Competitor Mason Hargrove prepares to splat the first rock in the sequence, named “White Whale” (look carefully in the water for the aptly-named rock.) Photo by August Toevs.
Lively chatter on the Beaver Falls Bridge, the smell of sunscreen in the air, and world-class athletes intentionally smacking their kayaks up against rocks on the Arkansas River. Yes, as of Sunday, May 28, summer is back in Buena Vista with Paddlefest 2023 underway.
To the untrained observer, yesterday afternoon’s Three Rock Splat Challenge seemed to be a case study in all the things one might want to avoid as they guide a boat through rapids on the Arkansas River.
The final event in CKS’s annual Paddlefest celebration, the Three Rock Splat Challenge demands of kayakers incredible creativity as they intentionally run up against— or “splat”—a series of rocks.
Competitor Nathan Craig splatting White Whale. He was the only contestant to compete using a half slice style kayak. Photo by August Toevs.
One of the competition’s judges, Peter Holcombe, described the event, saying, “Basically, they’ll try to do anything other than what you might typically see a kayaker do on their way down a river.”
As they move between the series of rocks, improvisationally named “White Whale,” “Christof’s Island” and “Free Willy” by the event’s announcer Dave Hajoglou, contestants attempt complicated maneuvers such as cartwheeling, bow/stern stalling or McNasty-ing, all with the aim of impressing the judges, who were scoring with “complete subjectivity,” according to Holcombe.
Competitors came from all over the world to compete, representing not only other states such as North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma but even other nations, like Poland and France.
Splat Winners and the Triple Crown Award
As for the winners of this fourth annual Paddlefest Splat Challenge, Nick Troutman of Ontario, Canada took first place in the men’s division.
Emily Jackson of Rock Island, Tennessee earned first place not only the woman’s division Splat Competition, but became the first ever women’s senior division Paddlefest Triple Crown winner as well.
The Triple Crown award was a prize added to this year’s Paddlefest to celebrate the “best all-around paddler in the world, or at least the Arkansas Valley.” It is awarded based on performance in three events: the Numbers Race, Freestyle Comp, and the Three Rock Splat Challenge.
Splat Challenge winner Emily Jackson exercised her right as victor to splat a plate of whipped cream onto the face of another competitor. This one was a bit shorter than Jackson. Photo by August Toevs
“I’ve been coming out here since 2002,” said Jackson, explaining that as a coach, “it’s really fun to see the juniors, young people, come out since community events like this one are the backbone of our sport.” Jackson is now able to add the Paddlefest Triple Crown award to an already impressive list of accomplishments, which includes freestyle world championships and Team USA honors.
The men’s senior division Triple Crown winner was another one of those kayakers who’d traveled quite a ways to compete here in Buena Vista: Frenchman Tom Dolle. Picking up first place in the time trial number race for short boats (boats nine feet long and under) was no mean feat, considering this year’s Paddlefest Numbers Race included 115 entries, a significant increase from 85 in last year’s festival.
Rounding out the first-ever Triple Crown winners were Cashion Porter-Shirly in the junior men’s division and Mackinley Kate Hargrove in the junior women’s division.
In that Paddlefest is a celebration of the beginning of whitewater season in Chaffee County, kayakers and fans of the sport can surely look forward to a great season, after such an exciting inaugural event. Next up, city of Salida will be hosting the 75th annual FIBArk Whitewater Festival from June 15 to 18.
Editor’s Note: Toevs is the newest Ark Valley Voice Reporter. A Colorado native, he has a background in Chaffee County, and readers will be hearing more from him in the coming days.
Recent Comments