We completed three of the five races for the Vail Whitewater Series this paddle season, and what a season it’s been so far! With the epic snow we had in Colorado this past winter, the flow on Gore Creek has increased each week; this past race on May 23rd the flow was over 600 cfs range which we typically don’t see until June, if at all depending on the snowpack levels.
For the two SUP divisions, the race is very tight. Jennifer Hodgkiss currently in the leads for the women. On the men’s side, Jeremiah Williams has built a considerable lead winning the first three races. The men’s and women’s raft races are both pretty closely contested.
At the afterparty at El Segundo Tuesday evening, everyone was talking about what a fun event it was that day. With the flows over 600 cfs, it made for some wild head-to-head matchups.
Looking ahead, there are two more races left in the series. Next week is an individual time trial down the course. In the second part, each of the competitors are seeded based on the results of their time trial. The top nine finishers move on to the championship bracket, while all other racers are transferred to the consolation bracket for a head-to-head competition. The last race on June 7th starts at the Betty Ford Amphitheater Bridge, and is a single downriver event for all disciplines ending at International Bridge.
