Giant splats on Pillow Rock; striders, C-1ers and kayakers sharing eddies with rafts; and the biggest party in paddlesports. Yep…American Whitewater’s biggest fundraising event — and the largest boater festival in the world – went off without a hitch as paddlers of all walks converged on the Woodstock-like Gauley Fest at the Nicholas County Veteran’s Memorial Park in Summersville, W.V., for a weekend of debauchery and sinus-douching. PL checks in…
“This year’s event was another great success raising a significant amount of money for AW’s river stewardship work,” says AW Executive Director Mark Singleton, extending a special thanks to title sponsor Subaru, as well as such other supporters as Adventure Technology, Chaco, Clif-Bar, Dagger, Girls at Play, Jackson Kayak, KEEN, Kokatat, LVM, Liquidlogic, NOC, Pyranha, Smith Optics, Werner Paddles and Yakima. “It was big and fun, just like the river.”
In all, more than 4,000 people attended this years event, which featured beer, bands, more beer, product give-aways, still more beer, and contests of all sorts – including those involving beer. Confluence’s three attending brands alone – Wave Sport, Dagger and AT – raised more than $6,000 for the AW cause, giving away a Project X and Dagger Green boat among other products. Other companies from Jackson to Werner followed suit, spreading the love while supporting the sport’s largest access association.
But the true competitors in attendance managed to save enough energy for the Animal Race down the Upper. And it was Geoff Calhoun edging out Mark Hamilton for the top spot with a time of 48:15.
Overall Animal Race Results
Geoff Calhoun K-1 Wildwater 48:15
Mark Hamilton K-1 Slalom 51:44
Eric Jackson K-1 Slalom 52:18
Bryan Kirk K-1 Slalom 52:53
Ben Ledewitz K-1 Speeder 53:19
John McConville K-1 Slalom 54:00
Chris Hipgrave K-1 Stinger 54:02
Pete Persolja K-1 Slalom 54:03
Jack Ditty C-1 Wildwater 54:30
Chris Gragtmans K-1 Slalom 55:10
Jakub Nemec K-1 Greenboat 55:29
Complete Results: CLICK HERE
