Westfield River Wildwater Races

Westfield River Wildwater Races The Westfield River Wildwater Races, started in 1954, is a premier whitewater canoe, kayak & SUP race.

Initiated as a bar bet, it is an annual hilltown tradition for Russell, Huntington and Western Mass communities with paddlers throughout New England!

It was nice to see the 71st Westfield River Wildwater Races being recapped in this week’s issue of the Country Journal! ...
05/10/2026

It was nice to see the 71st Westfield River Wildwater Races being recapped in this week’s issue of the Country Journal! What a day it was with 282 paddlers in kayaks, canoes and SUP’s. We had 22 boats in the Expert Race and 125 boats in the Classic Race.

Planning has already started for the 72nd running of the races in 2027 which will take place on Saturday, April 17th. The biggest change with the race classes will be the SUP’s which will now feature a female and male option. There has been substantial growth in the combined SUP class and it is now large enough to split apart into two classes, both in the Expert and Classic Races. Westfield River Watershed Association New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association Wild & Scenic Westfield River Russell - Montgomery Police Department Country Journal John DeFeo Sue Vollrath Appalachian Mountain Club Western Massachusetts Chapter Amr Abdelmonem Erik Jones SYOTR Kristine Dow Mike Neilsen PaddleStats Barbara Dowd Huntington Fire Department MA John Preble Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Huntington Police Department Eric Jones Harry Rock James Paleologopoulos Scott Ide Julianne Thibodeau Krutka

05/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2026 Westfield River Wildwater Races! Here is a video filled with photos from the Expert Race, the Classic Race and Hill ‘n Dale to remind you of the fun you had! We hope to see you again on Saturday, April 17th in 2027! Harry Rock, Race Director. Westfield River Wildwater Races Westfield River Watershed Association New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association Wild & Scenic Westfield River Russell - Montgomery Police Department Country Journal John DeFeo Amr Abdelmonem Sue Vollrath’s Appalachian Mountain Club Western Massachusetts Chapter Erik Jones SYOTR Kristine Dow Mike Neilsen PaddleStats Huntington Fire Department MA John Preble Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Laurie Martell Huntington Police Department Eric Jones Barbara Dowd James Paleologopoulos Scott Ide Julianne Thibodeau Krutka @

A number of people complemented us on the design on this year’s Westfield River Wildwater Races t’shirt that we were sel...
04/29/2026

A number of people complemented us on the design on this year’s Westfield River Wildwater Races t’shirt that we were selling. The design was taken from an original Westfield River Wildwater Race t’shirt design in 1988 by artist Jon “Scare” Keay. Jon and his wife Denise Avore Keay shown in the photo below were very involved in the races in the 1980’s and early 1990’s as volunteers and competitors. They still live in Huntington. Jon was creating the race designs for a number of years for Race Director Jeffrey DeFeo at the time. Denise was an early female competitor during a time when the races were dominated by men. Overtime she teamed up with another early female racer Kathy Engwer to form what we think is the first all female paddling team for the Westfield Races. If anyone knows differently please let us know! Denise admits to not knowing much about whitewater paddling at the time but her attitude was, let’s go and figure it out. Oh to be young again!

Sadly Jon is now in poor health and Denise wanted to donate the shirt design and production costs as a tribute to him and his involvement with the races over the years. A big thank you to the two of them and for their continued commitment to these historic races! We recognize and honor their contributions to the races in those earlier years! Harry Rock, Race Director Westfield River Watershed Association Wild & Scenic Westfield River New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association Russell - Montgomery Police Department Country Journal John DeFeo Amr Abdelmonem Appalachian Mountain Club Western Massachusetts Chapter Sue Vollrath Erik Jones Barbara Dowd SYOTR Kristine Dow Mike Neilsen PaddleStats John Preble Huntington Fire Department MA Julianne Thibodeau Krutka Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Eric Jones James Paleologopoulos Scott Ide Huntington Police Department Laurie Martell

Here are some of the 71st Westfield River Wildwater Races photos from our 2nd professional photographer Marc St. Onge wh...
04/27/2026

Here are some of the 71st Westfield River Wildwater Races photos from our 2nd professional photographer Marc St. Onge who was roving the river from the clinics weeks earlier to the Expert Race to the Classic Race staging area and race, to the awards ceremony! Marc has been covering our races for years for the newspapers and this is the second time he has hired by the races to provide photos for the paddlers at no charge. I have posted some of his photo’s off his link copied below which you are free to peruse and download anything you would like at no charge.

https://saintongephotography.shootproof.com/Race2026

Thanks to the 282 paddlers who made this race such a success! We will see you on Saturday, April 17th in 2027!

Harry Rock, Race Director
71st Westfield River Wildwater Races

Westfield River Watershed Association Wild & Scenic Westfield RiverNew England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association Russell - Montgomery Police Department Country Journal John DeFeo Amr Abdelmonem Appalachian Mountain Club Western Massachusetts Chapter Sue Vollrath Erik Jones Barbara Dowd SYOTR Kristine Dow Mike Neilsen PaddleStats
John Preble Huntington Fire Department MA Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Eric Jones James Paleologopoulos Scott Ide Julianne Thibodeau Krutka

One of the goals of the 71st Westfield River Wildwater Races was to hire two professional photographers to take photos o...
04/26/2026

One of the goals of the 71st Westfield River Wildwater Races was to hire two professional photographers to take photos of the entire day and share those for free with each of our 282 competitors. Some of the most dramatic shots traditionally are those in the Hill ‘n Dale rapid with the big waves! And this year didn’t disappoint! Many of you provided some dramatic and memorable carnage as you attempted to make it through that infamous rapid, much to the delight of the crowd who roared and cheered as you capsized or submarined your way down the rapid. Special thanks to our team of rescue kayakers at the bottom who helped pull you in and push your boats to shore and to the Russell Fire personnel who were tossing the throw bags to you as you floated by.

I have posted some of the drama in this Facebook post but the two links below thanks to photographer Cindy Bronson includes all of the photos of the day from that historic rapid. You are welcome to open the link and take whatever you would like at no cost.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18LyBEtuqv3v6LV4Skddm0BHEQYHl9jQr?usp=sharing
or
https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/eLRU5JtdQKmQ80lOYhkeXA.eIY0QltgPqly0nDaFyyjj7

Our second photographer was the rover covering the start lines and other sections of the river. Marc St. Onge has been covering our races for years and always has outstanding photographs. I hope you enjoy them and again, you are welcome to help yourself to the photos!

https://saintongephotography.shootproof.com/Race2026

Harry Rock, Race Director
71st Westfield River Wildwater Races
Westfield River Watershed Association Wild & Scenic Westfield River New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association Russell - Montgomery Police Department Country Journal John DeFeo Amr Abdelmonem Sue Vollrath Appalachian Mountain Club Western Massachusetts Chapter Erik Jones SYOTR Kristine Dow Mike Neilsen PaddleStats Huntington Fire Department MA John Preble Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Eric Jones Barbara Dowd James Paleologopoulos Scott Ide Julianne Thibodeau Krutka Jahala Sara Dufort Margaret Terkelsen Megan Ellinger Illtyd Fernandez Amr Hafez

Great coverage in the Country Journal this week for the Westfield River Wildwater Races! Thanks Wendy Long for the artic...
04/24/2026

Great coverage in the Country Journal this week for the Westfield River Wildwater Races! Thanks Wendy Long for the article! Westfield River Watershed Association New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association Wild & Scenic Westfield River Russell - Montgomery Police Department Jeffrey DeFeo Country Journal Jim Miller John DeFeo Amr Abdelmonem Appalachian Mountain Club Western Massachusetts Chapter Sue Vollrath Erik Jones SYOTR Kristine Dow Mike Neilsen PaddleStats Huntington Fire Department MA John Preble Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Harry Rock Eric Jones Barbara Dowd James Paleologopoulos Scott Ide Megan Ellinger Jahala Sara Dufort

04/24/2026

Here is a thank you message from Westfield River Wildwater Races Race Director Harry Rock. To all of our volunteers, sponsors, supporters, and community partners, thanks to all of you for your support of the 71st Westfield River Wildwater Races. The collective effort and cooperation of everyone is what made this race so successful! I am grateful to each and everyone of you!

We had 282 paddlers from six states with two separate entries from Canada. There were 22 canoes, kayaks, SUP’s in the Expert Race and 137 canoes, kayaks and SUP’s in the Classic Race. In the video I mention 50 boats in the Classic Race but afterwards I realized I didn’t have everything totaled yet (sorry). An increasing class is the SUP with 14 entries. Next year we will create two separate SUP classes for males and females as this category is growing each year.

Race day in 2027 will be on Saturday, April 17th so mark your calendars now. We will look forward to welcoming you back to the beautiful, the exciting, the memorable, the wild & scenic Westfield River! Westfield River Watershed Association New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association Wild & Scenic Westfield River Russell - Montgomery Police Department Jeffrey DeFeo Country Journal Jim Miller John DeFeo Amr Abdelmonem Appalachian Mountain Club Western Massachusetts Chapter Sue Vollrath Erik Jones SYOTR Kristine Dow Mike Neilsen PaddleStats Huntington Fire Department MA John Preble Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Eric Jones Barbara Dowd James Paleologopoulos Scott Ide

Great coverage for the Westfield River Wildwater Races in the Westfield News! Thanks reporter Amy Porter! What a fabulou...
04/22/2026

Great coverage for the Westfield River Wildwater Races in the Westfield News! Thanks reporter Amy Porter!

What a fabulous day we had with everyone involved having a terrific time in the 71st running of these historic races! Thank you to all of our competitors, volunteers, sponsors, donors, community partners and others for helping make this historic event so successful! Westfield River Watershed Association New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association Wild & Scenic Westfield River Russell - Montgomery Police Department Jeffrey DeFeo Country Journal Jim Miller John DeFeo Amr Abdelmonem Appalachian Mountain Club Western Massachusetts Chapter Sue Vollrath Erik Jones SYOTR Kristine Dow Mike Neilsen PaddleStats John Preble Huntington Fire Department MA Scott Ide Harry Rock Eric Jones Barbara Dowd James Paleologopoulos Western Mass Hilltown Hikers

What a fantastic day we had for the 71st Westfield River Wildwater Races on Saturday, April 18th! Months of planning pai...
04/20/2026

What a fantastic day we had for the 71st Westfield River Wildwater Races on Saturday, April 18th! Months of planning paid off with our all volunteer team and we had a flawless day with the Expert Race and the Classic Race. Our final count on racers was 282 with representation from seven states and Canada. The coordination that takes place between the towns of Russell and Huntington with police departments, fire departments, select boards, ambulance, state agencies, MEMA and community partners is significant but the positive cooperation between everyone makes this historic event possible. I want to thank everyone involved including our incredible team of dedicated volunteers.

Special thanks goes out to Heather Wyman Aieta who has done a huge job recruiting, training and positioning our team of 60 volunteers. Without Heather’s efforts, this race would not be possible. The other person who is key to our success is Tom Condon who is our treasurer. He keeps track of our income as well as doing an amazing job of paying our bills within a week of receiving invoices. This race could not happen without them.

Thank you to all of the racers who participated! Thanks for registering and keeping this Hilltown tradition alive! We hope you all had a great time! Our goal was to see a smile on your face at the start line, to see a smile on your face at the finish line and hope that you were filled with happy memories and stories about your experience to be shared with family and friends. We hope you will come back next year! Harry Rock, Race Director Westfield River Watershed Association Wild & Scenic Westfield River New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association Russell - Montgomery Police Department Jeffrey DeFeo Country Journal Jim Miller John DeFeo Amr Abdelmonem Appalachian Mountain Club Western Massachusetts Chapter Erik Jones Sue Vollrath Tim Allen Illtyd Fernandez Barbara Dowd SYOTR Kristine Dow Mike Neilsen PaddleStats Eric Jones Huntington Fire Department MA Julianne Thibodeau Krutka Margaret Terkelsen Karen McTaggart Elizabeth Massa Jahala Sara Dufort

Are we ready for the 71st Westfield River Wildwater Races? You bet we are! After eight months of planning, fundraising, ...
04/18/2026

Are we ready for the 71st Westfield River Wildwater Races? You bet we are! After eight months of planning, fundraising, applying for multiple permits, meetings with town (2) officials, police, fire and ambulance, recruiting volunteers, making trophies, ordering shirts and hats, and placing porta-potties and trash barrels along the river from Knightville Dam to Woronoco, we are ready to welcome close to 300 paddlers to one of the most pristine and beautiful rivers anywhere, the Wild and Scenic Westfield! Race day is tomorrow, Saturday, April 18th! It seemed so far away months ago and then suddenly it is here!

As I always say, we want paddlers starting with a smile on their face, finishing with a smile their face, and filled with happy memories that will bring them back next year wanting more! I am so grateful to all of our volunteers for their willingness to help and make this amazing event a reality. Our community partners and our sponsors have been so supporting helping to ensure this historic hilltown tradition continues on.

Congratulations to all of the racers! We hope you have an absolutely fabulous time but always, always, always focus on your safety and the safety of those around you! By looking out for each other, we can ensure that we will all be back next year!

Have an exciting and memorable race day everyone! We are excited that it is here! The tradition continues with the welcoming of spring with the annual Westfield River Wildwater Races!

Harry Rock, Race Director

Westfield River Watershed Association Wild & Scenic Westfield River New England Canoe and Kayak Racing AssociationRussell - Montgomery Police Department Jeffrey DeFeo Country Journal Jim Miller John DeFeo Amr Abdelmonem Appalachian Mountain Club Western Massachusetts Chapter Sue Vollrath Erik Jones Barbara Dowd Tim Allen Illtyd Fernandez SYOTR Kristine Dow Mike Neilsen Eric Jones PaddleStats

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