RegattaCentral

NEW WEB SITE:  http://www.headoftheoklahoma.com

The Head of the Oklahoma is an innovative Centennial event that combines beauty and pageantry of the sport of rowing and the adrenaline-fueled intensity of sprint racing in a unique two-day festival.  The Head of the Oklahoma will be held on September 30 – October 1 and will feature several exciting new components and crews from across the nation.  The featured event for the 2006 Head of the Oklahoma is the introduction of night racing on the Oklahoma River.  The Head of the Oklahoma will be the first regatta in the United States to feature night racing.  Four 100 foot light arms will extend over the Oklahoma River sprint course to create a dramatic new environment for racing.

The Head of the Oklahoma will also feature:
•    a new art show overlooking the Oklahoma River
•    expanded children’s activity area with rides and exhibits
•    “The Regatta Experience” educational entrance
•    a picnic area overlooking the finish line
•    wine tasting
•    premium seating along the sprint course and two VIP areas with river shuttles
•    an expansive expo tent with commemorative gifts and delicious food from popular local eateries
•    The Regatta Walk family fitness activity with special prizes for all finishers
•    a kayaking and interactive area for guests
•    two stages featuring live music and dance performances
•    roving entertainers
•    a evening concert
•    ample free parking and shuttles
•    tours of the beautiful new $3.5 million Chesapeake Boathouse.

The Head of the Oklahoma features a challenging 2.5 mile head race course.  Beginning near the west edge of the basin, the head race course traverses through several bridges and turns before straightening midway through the course at Regatta Park for a straight 2000 meter path to the finish line.  The head racing will feature events for collegiate, masters, and juniors crews involving single, double, pair, four, quad, and eight style racing shells.  The top three finishers from each head race event will be awarded medals.  Rowers will also qualify in the head race event to compete in the 500 meter super sprint events.

The 500 meter sprints will take place following the head race events on both Saturday and Sunday.  The Saturday 500 meter “Nightsprints” will occur in the evening under the lights.  Top finishers in the 500 meter super sprint will be presented with commemorative custom awards.  The excitement of the night 500 meter super sprints will be complemented by fireworks, play-by-play commentary, spotlights, and more to create an energized environment for the competitors and spectators.

PRACTICE: The Oklahoma River head race course is open for practice from 8:00am to1:00pm on Saturday, September 30. The course will be open from 9:00am to 7:00pm on Friday, September 29.

BOAT STAGING: Please keep all boats and oars in the designated staging areas and clear of marked pathways and docks.  All boat staging will occur around the Chesapeake Boathouse and the canal area.  A limited number of a-frame racks will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

REGISTRATION AND WEIGH-INS: Registration and weigh-ins will take place at the Regatta Registration area located in the east end of the Chesapeake Boathouse. Packets will be distributed and weigh-ins completed on Saturday between 9:00am to 12:00pm.  Packets may also be picked up from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on Friday at the boathouse. 

TRAILER PARKING: Trailer parking will occur in designated areas along Byers Avenue and in the Regatta Park parking lot.

BUS/ATHLETE PARKING: Free bus and athlete parking will be located in designated grass lots east of the Chesapeake Boathouse.  Parking in these designated areas is limited to a first-come, first–serve basis.  Once designated lots are full, athletes will be directed to public parking.

ENTRY FEES:  8+, $60.00; 4+, $50.00; 4x, $45.00; 2x/2-, $35.00; 1x, $25.00

The entry fees will provide athletes access to all premium regatta activities (see below).

REGISTRATION: All regatta registration will take place utilizing Regatta Central.  Entries will open Monday, August 7th and will close Friday, September 22nd at midnight.  Please see www.regattacentral.com for registration information.

ATHLETE DINNER: The Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce will host a FREE athlete dinner in Regatta Park that will be available to athletes from 4:00pm to 9:00pm at the pavilion inside Regatta Park. The dinner will feature pasta, salad, bread, and drinks.

CHAPEL SERVICE: A special church service will be presented by OCU on the Chesapeake Boathouse stage area of Regatta Park from 8:00am to 8:20am.

COACHES AND COXSWAIN MEETING: The coaches and coxswain meeting will be held promptly at 12:30pm on the Chesapeake Boathouse stage.

OPENING CEREMONIES: Opening Ceremonies will be held at 1:00pm on the Chesapeake Boathouse stage.

AWARDS: Awards will be distributed in a ceremony following the head race events each day.   Awards for the sprint races will be presented immediately following the sprint races on the Chesapeake Boathouse stage.  Special  awards will be awarded for the following categories at the conclusion of the racing on Sunday:
•    Norick Cup – All points winner for the men’s collegiate events
•    Ackerman Cup – All points winner for women’s collegiate events
•    Club All-Points -  All points winner for the top scoring rowing club based on combined results from men’s and women’s junior, open, and masters events
•    Commodore’s Cups – Winners of the men’s and women’s collegiate/club eights

A Men’s and Women’s Team Points trophy will be awarded to the collegiate teams, in doubles, pairs, fours, and eights achieve the greatest total points using the following scoring system:

Collegiate
     1st    2nd    3rd    4th    5th    6th
8+    100    80    65    55    40    0
4+    90    70    55    45    30    0
N8+    80    60    45    35    0    0
N4+    70    50    35    25    0    0
2x/-    60    40    25    15    0    0
1x    50    30    15    5    0    0

An all-point trophy will be awarded to the clubs based on their combined performance in all open, club, master, and junior events based upon the scoring matrix below:

Club
     1st    2nd    3rd    4th    5th    6th
8+    100    80    65    55    40    0
4x/+    90    70    55    45    30    0
2x/-    60    40    25    15    0    0
1x    50    30    15    5    0    0

Points will also be awarded for top finishers in the Nightsprints or Supersprints at one-half the value awarded for head race events as detailed above.