This is the 10th edition of the annual spring paddling trip on the South Platte River organized this year by 7 paddling clubs: Rocky Mountain Canoe Club, Poudre Paddlers Club, Rocky Mountain Sea Kayak Club, Canoe Colorado/Western Paddlers, High Country River Rafters, Pike Peak River Runners, and Colorado White Water Association.

Date: Saturday, March 19th, 2011 (snow/rain data: April 2nd).
Two trip choices:
- 9 miles from Evans to Kersey
- 14 miles from Evans to Kuner
Meeting at the put-in at Evans Riverside Park at 9:00 No membership is required. This is an easy, casual, flatwater trip, suitable for novices and families.

For a full information download this flyer.

Traditionally, I am joining this trip by launching at Kersey and paddling the 9 mile upstream river segment first instead of a shuttle. In previous years I tried to setup an informal race on this upstream course with participation varying from one to four paddlers. This year I don’t have any specific plans yet.

If there is any interest I would be happy to paddle from Kersey to Evans in a race mode. The start would be around 7am at sunrise (Mountain Daylight Time). Slower boats could start earlier. The idea is to arrive to Evans between 10 and 11 am and join the group for a relaxed downriver paddling.

Alternatively, I am thinking about a slower training run with some stops for a morning photography. I would start that run about 40 minutes earlier.

Please let me know if you would like to join me for this upstream trip. Do you prefer racing or cruising?

Related posts:
New Year Paddling – 22 Miles to Fort Morgan on the South Platte River
South Platte River below Denver, Colorado - GPS/photo river guide
Flow Data for South Platte River Basin in Northern and Eastern Colorado
2009 Rotten Egg Race – Results, Pictures, Handicap System
2009 South Platte River Marathon
Paddling on Wet Sand: Discovering the South Platte River in Eastern Colorado
30+ miles of South Platte River in eastern Colorado
2010 New Year Paddling – 22 Miles to Fort Morgan on the South Platte River ]]> http://race.fit2paddle.com/10th-annual-spring-kickoff-south-platte-paddling-trip/feed/ 3 http://race.fit2paddle.com/wyoming-outback-challenge-gone/ http://race.fit2paddle.com/wyoming-outback-challenge-gone/#comments Sat, 08 May 2010 20:11:54 +0000 Marek http://race.fit2paddle.com/?p=1648 For the last three years Jerry Nyre from Canoe Colorado organized and sponsored (including cash prizes!) this great marathon race on the North Platte River during Memorial Day weekends. The race started at Hot Springs in Saratoga and run 44 miles down the river across a quite remote area to Fort Steele (I-80 boat ramp). It was usually high and fast water and, typically, some headwind closer to the finish.

Thank you Jerry! I had a good racing and spent together with Connie and our dogs three wonderful weekends in Saratoga.

Unfortunately, the Wyoming Outback Challenge will not by organized any more. The organizers were obviously disappointed by a poor participation. Here is what Eric Nyre wrote at Canoe Colorado forum this year as an explanation:

Last year was the last year of the race. Local racers weren't interested. Racers from other parts of the country wanted free loaner boats/ transportation. We gave it 3 years, and the crowd kept getting smaller. So no mas, we're paddling the White instead.

I don't think that Eric is the best person to comment on that event since during these three years he never showed up at the race neither as an organizer nor as a racer.

For the last three years Jerry Nyre from Canoe Colorado organized and sponsored (including cash prizes!) this great marathon race on the North Platte River during Memorial Day weekends. The race started at Hot Springs in Saratoga and run 44 miles down the river across a quite remote area to Fort Steele (I-80 boat ramp). It was usually high and fast water and, typically, some headwind closer to the finish.

Thank you Jerry! I had a good racing and spent together with Connie and our dogs three wonderful weekends in Saratoga.

North Platte River below Saratoga

Unfortunately, the Wyoming Outback Challenge will not by organized any more. The organizers were obviously disappointed by a poor participation. Here is what Eric Nyre wrote at Canoe Colorado forum this year as an explanation:

Last year was the last year of the race.
Local racers weren’t interested.
Racers from other parts of the country wanted free loaner boats/ transportation.
We gave it 3 years, and the crowd kept getting smaller. So no mas, we’re paddling the White instead.

I don’t think that Eric is the best person to comment on that event since during these three years he never showed up at the race neither as an organizer nor as a racer.

I tried to promote the Wyoming race in this blog. You can see the list of related posts with race pictures, reports and results below. Other racers also offered their help in promoting the event.

Last year, I dared to criticize the organizers for a lack of promotion, but also provided some suggestions. I wrote it on the Canoe Colorado forum. What happened?. Eric responded first with some strange and unpleasant comments, then, he erased my posts and banned me from the forum, and, finally, he “nominated” me to an unwelcome person in the Canoe Colorado events.

Well, the river is flowing. Water looks great. I hope to do some paddling on the North Platte River again. If anybody is interested it would be not so difficult to run any informal race on the North Platte similar to what I am trying do on the South Platte. I realize it is much more challenging to setup a more formal race, especially, if you like to offer cash prizes. It was a reason the Canoe Colorado avoided any river access points under BLM jurisdiction

.

Start of the 2008 Wyoming Outback Challenge below Hot Spring at Saratoga

I would like to see a longer race course. So this year, together with Rob Bean, we are planning to cover 100+ miles of the North Platte from the Bennett Peak campground (above Treasure Island) to Seminoe Reservoir. It will be just a fast training run: two days of paddling, WaterTribe expedition style, probably May 22/23.

Some related posts:
Bennett Peak to Pick Bridge on the North Platte River, Wyoming
North Platte River Kayak Racing – 2009 Wyoming Outback Challenge
44 Miles of the North Platte River in 2 Minutes
44 Miles on Big Water – 2008 Wyoming Outback Challenge Results
7 Landmarks and Highlights of the 2008 Wyoming Outback Challenge
2007 Wyoming Outback Challenge on North Platte River- Results and Pictures
3 Days on the North Platte River in Wyoming: from Treasure Island to Fort Steele
Wyoming Outback Challenge on the North Platte River – Strong Current and Head Wind
North Platte River in Wyoming – Eagle Nest Rapid

Other resources:
The Floater’s Guide to Wyoming Rivers: Paddle and Portage
Wyoming Atlas & Gazettee
map of public access areas by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
North Platte River flow: Northgate, CO | Ft Steele/Dugway
Wyoming Introduces Fee for Paddling and Boating

Paddling under cliffs of Eagle Nest

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All this and more in the March-April 2010 issue of Canoe and Kayak Racing Magazine.

Bummer! I just started preparation for three long races on the Missouri River this year. I was even hoping to connect the Missouri Break 150 race with a short visit to Glacier National Park. My plan “B” for the 2nd weekend of June is to use some frequent flier miles and to fly south to photograph Texas Water Safari this year.

Most popular means with the highest number of readers. These include also articles from the old blog before I migrated to wordpress platform. Some posts need update. The article Is Ultra-Marathon Kayak and Canoe Racing Growing? was written in the middle of 2006 before the first Missouri River 340 race.

1. 14 Tips on Kayak Forward Stroke Dynamics by Mark Zollitsch

2. Tips on Training, Boats and Paddles for Endurance Paddling Races

3. 2009 Rotten Egg Race – Results, Pictures, Handicap System

4. 3 Years of the Missouri River 340 Race

5. 12 Pictures from 2008 Missouri River 340 Race

6. Carter Johnson on Training for Ultra Marathon Kayak Races

7. 13 Tips on Training for Endurance Paddling Races from West Hansen

8. A Simple Suction Cup Mount for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS

9. How to Choose a Boat for an Ultra Marathon Race? The Case of Missouri River 340

10. Photo Impressions on Surfrigger, My Outrigger Canoe

11. Is Ultra-Marathon Kayak and Canoe Racing Growing?

12. Ice Canoe Racing across St Lawrence River in Quebec City

Dan Grubbs just released the 6th Issue (January/February 2010) of Canoe and Kayak Racing Magazine. So, it has been already one year. Congratulations!

There is a lot on paddling and virtual racing using ergometers in this winter issue the including incoming US Indoor Kayak Championships in Oklahoma City. I don’t really have a room of kayak ergometer in my house, so I would have to use it outside … I prefer to drive to the South Platte River for some cold water paddling. Fortunately, the river is still flowing while everything else in northern Colorado is frozen.

You will also find an interview with an outrigger canoe champion, Karel Tresnak, Jr, and more on the ICF women’s canoe program. Rob Bean, my local paddling partner, talks about Passion in the Paddle – how to turn your race into more meaningful experience by using it to raise funds for charity.

How to get faster – faster! Interval training by Abel Hastings
How NOT to race Lessons learned from the inaugural Laredo Riofest by Joe Mann
One small stroke stroke for woman … another giant leap for womankind by Pam Boteler
Outrigger racing finding home waters beyond warm currents of the Pacific Ocean by Stephen Mahelona
Hemmens couple set a new record for Phatwater Kayak Challenge by DeAnne Hemmens
Abel Hastings’ thoughtful take on the ICF World Marathon Championships

With this issue, we are hoping to introduce many of our readers to the world of open water racing. If you are like me, you are landlocked and don’t know ebb from rip.

The racing world is large and varied, which is wonderfully illustrated by the fact that open-water racing is contested on surf skis, outrigger canoes, paddle boards, sea kayaks and a host of other platforms.
….
Dan “Osprey” Grubbs

One of more rare form of paddling is sprint racing. I write rare not because it’s unheard of or hard to find. Rare becuase the number of paddlers who are sprint racers are few, relatively speaking. This notwithstanding the fact that it is an Olympic medal sport.

Our objective for this issue is to introduce or re-introduce the sport of sprint racing to the larger paddling community.

The previous issue was devoted to Texas Water Safari.

The second Saturday of June. 2009 Texas Water Safari started today with 100 boats lined up at Aquarena Springs. 260 miles to go down the San Marcos and Guadelupe Rivers to Seadrift in San Antonio Bay. Good luck to all racers and team captains.

It is an occasion for me to browse through my safari pictures. I attended together with Connie as a team captain five races from 2001 to 2005. The 2001 was just observing and training year for us. I completed the TWS in 2002, 2003 and 2005. In 2004, we drove to San Marcos, but the race was postponed due to flooding.

During recent years I had to restrict my racing adventures at distant locations. As a half time scientist with a poor funding I just cannot afford it. TWS including driving from Colorado to Texas and back, river scouting and the actual race, was usually taking almost two weeks of our time. And, I had to include that huge bribe for my team captain in the race costs …

2005 TWS. 5 minutes before the start at Aquarena Springs

2001 TWS. “Cowboys” running the old Rio Vista dam

2003 TWS. Spectators, racers, and team captains at Westerfield Crossing

2005 TWS. Scouting the Cottonseed Rapid before the race

2001 TWS. Traffic jam at the Cottonseed Rapid

2001 TWS. Wait for me! Another scene from the Cottonseed Rapid

2001 TWS. John Bugge driving a 9 person boat through the Cottoneseed Rapid. Current race rules limit boats to 6 persons.

2005 TWS. A nice green logjam on the San Marcos River below Luling. These logjams didn’t look so nice at night time.

2005 TWS. A morning at the Nursery Rapids on Guadelupe River

2005 TWS. Me, Connie and Spencer X-treme canoe at the Victoria checkpoint.

2005 TWS. Norm Thomas finishing at Seadrift