2025 Live Like Maria Classic & US Freestyle National Championships

Description

The Live Like Maria Freestyle Classic and the US Freestyle National Championships return to the Nantahala Gorge this fall! Hosted by the Nantahala Outdoor Center and the ACA USA Freestyle Organization, this exciting event will take place October 3–5.

Whether you’re in it for fun or aiming for the title of National Champion, this event welcomes K1, C1, and OC1 paddlers—from first-time competitors to seasoned pros.

• Entry Fee: $40 ($50 for non-ACA members)
• Proceeds support the event and the USA Freestyle Team

Additional details on logistics and lodging are available in the competition registration.

Join paddlers from across the country and showcase your skills in the Nantahala River Playhole—we can’t wait to see you there!

Registration is simple – Registration closes on October the 1st. The event fee covers all classes, for example if you want to compete in both the K1 Senior and C1 Senior classes you can do that just by paying the single-entry fee of $40. When it comes to multiple classes you cannot enter two different age group classes – by way of example you are a Cadet then you enter the Cadet classes but you cannot enter both K1 Junior and K1 Cadet.

To compete you must have an active ACA Membership or purchase an event membership on the day of the event. If you do not have an ACA number a per event fee of $10 will be collected.

Schedule

Official heats and start times will be posted at the event during practice day which will be Friday October 3rd. The competition will take place on Saturday the 4th and Sunday the 5th.

• Friday October 3rd: Practice Day – river releases from 10am to 3pm (take the water about 2 hours to reach the feature)
• Saturday October 4th: Competition day with a target of starting the first class on or around 11:30 am. Some classes may also have finals on this day. River releases from 9 am to 5pm (takes water about 2 hours to reach the feature).
• Sunday October 5th: Finals Day: Wrap up the competition with an exciting day of finals. River releases from 10 am to 3 pm (takes water about 2 hours to reach the feature)

Classes:

• Men K1 Senior
• Women K1 Senior
• Men K1 Junior
• Women K1 Junior
• Men K1 Cadet
• Women K1 Cadet
• Men C1 Senior
• Women C1 Senior
• Men C1 Junior
• Women C1 Junior
• Open OC1