Instalment II- FibArk

The FibArk Festival was great! I was able to catch up with friends from Golden Junior Olympics as well as compete in the slalom race and 26 mile downriver race. Friday night, we joined in on the festivities. Bands played the whole weekend at the outdoor stage riverside. Saturday morning brought the slalom race. I felt pretty good with my first run, but I touched a gate, and so on my second run I set out to go clean; I did and won the women’s title. I was surprised to see Nathan Davis who is Canadian as well there; he won the men’s overall title. The Hooligan Race brought down many spectators to the river’s shore. The object of the hooligan race is to see how much carnage can happen. The weirdest and most water-unworthy crafts are manoeuvred down the river. It’s a great event to watch! On Sunday, I paddled the 26 mile downriver race. It’s interesting how in 2 hours you can get to know someone. In my case, I met a few people over the course of the river run. The river was a little bit bigger than I remembered it to have been. One kayaker showed me all the lines down the bigger rapids- much obliged. Another guy, Charlie is a paddle boarder; we were together for much of the race. He alternated between kneeling and standing on his board, very cool. I finished my race with my best time of 2h33min. After all the awards ceremonies, we followed Chris and the RMCKC group back to Denver to repack the trailer for the trip out east.

Hooligan Race

Just before the 26 mile race

Just after the 26 mile race