FIBArk Hosts 27-mi Downriver SUP Race

Salida, Colorado — This year marks the 62nd anniversary of FIBArk, the nation's oldest whitewater festival and Salida's signature event taking place June 17 - 20. Since 1949, every June during the Spring snow runoff, Salida, Colorado has hosted FIBArk, "First in Boating on the Arkansas."

For the 2nd year in a row Stand Up Paddle events will be included in the festival. Boardworks Surf will be sponsoring a clinic and demo on Friday and donating a C4 Waterman inflatable ISUP for raffle.  Saturday and Sunday will include a freestyle SUP competition and a downriver SUP race. The race starts in Salida and continues 27 miles downriver to Cotopaxi along a class 2 stretch of river with one class 3 rapid, making this a challenging and exciting course.  SUP competitors from across the nation are expected to attend.

The FIBArk event continues the excitement over a new trend in the Colorado whitewater scene. People are frothing for the new sport of Stand Up Paddle and with a big Spring runoff this year, Colorado has already hosted some pretty exciting whitewater SUP events such as Paddlefest in Buena Vista, WhiteWater Championships in Glenwood Springs, and the Teva Games in Veil. The upcoming FIBArk event promises to deliver excitement for SUP athletes of all levels from beginner to expert.

The FIBArk Stand Up Paddle events are as follows:

(1) Friday June 18th 4-5 pm - Stand Up Paddle Boarding Clinic, Sponsored by Boardworks Surf in the eddy upstream from the Salida Whitewater Park.
(2) Saturday June 19th 5 pm - Stand Up Paddle Boarding Expression Sessions, Salida Whitewater Park. Register Thurs 4 – 6 pm, Fri or Sat 7-10am at FIBArk Boathouse.
(3) Sunday June 20th 11 am - Downriver Race - Kayaks, C1, C2, and Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Sponsored by Jackson Kayak. 26 Miles, expert level, Salida to Cotopaxi. Register Thursday 4-6pm, Friday 7-9am, Saturday 7-10am, or (4) Sunday 7-8am, at the FIBArk Boathouse. Start location, river right above 1st play hole. Prerace meeting 10:45am at the start.

Located in Salida's historic downtown, Riverside Park is the center of FIBArk activity and entertainment. Food, arts and crafts, and industry vendors are available, as well as a beer tent, a carnival, and a state-of-the art amphitheater for this year's extraordinary musical line-up.

For more info on FIBark events go to www.fibark.net   or www.boardworkssurf.com