Reno River Festival

May 2006 Reno River Festival
Reno-Gazette Journal

“The Reno River Festival Rides Again”

By Susan M. Botich

May is going to be a great month this year for water-sports enthusiasts and spectators alike. The Reno River Festival is now in its third spectacular year and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever! From the kickoff on Thursday, May 11, to the finale on Sunday, May 14, Reno River Festival will be offering non-stop fun and entertainment for the whole family.

Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) expects 20,000 attendees this year. Held at the Truckee River Whitewater Park, the Festival offers plenty of fun for those who want to compete in the water as well as those who prefer the spectator’s sideline view.

This year the Festival has expanded its locale to include the South Fork of the Yuba River in the Tahoe National Forest for a new competition – the Extreme Creek Race.

The Open Whitewater Freestyle allows registrants to cut it up and make a splash of their own. The top three men and women from this event will be invited to compete with Top Pros in the Invitational Whitewater Freestyle Competition.

The Boater Cross is back for the third year. This is a fast-moving action-packed kayaking competition. Competitors kayak a wild 100-yard dash down the south fork of the Truckee River Whitewater Park. Winners are selected through the process of elimination.

Another special event high-lighting this year’s program is the premier of Scott Lindgren’s film, “Burning Time II,” the sequel to the heart-pumping, “Burning Time,” released in 2004. It will be shown at the Pioneer Theater, Friday, May 12.

Also, there will be many industry expositions for those who would like to get a hands-on experience with some of the equipment as well as free clinics offered for anyone who wants to “get there feet wet.” Some of these clinics are:

· Never Ever – an introduction to whitewater kayaking, focusing on river safety tips, equipment requirements, paddling terms and basic, overall skills necessary to maneuver down the river.

· Mobility Impaired – teaches adaptive kayaking skills for those with mobility impairments.

· Roll Session – for those with some experience, this clinics teaches the Eskimo Roll, considered to be the most important technique in whitewater kayaking.

· Rolling and Bracing – further perfects the rolling technique as well as developing stabilizing skills.

· Eddy Line Techniques – introduces basic river maneuvers, focusing on peel-outs, eddy turns, S-turns and ferrying.

· (Semi-advanced Skill Level) Introduction to Play Boating – teaches freestyle techniques and maneuvers such as squirts, nose stands, flat spins and front surfing.

· (Semi-advanced Skill Level) Slalom Basics – teaches how to efficiently maneuver the river with forward and draw strokes, C-strokes, ferrying and eddy turns.

· (Advanced Skill Level) Advanced Techniques – superstar kayakers instruct veteran kayakers in perfecting techniques.

· (Advanced Skill Level) Advanced Slalom – teaches power and corrective strokes, eddy hopping and tricks of the trade.

Vendor booths of every kind, food and beer gardens and free musical entertainment in the park and amphitheater offer fun for everyone throughout the Festival.

Big-name kayakers such as Eric Jackson, Tanya Faux and Reno’s own Jay Kincaid will be returning this year to compete in the Pro Freestyle Invitational Competition. Kincaid won the 2004 competition but took second place to Eric Jackson in 2005. Kincaid is ready and determined to win in this year’s competition and take back the championship.

The festivities begin Thursday, May 11, at 10:00 a.m. with the Whitewater Expo. Friday, May 12, starts at 8:00 a.m. and includes the Boater Cross, Freestyle Open competitions, Whitewater Expo and Charity Raft Race. Saturday, May 13, beginning at 9:00 a.m. enjoy more Whitewater Expo, the Cross Race Preliminary Race, Kayak Clinics and the Pro Freestyle Invitational Competition Preliminary and Finals Races. Sunday, May 14, opening at 9:00 a.m., concludes with the Whitewater Expo, Kayak Clinics, Boater Cross Finals and Awards Ceremony.

For more information or to sign up for any of the competitions, visit www.RenoRiverFestival.com or call 800-FOR-RENO (800-367-7366). See you there!