10:00am – Registration
• 11:00am-12:00pm – Free practice in the gates and at the Falls
• 12:30-4:00pm – Coaching sessions in Freestyle, Slalom, Downriver, and River Safety
• 4:00-5:00pm – Hometown Throwdown-style freestyle event at the NOC wave
• 5:00-6:00pm – Ice Cream Social at Endless River Adventures

Tuesday:

• 10:00am – Registration
• 11am-12pm – First set of runs
• 12:00-1pm – Pizza lunch provided by NOC and Counselor Cup
• 1:00-3:00pm – Second set of runs and Rolling Challenge
• 3:00-4:00pm – Closing ceremonies, free raffle and t-shirts!

register for camp cup

To register your camp and campers for the Camp Cup, please visit the official event page.

register now

All participants and volunteers will need to have event membership with the American Canoe Association. Thanks to a generous donation from the ACA, event membership is free for the Camp Cup. Alzar School recommends that camps help make sure every participant gets a t-shirt by contributing $5/person (camper and staff) that attends. Many camps, river companies, and other organizations donate to make the event possible.

• ACA Waiver & Release of Liability for adults
• ACA Waiver & Release of Liability for minors

For more information or to check out photos from past summers visit our Facebook event page.

event partners

This event is only possible with the support of national agencies, local outfitters, outdoor retail companies, and participating camps. These partners make it the fantastic event it has become.

Want to become a partner for this amazing event for more than 100 young paddlers? Email campcup@alzarschool.org.

History

In the 90’s, Kent Ford (an Alzar School Advisory Committee member) started Camp Cup as a way to bring together the many camps of Western North Carolina. Sometime around 2001, the event fizzled, but Alzar School was keen to bring it back to life in 2008, arranging a day of slalom and downriver races for almost 90 young paddlers. In 2009, the Camp Cup became a two-day event with guest coaches training campers in the gates and in Nanty Falls on the first day. That year attracted 112 participants. The growth continued through 2010 and 2011 with more than 140 young paddlers converging at the Nantahala for two more great events.

Each year, the event evolves to make it even more fun. In 2011, Endless River Adventures hosted an ice cream social for camps at their headquarters. The event won ACA Sanctioned Event of the Year in 2010. Camp Cup continues to be an awesome annual event!