Kayakers look
forward to Payette Roundup
July 13-14 near
Banks
It’s
nearly time for the 22nd annual Payette Whitewater Roundup.
Idaho
Rivers United will present the Payette Whitewater Roundup for beginner
and expert boaters Saturday and Sunday, July 13-14 on the Payette River
30 miles north of Boise.
Events
are open to beginner to experts in a wide variety of boating and river
activities. All proceeds will benefit Idaho Rivers United, and the
events are free for spectators.
Saturday
is the flagship of the event with much to do for everyone.
For
whitewater boaters, there will be down river races for all abilities in
a variety of boats and a "poker run" for rafts and cats. For
the curious, there will be a river festival all day at the Main Payette
put-in at Banks.
The day
begins with down river kayak races on the Class V, experts-only North
Fork of the Payette.
Organizers
will have intermediate and expert Class IV races on the South Fork for
rafts, cats and kayaks and beginner/intermediate races on the Class III
Main Payette for everyone. There will be long and short boat divisions
for the experts.
Also
Saturday are low priced "first time" whitewater trips for the
general community. Professional river outfitters will offer hour-long
rides in rafts on the Main Payette as a way of introducing folks to
whitewater for $10.
New this
year is a "poker run" on the South Fork of the Payette for
rafts and catarafts. Folks pick up cards along the route at their own
pace and play their hand at the end of the run for great prizes.
Saturday
night offers a hoedown party with live music from Farmdog and Outtaplace,
a full barbecue with beer, wine and tons of great fun on the Payette
River at Banks. Everyone is welcome.
Sunday is
play day.
A
freestyle kayak rodeo will be held with practice beginning at 10 a.m.
and the competition at 12 noon. The location will depend on river flows,
but will be on the South Fork or the Main Payette and will offer great
entertainment for onlookers.
For more
information call Dan at 1-800-574-7481.
Idaho’s
only statewide river conservation organization, Idaho Rivers United
defends free-flowing rivers, fisheries, clean water and the communities
that depend on them.
Here is a schedule:
· Saturday,
July 13: Home base all day. Main Payette put-in, Banks downriver
race, North Fork Payette, lower five, 10-11 a.m.
Down
river race, South Fork Payette, Deer Creek to Banks, noon to 1:30 p.m.;
down river race, Main Payette, Banks to Chief Parish, 2-5 p.m.; raft
trips, $10 on the Main Payette, noon to 5 p.m.; raft and cataraft
"poker run," South Fork Payette, 2-5 p.m.; barbecue dinner and
dance, Farmdog (Dead, Dylan, reggae, roots rock) and Outtaplace, Banks,
6 p.m. to midnight.
· Sunday,
July 14:
Open freestyle competition, Main Payette, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the
competition beginning at noon. Check at the Banks put-in for location.