EVENT: CKS Paddle Fest '12 - EXPLORING ELEMENTS

-Full FB Gallery for the CKS BV Paddlefest-

First stop in BV should always be to say hi to Len at Deerhammer Distilling and enjoy a fine cocktail.

This is my first Paddle Fest. I’ve been to almost every other CO river festival, but somehow timing never worked out for the Paddle Fest in Buena Vista, CO. I love this little town and it seems to grow up in great ways every time I visit. The South Main project along the river is truly an adventure sports mecca. They have bouldering areas, a bike pump track, skate park, great mtn. bike trails and some amazing ww play features in the river. In downtown BV you must start the day at the BV Roastery for some fresh eats and fast internet and end the day with some whiskey cocktails at Deerhammer distiling.

The highlight for the kayakers at this event, besides the killer deals at CKS, is the BV Rodeo put together by Dustin and Katie Urban. There where a ton of competitors for such a LOW water event. On a normal day the play feature was something that would be passed by on the river with no attention paid. Somehow everyone worked hard and were able to throw some really impressive moves. Dane Jackson pulled it together in the final ride of the competition with a massive 1280 point ride to take a convincing win. The men’s final was heated as placings changed every round. The new LL carbon playboat did well in this little spot with Adriene Levkencht winning pro women and Jordan Poffenburger winning both C-1 and K-1 junior.

I am very rusty as a Freestyle kayaker, as there is little and very sporadic play in the northwest. In the end I entered the Open rodeo, as I love to compete:) I borrowed a new M Jedi (thanks Pyranha!) and managed to put together some spins, cartwheels, splitwheels and sometimes a loop in the small feature. At the end of my final ride I threw a loop and the backband in the boat rotated under my ass, which made it nearly impossible to roll. After many attempts I managed to pull the skirt just before washing over the next class II boney rapid. I think this was the second time I’ve ever swam from a playboat! I drank my bootie beer to appease the river gods and ended up in 4th place of the 20 open men competitors.

Great parties, amazing people, very well run on water events and some fun river SUP demos highlighted the ’12 CKS Paddle Fest for me. I look forward to making it out to this event again in the future, and bringing some more freestyle skills;)

See you on the water,

Bryon Dorr