FCPA/K2N Blueberry Slide Event 2025

Date:  Saturday  --  January 25, 2025

Time:  9:00 am Registration -- 10:00 am Start

Location:  Lake Hernando Park -- 3699 E Orange Dr, Hernando, FL 34442

Come join the Florida Competition Paddlers Association for the Blueberry Slide on Saturday January 25, 2025. This race has long and short course options and is open to all paddle craft. The race is free.  There's plenty of free parking and easy launch access at Lake Hernando Park.

The event starts and finishes at Lake Hernando Park which is located just off Rte 41 in Hernando, FL, just north of Inverness.  Long course paddlers will line up at the no wake markers, paddle NE across Lake Hernando, turn right into a series of channels leading to the airboat Slide at Turner Camp Road, make a counter-clockwise island turn, then return for a total round-trip distance of approx 11.3 miles.  Short course paddlers will also line up at the no wake markers, paddle NE across Lake Hernando, turn right into the same channels leading to Blueberry Hill, make a counter-clockwise mid-channel turn, then return for a total round-trip distance of approx 6.6 miles.  

Lake Hernando is the main lake in the Hernando Pool of the Tsala Apopka chain of lakes.  These lakes, along with the Inverness Pool and Floral City Pool, are used to manage water levels in the Withlacoochee River watershed.  Lake Hernando Park is maintained by Citrus County and is free to the public. There are restrooms and a grass beach launch area.

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

All Competitors MUST also check in with the timer at the completion of the race, to make sure that your finish has been recorded.

POC:  Robert Norman, robertnorman142@yahoo.com

The FCPA was formed in 1976 to coordinate and promote paddle sport racing in Florida.  The FCPA hosts approximately fourteen free recreational events 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 events are very high-stake affairs, with 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 Event) in December.  Divisions are established using the USCA age/gender designations and the following boat classifications:

Boat Classifications
Paddle with your hands – Prone
Paddle while standing – Paddleboard (SUP)
Paddle while sitting:
With two-blade paddle – Kayak (K)
With single-blade paddle – Canoe (C)
Outrigger or Highkneel Canoe – Unlimited Canoe (OC)

USCA Age Classes
Junior (J) - <18
Open (O) – 18-39
Master (M) – 40-49
Senior (S) - 50-59
Veteran 1 (V1) - 60-64
Veteran 2 (V2) - 65-69
Grand Veteran 1 (GV1) - 70-74
Grand Veteran 2 (GV2) - 75-79
Great Grand Veteran 1 (GGV1) – 80-84
Great Grand Veteran 2 (GGV2) – 85+

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