| News | Race Schedule | Race Descriptions |
| Date | Race | Location | Event | Organizer/Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 4-5 | Durango Slalom & Training Camp and Senior Team Trial Qualifier (Colorado High School Whitewater Race) website |
Animas River, Durango, CO | Slalom | Durango Whitewater, Helen Kunz |
| April 12-13 | Glenwood Wildwater |
Colorado River, Glenwood Springs, CO | Wildwater | Blue Herons of Grand Junction, Dennis Adams |
| April 18-20 | Spring Icebreaker Race (description, website) |
Clear Creek Whitewater Park, Golden, CO | Slalom (Sat), Polo, Rodeo (Sun) | Colorado School of Mines, Dave Brokering and Derk Slottow |
| April 18-20 | CRMS Carbondale Race (Colorado High School Whitewater Race Series) (description, website) |
Roaring Fork, Carbondale, CO | Downriver (Fri), Slalom (Sat), Freestyle on new play park! (Sun) | Colorado Rocky Mtn Sch., Peter Benedict |
| May 10-11 | Junior Olympic Qualifier (Colorado High School Whitewater Race Series) (also open to adults) |
Clear Creek Whitewater Park, Golden, CO | Slalom, Freestyle | Dawson School, Nate Lord, 303-665-6679 |
| May 24-25 | Yampa River Festival (description) |
Yampa R., Steamboat Spgs, CO | Downriver, Rodeo (Sat), Slalom (Sun) | Backdoor Sports, Peter Van De Carr 970-879-6249 |
| May 28 | Golden Community Rodeo Series (website) |
Clear Creek Whitewater Park, Golden, CO | Rodeo | Laura Baumgartner |
| May 30 - June 1 | Lyons Outdoor Games (website) |
St. Vrain, Lyons, CO | Freestyle, Downriver, Boater-X | Amy or Adam Schwartz |
| May 30 - June 1 | US Jr. National Slalom Team Trials |
Clear Creek Whitewater Park, Golden, CO | Slalom | Front Range Paddling Assoc., Chris Wiegand |
| June 4 | Golden Community Rodeo Series (website) |
Clear Creek Whitewater Park, Golden, CO | Rodeo | Laura Baumgartner |
| June 5-8 | Teva Mountain Games at Vail (description, website) |
Gore Cr., Homestake Cr., Eagle R., Vail, CO | Rodeo, Creekin' | |
| June 11 | Golden Community Rodeo Series (website) |
Clear Creek Whitewater Park, Golden, CO | Rodeo | Laura Baumgartner |
| June 12-15 | FIBArk (description, website) |
Arkansas R., Salida, CO | Rodeo (Fri), Slalom & Rodeo (Sat), Downriver (Sun) | FIBArk Organizers |
| June 14 | Clear Creek Challenge (website) |
Clear Creek, Lawson, CO | Triathlon with Downriver (Sat), Rodeo (Sun) | Bob Fries |
| June 18 | Golden Community Rodeo Series (website) |
Clear Creek Whitewater Park, Golden, CO | Rodeo | Laura Baumgartner |
| June 20-22 | Animas River Days (description, website) |
Animas River, Durango, CO | Parade (Fri), Slalom (Sat), Rodeo (Sun) | Animas Riverkeepers and Durango Whitewater |
| Aug. 15-17 | Gunnison River Festival (website) |
Gunnison & Taylor Rivers, Gunnison & Crested Butte, CO | Freestyle & BoaterCross (Sat), Downriver (Sun) | Anthony Poponi 970-596-7496 |
| Sept. 21 | Chile & Frijoles Festival website) |
Arkansas River, Pueblo, CO | Rodeo | |
| Fall (TBD) | Flatwater Slalom |
20th St., S. Platte, Denver, CO | Slalom | Front Range Paddling Assoc., Chris Wiegand |
| RACE | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
|
Spring Icebreaker Race
Clear Creek Golden, CO |
Started in 1999, this has become a popular inter-collegiate race within Colorado.
Teams of 5 boaters from each participating school compete in several races, including some rather innovative, fun events like 2000's Easter Egg Hunt. A citizen's race allows us "older" students to participate. As the first slalom event of the season, the water is generally low (~100 cfs) but sufficient, and the weather can be doing anything.
Of special note: Don't use your favorite paddle or your glass boat. |
|
Mother's Day Races
Rio Grande River Pilar, NM |
One of my favorites, this event is run by the friendly
Adobe Whitewater Club.
The Rio Grande provides
warmer weather and water than typically available in Colorado in
early May. Spectator viewing is good, and the NM paddlers are extremely
friendly; although they won't haul your boat up and down the
steep river embankment.
I'm pleased this event includes a full slalom again this year!
Of special note: "Wind Rules" apply on the Rio Grande (for good reason!). |
|
Crystal River Races
Crystal River Carbondale, CO |
The Crystal slalom course is relatively open with few eddies.
The race is organized by the
Rocky Mountain Outdoor School in Carbondale, and traditionally
has attracted nationally competitive boaters as well as regional juniors.
Water is usually good in the Crystal drainage this time of year.
Spectator viewing is good from a bridge crossing over the course.
Of special note: Part of the Colorado High School Whitewater Series. |
|
Teva Mountain Games
Gore Creek & Eagle River Vail, CO | These multi-event series over Memorial Day weekend are aimed mainly at rafts and boater-X for the boating aspects. The series includes categories for professional and private athletes in several disciplines. Boating includes a head-to-head competition called the "Dowds Shoots Shoot-Out" for kayaks. These well-sponsored races unfortunately no longer include slalom as of 1998. |
|
Clear Creek Whitewater Festival
Clear Creek Golden, CO | Completed in 1998, the Clear Creek Whitewater Park has been used for several national slalom events. The Whitewater Festival occurs near peak runoff, which works well for the slalom race on this open and swift course facilitating a variety of technical moves. Spectator viewing is excellent from a river-side walkway or the seating beside the river. |
|
Animas River Days
Animas River Durango, CO | ARD is a fun festival and an attempt to create an awareness for the need to protect our rivers. Several thousand dollars in prizes for everyone are given away through the weekend - the raffle alone has usually paid for my registration fee at ARD. Events include a slalom race in Class II-III Smelter, a downriver (Class II with one Class III rapid), and an exciting whitewater rodeo in one of Colorado's best play holes. The event is usually the biggest slalom race in the state, and the organization is great. Spectator viewing is excellent. Here is useful visitor information. Online registration is available. |
|
Yampa River Festival
Yampa River Steamboat Springs, CO | Known for its friendly small town atmosphere, Steamboat Springs boasts some of the best whitewater in the country. The Yampa River Festival includes a downriver race, a rodeo, and a beautiful Class II slalom course in Dr. Rich Weiss Park, with classes for nearly all boats. Also included are beginner events, a salmon slalom (an up-river race), and the ever-popular "Throw a stick in the water and the first dog out (with the stick) wins" contest. Organization, particularly for the slalom, was not very good the last time I was there ('98), but I'm eager to hear that it has improved - let me know. |
|
FIBArk
Arkansas River Salida, CO | FIBArk is a several day river festival hosted by the friendly citizens of Salida. This event, the oldest whitewater race in Colorado, has a colorful history; it began on 19 June 1949 when two boaters organized a 56-mile downriver race from Salida to Canon City to determine once and for all who was "First In Boating on the Arkansas." (Incidentally, neither of the two initiators finished the race.) The current 26-mile course, now ending in Cotopaxi, is mild by comparison! Slalom racing was introduced in 1953 by Eric Seidel, and the race has remained in the same place since. The festival also includes a rodeo using the newest and best play hole in Colorado for those with acrobatic dispositions. Spectator viewing for the slalom and the rodeo are excellent. In 2006 the start for the slalom was organized much much more efficiently thanks to Ali Gober. |
|
Colorado Cup
Arkansas River Buena Vista, CO | Set in the popular and technical Numbers section of the Arkansas, this race attracts a number of excellent local boaters. Water and weather are usually cooperative in July. The slalom race is a well-set, technical course below #5 offering good spectator viewing. The informalness of this race makes it one of my favorites. |
|
Gore Canyon Festival
Colorado River Kremling, CO | If the water in Gore Canyon, Colorado's classic "Class V" run, isn't fast enough for you by itself, try paddling a downriver boat through it. If you do well, you'll find the run can be done in less than 20 minutes. This popular event is very well sponsored. Spectator access is difficult, and the best way to see the race is to be in it. Or buy the video. |