2009 Colorado River Festivals
Competitive Outdoor Sporting Events For Paddlers of All Skill Levels
May 30, 2009
Outdoor enthusiasts come together in the Colorado mountains this spring to celebrate endless recreation and entertainment even after the snow has melted. River festivals offer the chance for paddlers to get together for some serious competition but also to have a great time celebrating their love of outdoor sports. Each year the festivals seem to get bigger and better.
2009 Teva Mountain Games, June 4-7
The Teva Mountain Games will be held in Vail, bringing together both amateur and professional athletes in celebration of mountain sports, lifestyle and music. Events will include kayaking, rafting, mountain biking, road cycling, climbing, fly fishing, trail running and a half marathon. The Games also include a photography competition, an interactive demo and exhibition area, parties, concerts and a film series. Over $100,000 in prizes will be given away. The Teva Mountain Games are a project of the Vail Valley Foundation.
2009 Lyons River Festival, June 12-14
The Lyons River Festival is held annually in the Lyons Whitewater Park. The festival offers competitive events for all skill levels as well as clinics and exhibitions by professional athletes. Competition events include kayak slalom races, a dirt jump bike skills, pro freestyle, skateboarding and even a competition for dogs. Exhibitions include several chainsaw demonstrations, a Jackson Kayak clinic, fly-fishing demonstrations and a bike rodeo. An auction will be held to benefit the Lyons Department of Parks and Recreation. Music and a river cleanup will also be featured.
2009 Animas River Days, June 12-14
Animas River Days festival began in the early 1980's as one of the original river festivals of the west. A film series will kickoff the festival this year at the Smiley Theater in Durango. The opening event will benefit Trout Unlimited, Animas Riverkeeper and San Juan Citizens Alliance Water programs. Slalom, rodeo and downriver events will be held throughout the weekend. The River Parade, hugely popular with spectators along its 4 mile run, consists of hundreds of boats of all shapes and sizes that are decorated and full of people celebrating this outdoor event. The river parade will be held on Saturday night, followed by a party with the music of Mama's Cookin' at Ska Brewing.
2009 FIBArk, June17-21
The New Belgium FIBArk, First In Boating on the Arkansas, is billed as America's oldest and boldest whitewater festival. Now in its 61st year, this festival draws international competitors and thousands of spectators to Salida each year. The classic downriver race is the longest whitewater race in the United States. Major competitive events in every aspect of boating are included, as well as a mountain bike race and the USA Wildwater National Championships. A wildwater training clinic will be held along with a parade, a hill climb, a skate completion, a hooligan race, a pancake breakfast and a carnival.
2009 Gunnison River Fest, June 26-28
The annual Gunnison River Fest features a wide range of river activities in the Gunnison area including a build your own boat race, rodeo, boatercross, a slalom course, and both kayak and raft downriver races. A new event, a Kickball Mania Tournament, has been added this year. Funds are being raised for local groups such as the Western State College Boulder Garden Project and the Peaceful Warriors youth climbing team.
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