Vail Whitewater Series concludes Tuesday
VAIL — The Vail Recreation District’s Vail Whitewater Race Series will conclude Tuesday at the Vail Whitewater Park in Vail Village. This is the final race in the five race series, which is presented by the town of Vail and Howard Head Sports Medicine, with course design by Alpine Quest Sports.
The race will begin at 5:30 p.m. and offer competition featuring kayaking (under 9 feet 6 inches), two-person raft and stand up paddle board (SUP). Race will start at the Covered Bridge and finish at the International Bridge. The format will consist of an individual time trial with results determining the seeding for the second round, head-to-head race. This week, the top nine from the time trial will proceed to a bracket and may qualify for the championship run that determines the top three spots. Those who do not qualify for the championship bracket will race a second round, head-to-head. Everyone will race twice. Check vailrec.com or Vail Whitewater Race Series Facebook page at facebook.com/vailrace for updates. Lakota Guides will be on-site with rafts available for R2 Teams to use. Spectators will enjoy viewing from the banks of Gore Creek.
Participants can preregister for $10 for individual races or register on race-day for $15. On-site day-of registration will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Vail Whitewater Park. Participants and spectators are asked to park in the Vail Village parking structure during the event. Short-term gear drop off/pick up will be available at Checkpoint Charlie before and after the race.
The race will determine the overall champion in each of the highly contested categories. Teams Williams and Prechtl and Paula and Seelig are currently tied for first for the two-person raft category, followed by Redden and Kincel in a close second. Derek Dryer and Brent Redden are tied for first in the kayak division, followed by Ken Hoeve in second and Caleb Chicoine just 10 points behind in third. Stand up paddle boarders Matt Paula and Brent Redden are tied for first, followed closely behind by Dan Gavere in second and Bradley Hilton in third.
Following Tuesday’s race, an end-of-season after party will be hosted at Pazzo’s in Vail Village, where cash and product prizes will be awarded to the top three winners of all three categories. Prizes will also be awarded to overall series winners in each category. All participants and spectators over age 21 will receive a free beer courtesy of New Belgium Brewing Co., the race series’ beverage partner.
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As part of the series, the Vail Recreation District and Alpine Quest Sports will raffle off a Hala Atacha SUP board (retail value $1,350). The board will be raffled off Tuesday at the Pazzo’s Vail after party. Everyone who competes in a Vail Whitewater Series event will be automatically entered, once for each race they participate in (up to five entries). Spectators can enter to win by taking a photo with the board at the race, post it on Facebook and tag Vail Whitewater Series and Alpine Quest Sports. Additionally, anyone can go into Alpine Quest in Edwards Tuesday to take a photo with the board and posting and tagging will get them an entry. Must be present at Pazzo’s Vail to win.
To register or for more information, call the VRD Sports Department at 970-479-2280 or visit http://www.vailrec.com/sports/whitewater-race-series.
