RENO RIVER FESTIVAL NEWS RELEASE – As the Reno River Festival embarks on its milestone 10th anniversary, the world’s top kayakers return to the Truckee River Whitewater Park to compete in one of the toughest fields in Festival history. This year brings national and international champions such as Eric Jackson, Adam Chapel, Courtney Kerin and Nick Troutman, as well as local favorites including Sage Donnelly, Jessica Yurtinas, Jason Craig and Colin Kemp. And as the Reno River Festival presents one of the few urban whitewater paddling opportunities in the country, its array of competitions, including freestyle, boatercross, slalom and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), are sure to put on an exciting show for the tens of thousands of visitors expected to descend upon downtown Reno for the annual event.
The Competitions –
Presented by Clif Bar, Saturday brings the men’s and women’s freestyle competitions to the Truckee River, encouraging boaters to complete as many complex tricks as possible during the allotted one-minute time slot for a chance at advancing to the final round. Preliminary rounds take place throughout the day followed for the first time ever, by an evening Final starting at 6 p.m. Freestyle competition takes place in Hole 5, located east of the West Street Plaza pedestrian bridge.
Paddlers hit the water once again on Sunday for a challenging day of speed, agility and endurance tests during the downriver SUP race, slalom and boatercross competitions. Starting at 10:00 a.m., stand-up paddleboarders head west to Idlewild Park to put in, followed by a race downriver over rapids and treacherous rocks back to Wingfield Park. Paddlers must make it all the way to the pedestrian bridge at West Street Plaza for a chance at top prize – while remaining on the board. Cash and prizes are awarded to the top three finishers in the men’s and women’s divisions.
Presented by David Wally’s Resort and Hot Springs, slalom races hit the starting line at 11:00 a.m. in the south channel on the west side of Wingfield Park. Watch as various classes of canoes and kayaks hit the custom-designed course to see who crosses the finish line first in this exciting race that tests the athletes’ skills and agility as each boater navigates through gates hanging from above as efficiently as possible. Cash and prizes are awarded to the top finishers in each division.
Known as both a crowd and competitor favorite, the boatercross competition hits the waters of the south channel at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Take a seat on the grass to watch the fiercely competitive race that is quite literally, a mad dash to the finish line. Paddles, and sometimes elbows, fly through the air as four-person heats race to see who can cross the finish line first and advance to the next round. Cash and prizes are awarded to the top three finishers in the men’s and women’s divisions.
The Competitors –
Former Olympian, founder of Jackson Kayak and five-time world freestyle champion Eric Jackson returns to downtown Reno to maintain his winning tradition and to take on fellow team member Stephen Wright who is known to throw some of the largest freestyle moves on whitewater. Local favorite Jason Craig also returns to the festival, following a heroic recovery from a broken back, to go head-to-head with long time friends and world freestyle champions Nick Troutman and Dane Jackson.
In the women’s division, current New Zealand national champion and former world freestyle medalist, Courtney Kerin comes to the festival to compete against esteemed competitors including US freestyle team member Jessie Stone. However, the one to watch this year is Sage Donnelly, a 12-year-old local who has come up on the Truckee and consistently holds her own against women twice her age.
For those looking to learn more about kayaking, fly fishing, camping and other activities available in the versatile Truckee Meadows, the Reno River Festival offers free clinics, compliments of Cabela’s, as well as an outdoor expo featuring some of the industry’s best vendors. And for those who are simply looking to enjoy everything that the Truckee River and downtown Reno has to offer, the Festival returns with favorite activities such as yoga in the park each morning at 9:00 a.m. followed by an afternoon of live entertainment from the likes of Whitney Myer, Mark Sexton, Jelly Bread and others, along with food and drinks to satisfy any taste.
For more details about the Reno River Festival, visit www.RenoRiverFestival.com or call 775-784-9400 x 119.
The Reno River Festival is held at the Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield located in the heart of downtown Reno’s Old Southwest, named one of “Best Neighborhoods in America” by Men’s Journal magazine and recognized by Travel + Leisure as one of “America’s Coolest River Walks.” Hosting top whitewater athletes from around the world, the city’s $1.5-million Whitewater Park is within steps of the downtown Reno gaming and entertainment corridor including a range of dining options, entertainment venues, museums, theaters, hiking and biking trails and a selection of renowned hotel-casinos offering fully customizable weekend getaway packages. The Reno River Festival is presented by Subaru of America.
