It was a family affair at this year’s coveted NRS Green Race on Asheville, N.C.’s Green River, with multiple parent/sibling pairings showcasing boaters paddling with their brood. And in other big news, four-time-straight winner Dane Jackson was bested by just three seconds by Kaelin Friedenson, who finished at 4:05 to Jackson’s 4:08.

28th Annual Green Race “Hurts So Good”

Jackson was trying his best to beat that elusive four-minute mark in the race, going so far as to post an InstaGram post just five days before the event sharing with the world an in-depth video showing his secrets to success in the race, and the exact boat leans, boofs, strokes and more you need where and when to not only win, but try and do so in under four minutes. Apparently, Friedenson got the memo, as he won for the first time, beating Jackson by a paltry one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand…

For the mother/sibling accolades, Buffy Burge, who hadn’t raced the race in 20 years, competed alongside her son West Burge, who ended up beating both his mom and ended up taking second in the Junior division at 4:25. Buffy, to her credit, finished in third place for the women at 5:12 (good job, mom!), behind Adrienne Levknecht in first at 4:28 and Anderson in second at 5:01.

Other family pairings included former winner Tommy Hilleke, who raced it alongside his sons, Daniel and Kelly. The two sons couldn’t best pops, finishing at 4:46 and 4:53 to Tommy’s 4:35.

In all, the race saw 22 Juniors, 139 Men and 11 Women entries. Announcers also called it the largest number of spectators ever.

Brought to viewers by The Hammer Factor, the race also saw its best-ever video coverage, with its Green Race Live live-streamed to subscribers, complete with drone footage, hanging cameras and expert live commentary. Featuring state-of-the-art live drone and high-definition camera technology, we will be showing more race footage than ever.  See the nonstop action of every racer in the 28th annual Green Race as it unfolds. Ticket holders also gained access to 2020,2021, 2022 complete coverage, pro training tips, pre-race exhibition events, and more.

In other Green news, the event also featured, for the first time, a makeshift slalom race held on the Gorilla portion of the course, forcing the 22 kayakers who entered to negotiate five slalom gates set up in the Class V gauntlet. Jackson has the win save for a gate touch that added five seconds to this score, bumping him to settle for fourth place. Holt McWhirt won this edge-of-your seat event at 54 seconds.

And, as Dave Jackson pointed out in an Instagram post, the race had its share of firsts:

YOUNGEST MENS WINNER SINCE ‘06 Kaelin Friedenson 4:05.9 [20]

FIRST MENS ALL SINGLE DIGIT PODIUM Kaelin Friedenson 4:05.9 Dane Jackson 4:08.5 Isaac Hull 4:09.2

WOMENS COURSE RECORD Adriene Levknecht 4:28.9 [Prev 4:31]

HAND PADDLE COURSE RECORD Jackson Singleton 4:57.5 [Prev 5:03]

FIRST MOTHER + SON RACERS Buffy Burge 5:12.0 [Womens 3rd] West Burge 4:25.0 [Juniors 2nd]

Watch Trailer Here:

As usual, the race culminated with a raucous awards party afterward, with the 28th Annual Green Race Awards Saturday night at The Green River Ranch, with awards, camping, and music by The Late Shifters. The event was open to all event and also  featured cold beverages, BBQ, Green Race apparel, sponsor booths, and the crowning of the 2023 Green Race Champions.

Results

The Royal Gauntlet Slalom Results

Read full results here: https://greenrace.us/?p=1644

(Photos courtesy The Hammer Factor/Green Race)