Chile Fest Paddlin' "AWESOME!"

Another Pueblo Chile & Frijole Festival is in the books. The weather was amazing, the food was terrific and the water in the Pueblo Whitewater Park was at a warm 700cfs!

Paddlers from all over the region made the trip to Pueblo to take part in rodeo events and also to just enjoy the late season water provided by several generous shareholders of Arkansas River water. (See comment on previous post.)

Pueblo Whitewater Park designer, Gary Lacy, brought a crew of boaters to the park from the Boulder area to take advantage of the late season water and the festival. Lacy was also able to return to Boulder as the top finisher in the novice category of the freestyle rodeo. Way to go Gary!

Gary Lacy shows his winning form!






Colorado Springs student, Ben Shev, moves in the hole to score enough to clain the top intermediate spot.



Matt Ogburn sets up for a loop to claim top honors in the advanced cateogory of the freetsyle rodeo.







The judges take full advantage of the Wavesport judges' couch atop Wavesport, Dagger, Wilderness Systems and all-around Confluence Water Sports rep Ryan Hastreiter's truck. Maybe next year he will show up with Laz-e-boys for the judges!




Raft Masters of Canon City provided free raft rides through the PWP once again at the Pueblo Chile & Frijole Festival. They are a major supporter of the PWP and The Pueblo Paddlers. Raft Masters ROCKS!


A great big thanks goes out to Bob Walker, The Edge Ski Paddle & Pack, The Pueblo Paddlers, Ryan Hastreiter & Confluence Watersports, Raft Masters, Juls Bayci (for providing sound equipment), and the Pueblo Board of Water Works & Alan Ward for making the second annual freestyle rodeo at the Pueblo Chile & Frijole Festival a splashing success!