Who says extreme kayak racing is dead? While the GoPro Games’ Homestake Creek Race and Idaho’s North Fork Championships might be toast, it’s certainly alive and well in Crested Butte, Colorado, where this year’s Oh Be Joyful Kayak Race—a waterfall-strewn gauntlet of whitewater—drew more than 30 racers to one of the steepest and creekiest races in the Rockies.
Don’t believe us? Just ask any of the Hillekes, prodigy of Polly and Tommy Hilleke (a multi-time winner of North Carolina’s Green Race), with the family placing three of its brood in the top 25.
On the podium, Luke Andraka took the top spot in 4:14, just four seconds ahead of second-place finisher Sean Faugin at 4:19. In third was Cole Brunner, four seconds back at 4:20, with Riley Frank taking fourth at 4:20 and Adam Sampson in fifth.
But the real news was the Hillekes, with Daniel, 18, taking sixth at 4:21, followed by Kelly, 19, in ninth at 4:29 and Bodie, at just 14 years old, taking 24th at 4:32.
“I missed the race this year because I was up at our paddling school in Idaho,” says proud poppa Tommy. “I haven’t run it with them yet. When they were toddlers, we would family camp over there, and Polly and the boys would hike around while I ran it.”
Watching their dad obviously rubbed off on them, as they took to it on their own.
“Kelly and Daniel ran it without me last year for their first time,” says Tommt. “I think they did three laps before heading up here.
“This year they took Dax and Bodie over for their first runs the day before the race,” he adds. “Of course, they loved it and Kelly, Daniel, and Bodie all decided to race. Dax, who’s 16, was just in his half-slice and decided not to; which I’m pretty proud of him being able to make that decision.”
2025 OBJ Results
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For their part, its organizers want to thank all the participants—young and old (i.e. Brent Toepper)—as well as their sponsors for helping put it on. “An event like this wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors, and we’re beyond stoked about all the local businesses who support this sick race,” they say, in particular giving a a big shout out to Eddyline Brewery for the raucous afterparty Eddyline Brewery!