Darn insurance companies.
This year’s Gore Fest race, Colorado’s marquee Class V kayak race down Gore Canyon of the Colorado slated for Saturday, Aug. 27, was cancelled at the last minute due to a decision by the liability insurance company not to renew its policy. While the cancellation was a blow to the event’s Class V kayak racers, the festival still ran, however, with SUP races, a freestyle event, silent auction and more at the Pumphouse Campground.
“It is with great regret that we must announce that the 2022 Gore Canyon Race is canceled,” read a post on the event’s FaceBook page. “After holding the policy for this years race since May, our policyholder notified us less than a week ago that they will no longer provide insurance for Class IV and Class V whitewater events. Registered racers will receive a refund and the downriver SUP race and freestyle events will still take place on Saturday the 27th.”
Still, event organizer Hattie Johnson of American Whitewater was staying positive about the weekend’s festivities. “Remember the Gore Canyon Festival is not only a chance to gather with boaters from across Colorado and neighboring states, but also to celebrate a river core to the stewardship work of the Southern Rockies program and our success there,” she says. “This event is one of our biggest fundraisers and membership drives for Colorado and we deeply appreciate your support. The silent auction is still live online and provides an opportunity to help us fill the funding gap that this cancellation will leave.”
“The Gore Canyon Festival is not only a chance to gather with boaters from across Colorado and neighboring states, but also to celebrate a river core to the stewardship work of the Southern Rockies program,” she adds. “The festival and events American Whitewater hosts fulfill a central part of our mission, safely enjoying the places we fight to protect and restore. Enjoying those places together is key. The community we’ve built around this event is something I look forward to being with every year.”
“Myself and the American Whitewater team will still be at Pumphouse this weekend. We will still host the SUP race on Saturday and the freestyle event at the whitewater park on Sunday. All the public lands are open for your use. The BLM has provided a really helpful welcome guide to help everyone find camping and cover required fees. If you choose to enter Gore Canyon, please note that there will not be a safety team in place and you are doing so at your own risk.”
Refunds were offered to all racers.
“Gore Fest is still one of our biggest fundraisers and membership drives for Colorado and we deeply appreciate your support,” she adds. “The silent auction is still live online and provides another opportunity to continue to help us fill the funding gap that this cancellation will leave. Items purchased through the auction will be available for pick up at Pumphouse this weekend. We deeply appreciate your understanding of these unfortunate circumstances and hope that we will still see you on the river this weekend.”
https://www.facebook.com/gorecanyonfest/