White Water Mixed Doubles

The melting snows of spring swelled Vermont 's West River into a cold, tumbling torrent that lured a rugged breed of sportsman—the canoe slalomist—to Jamaica , Vt. last week for the third annual U.S. National White Water Slalom Championship. The course was set over a wild 600-yard stretch of rapids made more difficult by 16 gates through which the canoeists had to pass. The men—35 of them—had the singles competition to themselves, but a sturdy women's auxiliary of nine turned up, grasped paddles and joined the men in dashing mixed doubles eventually won by Robert and Edith McNair.

The compleat paddler, Alice Huttenbach, totes her racing gear upriver for the start of her run with Corney King.

Vermont Governor Joseph Johnson congratulates Edith McNair of Philadelphia , who with husband Bob won mixed doubles.

Smile gone now, Alice Huttenbach concentrates on guiding canoe's bow through the rapids while King steadies the stern.

Race is a family affair for Mrs. Eliot DuBois, who slings affectionate arm around her son Kinny after shooting the rapids.

Bow Paddler, Pat Love, seems to be plowing into a wall of water here, and that is exactly what she is doing. Pat and her husband Ed were dumped into the river seconds after this picture was taken, floated 50 yards until rescuers pulled them out, chilled but safe.

Submerged rocks in the river form nasty standing waves called haystacks by canoeists. Here Fred Sawyer and wife Mary Jane are nearly upset by one such stack. They remained upright, however, and took second place in the national slalom championships.

Doughty McNairs appear to be awash, but they survived this stretch of the West River and completed the course in 314 seconds to win the national mixed doubles. The McNairs represented Philadelphia 's Buck Ridge Ski Club in their taming of the West.

The Eliot DuBoises of Boston paddle into less turbulent home stretch of the course in which the slalom gates are set to test their ability to maneuver the craft precisely between openings 48 to 56 inches wide. They were good enough to capture third place.

BOURBON ON WATER: DON JUAN SAILS THE ATLANTIC