Reno River Festival 2007
by Kate Stepan
photos by John Bolivar
web exclusive 5/13/07
The national anthem opened the freestyle event on Saturday.
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The Truckee River Whitewater Park in downtown Reno, Nevada was host to an estimated 30,000 spectators who jammed the riverbank to see some of the world's top river boaters compete in the fourth annual Reno River Festival.
The festival celebrations took place in Reno's typically gorgeous sunny weather and included a kayak expo with dozens of retailers and exhibitors, a charity raft race, paddling clinics for beginner boaters, a food and beer garden, and live music at the riverside amphitheater.
On Saturday the freestyle finals opened With a flow of about 700 cfs. Competitors threw down in front of 8,000 spectators jamming the banks of the Truckee River.
The Reno River Festival takes place at the $1.5 million Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield, located in the heart of the booming downtown business and arts district in downtown Reno. The park is both Nevada’s and the region’s first whitewater park and kayak slalom racing course and totals 2,600 feet in length. The park is rated a class 2 to 3 for difficulty (on a scale of 1 to 6) and features north and south channels that surround a city park on an island in the river, 11 “drop pools” and boulders for kayaking maneuvers, a slalom racing course, and 7,000 tons of smooth flat rocks along the shores for easy river access and spectator seating.
Visitwww.renoriverfestival.com for details about the annual Reno River Festival. For kayaking packages and the area’s best hotel rate, logon to www.VisitRenoTahoe.com/bestrates target=new and find the lowest guaranteed rates online.
For more information about Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place contact 800-FOR-RENO (800-367-7366) .
Sunday's action included a downriver kayak race and boater cross finals.
It was another gorgeous cloudless Nevada day as Ed Gordon , Devon Barker and Jason Craig finished first in their respective divisions. In the boater cross finals Josh Bechtel edged out Andrew Holcombe for the top spot in the men's fnals and 17 year old Emily Jackson finished ahead of Tanya Faux and Devon Barker for the top spot in the women's category.
Truckee River locals Jay Kincaid and 13 year old Jason Craig took honors at their home playhole saturday, placing first in the men's and junior's freestyle comp at the Reno River Festival in Reno, Nevada. Tanya Faux edged out Emily Jackson and Nikki Kelly in the final round of women's competition to claim the women's freestyle title for the third year in a row.
Stephen Wright is all smiles after getting FAA approval to go huge during the freestyle event.
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RENO FREESTYLE RESULTS
MEN
1. Jay Kincaid
2. Eric Jackson
3. Bryan Kirk
WOMEN
1. Tanya Faux
2. Emily Jackson
3. Nikki Kelly
JUNIORS
1. Jason Craig
2. Dane Jackson
3. Jonathan Shales
Tanya Faux goes cross bow on her way to her third women's freestyle title.
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13 year old Jason Craig defeated his buddy Dane Jackson in the junior freestyle division.
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DOWNRIVER RACE
JUNIORS
1. Jason Craig
2. Sage Donnelly
WOMEN
1. Devon Barker
MEN
1. Ed Gordon
2. David Fusilli
3. Randall Fleming
Kayaking clinics are offered all weekend during the Reno River Festival
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A record crowd of 8000 spectators looked on at the boater cross time trials on Saturday.
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BOATER CROSS
JUNIORS
1. Jason Craig
2. Jonathan Shales
3. Dane Jackson
WOMEN
1. Emily Jackson
2. Tanya Faux
3. Devon Barker
MEN
1. Jud Keiser
2. Andrew Holcombe
3. Josh Bechtel
Jay Kincaid goes "skin to win" in the boater cross competition.
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Jason Craig tops the junior freestyle podium flanked by Dane Jackson and Jonathan Shales.
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