Come join the Florida Competition Paddlers Association for our Annual Great Pickle Race in Tampa Florida on Saturday, March 10, 2018.  This free race has long and short course options and is open to all paddle craft.  

Registration begins at 9:00 am and the race starts promptly at 10:00 am.  The race starts at Rotary Riverfront Park on the Hillsborough River at Fowler Ave.  Long course racers will paddle upstream to the dam just past the I-75 bridge and back for a total distance of approximately 11.4 miles.  Short course racers will paddle upstream to the watch tower and back for a total distance approximately 5 miles.  

There will be a special award for the “best pickle race outfit, hat, shirt, accessory, etc.”

Following the race, we will meet for lunch and awards at the Golden Coral located about 5 minutes west of the park (Address: 11801 N 56th St, Temple Terrace, FL 33617).  There will be an area reserved for FCPA.

Location: Rotary Riverfront Park, 11700 Terrace Point Ct, Temple Terrace, FL 33637

Registration: All competitors must register on-site 9-9:45am.  Online preregistration via PaddleGuru or Facebook is appreciated and will help us anticipate the number of participants

Start: 10:00 am

POC: Glennis Williams, ggawilliams1@gmail.com

The FCPA was formed in 1976 to coordinate and promote the sport of canoe and kayak racing in Florida.  The FCPA hosts approximately fourteen free recreational races across the state of Florida each year.  To be eligible for the annual points championship, you must be an FCPA member which costs $10 annually.  FCPA members receive a free meal at the awards banquet and a monthly email newsletter which contains a race schedule, race results, articles written by members and member classified ads.

FCPA races are very high-stake affairs, with expensive ribbons awarded to winners in each division.  Annual points champions are awarded a coveted T-shirt during the annual meeting/awards banquet (following the Silver Springs Race) in December.  Divisions are established using the USCA age/gender designations and the following boat classifications:

1.       Paddle while standing – Paddleboard

2.       Paddle while sitting:

a.       With two-blade paddle – Kayak

b.       With single-blade paddle – Canoe

                                                                           i.      Outrigger or Highkneel Canoe – Unlimited Canoe

NOTE – All participants are responsible for carrying safety equipment required by law.