Whitewater Stand Up Paddling Championship

June 11th & 12th, 2011

The 2011 Whitewater Stand Up Paddling Championship presented by C4 Waterman started out with a downriver race on Saturday morning. This 3.5 mile sprint saw 2 time whitewater SUP champ Dan Gavere once again out paddle the competition with local river SUP pioneer Charlie MacArthur hot on his tail the entire race in 2nd and Timberline Tour's Matt Paula in 3rd. In the hotly contested woman's division Jenny MacArthur blitzed her way into first with Nikki Gregg in second and newcomer Brittany Parker taking third.

In the day's 2nd event – the action packed SUPcross – heats of 4 paddlers had to maneuver around gates and sprint downriver in this fast paced, crash and burn filled event. After a number of closely contested heats, the field was whittled down to the final eight. Dan Gavere used his precision eddy turns and blazing speed to charge into first with Hawaii's Nao Ginella taking second followed by Ryan Guay in third. The women's final heat was equally thrilling with Jenny MacArthur losing her board but somehow managing to remount just prior to the finish line for her second straight victory. Nikki Gregg once again took second with Lorin Paley coming in third. After the SUPcross the Primo Beer Garden kicked into high gear and the crowd feasted on Hawaiian style BBQ while listening to music and watching river surfing action until the sun set.

Day two of the festival was epic. Another blue bird day, the river was near a record flow (22,000 cfs) and the wave was going off. After the regular surfing competitions, it was time for the festival's grand finale – the stand up paddling surf event. The action was amazing and the crowd was stoked. MC Mike Harvey's color commentary entertained the throngs who crowded along the river bank to watch the Whitewater Stand Up Paddling Championship's last event. The competitors took river stand up paddling to another level with a diverse array of tricks. 360 spins, shove its, hang fives and a head stand were just some of the many moves that wowed the crowd.

Once again Noa Ginella put on a remarkable display of balance, technique and just pure agro ripping and captured first place. Two time whitewater SUP champ Dan Gavere dug deep in his bulging bag of tricks and displayed masterful surfing as usual, blasting his way into second with Witney Guild once again landing on the podium in third. Aspen Kayak & SUP Academy owner Charlie MacArthur took 4th pulling of his first 360 ever and local favorite Mark Gammill was 5th. In fitting fashion for this tight knit posse of river surfers, the event's MC Mike was even a competitor. For the last ride of the festival he pulled a cold Primo Beer out of his life jacket. The crowd went wild as he skulled it while surfing the world's best river wave – in Glenwood Springs – the river surfing capitol of the world.