A successful paddle-a-thon

The Pueblo Whitewater Park hosted the first Pueblo Paddle-A-Thon this past Saturday July, 7th. The Pueblo Paddlers event was designed to raise money for First Descents a kayak camp for young adults with cancer. (see www.firstdescents.org)

Seventeen paddlers (the majority being Pueblo Paddlers Kayak Club members) took to the water and raised approximately $4,100 for the camp which gives young adults with cancer an opportunity to learn to paddle and enjoy the outdoors. It costs $1,000 for each camper to attend the camp so this event made it possible for four young adults with cancer to go to camp.

Paddlers in the Pueblo Paddle-A-Thon were treated to free Gatorade and cookies. Each paddler who raised $50 or more qualified to win a portion of the $2,000 worth of donated paddle accessories (ie paddles, helmets, a sprayskirt, and even a drysuit).Corporate supporters were, Palm/MTI, AT Paddles, Seven-2 Paddles, Voz Sports, Shred Ready Helmets, Keen Footwear, The Edge, Smitty's Greenlight Tavern, The Pueblo Firefighter's union, The Summit Company, WRSI helmets, and Snapdragon Sprayskirts. A HUGE 'Thank You' for your support!

The Summit Company provided a very cool shuttle.A John Deere-esque trailer pulled by a hefty pickup truck saved the feet, legs and shoulders of the paddlers. Thanks Summit!

A portion of the proceeds will be earmarked to send a Pueblo-area young adult with cancer to the 2008 camp.

All in all a very good event and we look forward to being able to make use of the PWP to make a difference in the lives of young adults with cancer again next summer.

PWP GETS MORE NATIONAL ATTENTION

Local Pueblo Whitewater Park surfer, Logan Gogarty, appeared in the July/August issue of Paddler Magazine. Gogarty, 18, has spent countless hours on a surfboard (and an old knee board) in the Pueblo Whitewater Park this spring and summer. His efforts have not gone unnoticed by others who came to surf the park.

Pueblo Whitewater Park desinger, and avid river surfer, Mike Harvey, of Salida, commented that young Gogarty was really tearing it up in the park.

The photo of Gogarty shows him attmepting a handstand on his surfboard while riding the wave in drop number three in front of the "River Reaper". The reaper proved to be a popular background with editors as it also was in the background of a photo of Pueblo Paddler Jeff Mara which appeared in the Canoe & Kayak Magazine annual whitewater publication.The magazine is produced annually by Canoe & Kayak and is not part of the regular subscription. You need to get this issue either online or at a newsstand that carries Canoe & Kayak. Unfortunately I was not able to find it sold locally so I got mine online.
Not only has the reaper proved popular, but the background of the levee itself has also gotten some attention. As chronicled in an earlier post, Jeff mara paddled past the mural of Bob Marley in a photo that appeared in the Canadian publication "Rapid".
New murals are being added to the levee from time to time so there is an ever-changing landscape of art to paddle in front of at the Pueblo Whitewater Park. Maybe you have an idea for a new mural? If so, I can point you in the right direction to make it happen...just let me know.