Archive for Friday, May 22, 2009
Photo by John F. Russell
A dog jumps into the Yampa River during a past festival in Steamboat Springs.
River Festival continues today
Event offers recreation and awareness on the Yampa
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Other weekend events
Historic places bike tour
When: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday
Where: Meet at Centennial Hall,
124 10th St.
Cost: Free
Call: Alexis at 871-8202
More information: The tour will cover history and architecture of some of Steamboat's downtown buildings. Refreshments will be served.
Urbane rail jam, with live music by Durty Birds
When: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Seventh Street between Yampa Street and Lincoln Avenue; Seventh Street parking lot
Cost: Free
Call: Urbane clothing store at 879-9169
More information: All skaters must register in advance at Urbane. The skate session and block party accompanies a summer activity fair hosted by Mainstreet Steamboat Springs; the event features activity companies and nonprofit groups and is meant to promote and inform about summertime activities in Steamboat Springs. For more information about the activity fair, call Tracy Barnett at 846-1800.
Over the Hill Gang's Memorial
Day Picnic
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday
Where: Stagecoach State Park's Arrowhead Group Picnic Area
Cost: A state park Aspen Leaf Pass, for $6, allows hiking, biking, boating, fishing, riding and swimming.
Lunch: A potluck lunch starts at noon. Take your own beverages, a dish to share and chairs.
For more: Call Frank Dolman at 870-8793 for details.
29th annual Yampa River Festival schedule of events
Yampa River Festival registration
When: 5 to 7 p.m. today
Where: Sunpie's Bistro
Cost: Registration fees vary by event
"The Polish Race to the Bottom of the Earth," a presentation about Eugene Buchanan's decent of the upper Colca Canyon in Peru, benefiting Friends of the Yampa and Everything Outdoor Steamboat
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Olympian Hall, Howelsen Hill
Cost: $5 suggested donation
Kayak Freestyle
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Yampa River at Charlie's Hole, near the 13th Street Bridge and Bud Werner Memorial Library in downtown Steamboat Springs
Cost: $15; register in advance or at the event
Raft race
When: Noon Saturday
Where: Yampa River at Charlie's Hole
Cost: $5
Tube rodeo
When: 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Yampa River at Charlie's Hole
Cost: $5; winner gets $100
River board demo
When: 2 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Yampa River at Charlie's Hole
Cost: Free
Crazy river dog contest
When: 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Yampa River at Charlie's Hole
Cost: $5
Saturday night bluegrass party
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Depot Art Center, 1001 13th St.
Cost: $10 suggested donation
Call: Backdoor Sports at 879-6249
Kayak slalom
When: 10 a.m. Sunday
Where: Yampa River at Rich Weiss Park
Cost: $15
18 and under kayak rodeo
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Yampa River at Charlie's Hole
Cost: TBA
For more information about festival events, call Backdoor Sports at 879-6249.
This is Peter Van De Carr's 25th year running the Yampa River Festival. Aside from a love of the water and its uses, Van De Carr said his motivation to keep coming back is basic: "Well, it's fun, that's the only reason I do it. If it wasn't fun, I wouldn't do it," he said.
Now in its 29th year, the river festival has two purposes, Van De Carr said. The event shows locals and visitors all the recreational possibilities of the river; it also brings awareness to outside factors that can affect the water, Van De Carr said.
"I just think that there are a lot of issues with the river - the pumpback project and the discussion of user conflicts. : And everybody who loves the river, this is a time to rally and show support and see what some of the issues are," he said.
New to the festival this year are a river boarding demonstration, a presentation by paddling enthusiast Eugene Buchanan about his descent into Peru's upper Colca Canyon, and an 18-and-younger kayak freestyle competition. Van De Carr describes river boarding as "paddling down the river on a surfboard."
A tube rodeo, scheduled for 1 p.m. today, is back for a second year. Competitors hang on to a tube in a rough part of the river for as long as possible and are judged for ride duration and style. The tube rider with the most points wins $100.
Van De Carr said he hopes the festival will propel the cause behind Respect the Yampa, a coalition of groups formed earlier this spring to advocate for the environment of the river, people who use it and private landowners who surround it.
"We're working with the Colorado Mountain College and Everything Outdoor Steamboat and the Boy Scouts and all these different youth and adult groups, bringing awareness to the rules of using the river inside the city limits of Steamboat Springs. And No. 1, first and foremost, that's having respect for using the river," he said.
Participants can register on the day of the event.
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