There are several new features at this year's Head of the Hooch rowing event on the riverfront.

  And one of them is an opportunity for you to try out one of the boats for yourself.

  On Friday afternoon, they are holding a Learn To Row workshop on the river.

  The hours are from noon to four.  The price is $10 & you have to pre-register at www.headofthehooch.org.  The money goes to Susan G. Komen affiliates in our area.

  A record 8,600 rowers will take part in this year's Head of the Hooch on Saturday and Sunday.

  And there are plenty of things for the public to do at the races.

HIGHLIGHTS

·         NEW: The Chattanooga Market, the region’s largest authentic outdoor local food and artistry market, will be on Riverfront Parkway near the regatta on Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm.

·         NEW: Hot air balloon rides (weather permitting, fee required)

·         NEW: “History of Rowing” booth will be offered near the all day Saturday.

·         There will be awards ceremonies throughout the day at Ross’s landing seating area.

·         The Head of the Hooch features four ‘Row for the Cure’ trophy events, which includes 870+ women rowing in pink T-shirts creating a “Sea of Pink” on the river.  Proceeds from the sponsorship of these four races, the Learn to Row event and hot-air balloon rides, will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Head of the Hooch has sponsored southeast regional events raising more than $50,000 for the fight against cancer.

·          The number of women participating in the Head of the Hooch has consistently risen over the years. At its start in the early 1980’s, only ten percent of the 300 participants were women. In 2008, 49.2% were women.  2009 marks the first year more women are competing with 53.1% of registered participants. 

·         The Head of the Hooch is more than seventy-five percent high school and college aged rowers and also features top level masters competitors. This year teams will come from thirty states and Canada. 

Where to watch the Head of the Hooch:

• Chattanooga Pier: Racing teams will stage and take out on two floating docks near the Pier. The logistics involved in getting hundreds of racing shells in and out of the water is half the show.
• Ross’ Landing Spectator Seating (Finish Line): The finish line is directly downstream of the Market St. Bridge. The race announcer will be located here, keeping spectators updated on the competition.
• The Walnut Street Bridge: The rowers will be sprinting for the finish as they pass by Maclellan Island and under the south end of the bridge.
• The Bluff View Arts District: The view from the sculpture garden overlook will allow spectators to see the teams pouring it on from upstream.
• The Tennessee Riverpark: From the Chattanooga Rowing Center to the Boathouse Restaurant, the teams will come very close to the south shore as they make their last turn onto the final straightaway. Expect to hear lots of grunting, yelling, and maybe some salty language from the coxswains.
• Coolidge Park (North Shore): Though most of the racing action will be along the south shore of the river, the teams will be rowing upstream to the start along the north shore.