With the Lyons Outdoor Games and FIBArk wrapping up in Colorado, and river fest followers now flocking to Gunnison, Festival season is in full swing in Colorado, with familiar names on the podium. A quick wrap PL-style on who’s done what where…
Low water has been the name of the game in the Rockies, but that hasn’t stopped attendees from having high levels of fun and competition. In Lyons, it was Stephen Wright besting Eric Jackson to take the top freestyle spot, with three-time Olympian and local Scott Shipley winning the downriver race over Jeremy Rodgers and Gary Lacy.
Diminutive Kiwi sensation Courtney Kerin won the women’s freestyle, with Elaine Campbell winning the gal’s downriver. The event also featured the coveted Triple Crown for competitors that raced in either the downriver race or Class V South St. Vrain creek race (which was bonier than ever), a freestyle event and the slalom.
Who would you guess took top honors in this one? None other than EJ, followed by son-in-law Nick Troutman and son Dane Jackson.
For full results, click here:
From there it was onto Salida for FIBArk, one of the most marquee events in the country. While competitors hoped for a water release from the powers that be, they had to settle for chain-ganging rocks into a giant funnel pushing water toward the hole. The result was a hole that still afforded high-scoring rides.
Dustin Urban took the top spot for the men, barely edging out Dane Jackson in second and EJ in third, with Clay Wright taking fourth.
“He’s a great paddler,” said EJ afterward. “Especially in these smaller features.” Hailey Mills took the top spot for the gals, followed by Kerin.
In slalom, three-time Olympian Scott Shipley took top honors in a star-studded field, and in the crowd-pleasing SUP Cross, Boardworks’ Mike Tavares, who’s leading Boardworks’ 13-stop Show Up and Blow Up tour across the country, nabbed the top spot, followed by Brent Redden.
In the marquee downriver event the next day, Andy Corra continued his dominance in the 26-mile marathon in 2:51 flat, besting Victor den Hann who came in 10 minutes later and Gary lacy in third at 3:02.
But enough of those results. What people really want to know is who won the coveted Holligan race, that drew more than 5,000 people to the shores to drink beer and cheer on the carnage. Top finishers were
1) Demon Pride – Crew: Aaron Hufford (BV) Dylan Wilson (BV) Will Gramamatica (Salida) Jeff Ludwig (BV);
2) The USS Wild West – Crew: Garrison Garcia, Laurel Sweeney, Danielle Lauridsen, Caleb Woodworth, and Anthony Poponi (All Gunnison);
3) Team Subaru – Crew: Bryant Richards, Jeode Padilla and Megan Meyer.
