PORTS
7
Whatever floats your pumpkin
TUALATIN COMMMONS HOSTS 14TH ANNUAL WEST COAST GIANT PUMPKIN REGATTA
STORY AND PHOTOS BY ALI MILLER
THE CLACKAMAS PRINT
What do you get when you combine over an inch of rain,
gusting winds, chilly temperatures and 14 giant pumpkins
on a-lake? The 14th annual West Coast Giant Pumpkin
Regatta in Tualatin.
Every year in October, Tualatin and the Pacific Giant
Vegetable Growers team up to pull off a race o f costumed
paddlers in the Tualatin Commons, a lake in the center of
apartments, offices and restaurants. Forklifts shuttle the
massive gourds to the inspection and weigh in before the
races start. All the pumpkins weigh around half a ton prior
to their preparation. The soon-to-be boats are gently lowered
into the lake where volunteers spin the pumpkins to see
which side naturally sits upright. They are then cut open,
the seeds are carefully removed for next, year’s crop and
the innards are scooped out. Spectators were able to sit in
the giant pumpkins for photo opportunities, the chaperones
helping them into the bellies o f the pumpkins.
Despite the heavy rains and wind gusts people flocked to
the festival while trying to stay dry under umbrellas. People
were enjoying the activities scattered around the lake, while
sipping free hot chocolate in hand. The Regatta also had
many other options such as a costume contest, mini-golf
driving range and pumpkin pie eating contest.
The Regatta was broken up into five heats ranging in
size from seven to 14 paddlers. The course ran as a down-
and-back race from the start line around a pylon and back
to the starting line. The first heat was made up of growers,
and all but one paddler made it back to the finish line. One
pumpkin sank and the paddler hitched a ride back to the
staging area from a safety kayaker.
The second heat was local sponsors, and the objective
of the race was for each paddler to collect a yellow, green
and blue ball from the floating pumpkins scattered around
the course to win. Hillsboro Hops Mark Miller and Santa of
The Santa Project were among the paddlers. Miller became
tangled in the blue ball buckets rigging and attempted to
detangle him self as he lost what little lead he had.
Another paddler went into the lake, and M iller’s attempt
at untangling himself was unknowingly unsuccessful as the
crowd let him know he was dragging the blue ball station.
Other paddlers were meanwhile tossing balls to one another
in a show of solidarity, Santa constantly held dead last but
stole the show by getting everyone chanting “Santa, Santa,
Santa!” He took the opportunity to promote his cause, The
Santa Project, and even paused to take selfies in the middle
o f the race. The announcer had to remind Santa that his
pumpkin was needed for the next race and he needed to
get back to paddling.
The third heat was Cops v. Firefighters, a traditional
American battle. The objective was for every team member
to get a rubber duckie from across the lake and get back
to the finish line. The cops wore t-shirts saying “Cops ...
because firemen need heroes too.” The cops won the race
and both teams made it out without pumpkin casualties.
The rain began to slam down during the fourth and most
dramatic heat. The heat consisted of community members
and lottery-drawing winners. Tonya Zwahlen, a graduate of
Clackamas Community College and a member of the group
Oregon W hitewater Association, a rafting and kayaking
group said that when she gets on the water all her stress
just falls away.
Zwahlen dedicated her race to Vic LeGall, another member
o f OWA who passed away Monday, Oct. 15.
“Vic was a beautiful selfless human, beloved in our
community,” said Zwahlen.
Zwahlen’s goal for herself was to have fun and stay afloat,
but she believed she could win her heat. Qne paddler lost
his pumpkin early in the race but unlike others he refused
to give up and he began to swim with his pumpkin. A safety
kayaker kept near him in case of trouble, while the crowd
cheered enthusiastically.
Zwahlen, dressed as Pippi Longstocking, remained in
first place most of her heat, but was overtaken on the last
stretch o f the race. The paddler-turned swimmer continued
to push and pull to almost the very end, and was awarded
the overall good sportsman award.
The final heat was highlighted by one paddler who
struggled to get going but refused to give up. The crowd
cheered him on as he started gaining ground on the heat.
Despite his best efforts he finished last.
Laura H alcom e and her daughter Lisa enjoyed the
festivities that the Regatta offered.
Laura Halcome was visiting from California and watched
the regatta for the first time.
“I thought it was great,” she said.
Lisa Halcome echoed that. “It was a ton of fun, I wish
w e’d gotten here e a rlie r,s h e said.
“K/f was a beautiful self less
human beloved in our
community.”
- Tanya Zwahlen
On Oct. 21 at the Tualatin Commons, racers fiercly battle for victory in their pumkins.
Clackamas Print ------------------------------ -------------------------
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_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ October 25, 2017