Golden Games/ Paddlefest

The last two weekends I traveled to Golden and then Buena Vista, Colorado for the first two river festivals of the summer.  First of all I must express my love for the mountains and the beautiful waterways running through them.  Having the opportunity to travel around my home state and spend time in different communities is amazing.  
In the Golden Games I placed 2nd in the flat-water sup sprint, and 6th in the sup cross at the Clear Creek Whitewater Park.  It was a fun weekend on the front range and really cool to get some results in my first race of the season!
At CKS Paddlefest in Buena Vista I got to paddle on the Arkansas River for the first time.  I competed in the SUP race among a seriously stacked roster of paddlers.  In my qualifying heat I raced against none other than Dan Gavere, Charlie MacArhur, and Ken Hoeve, three of the best whitewater sup'ers in the world.  I made a serious effort and was right in there for most of the race only to barely miss the finals in a head first diving photo finish with Charlie.  I am incredibly stoked to have competed with the best and can't wait to try again.  
Also in BV, I demo'd some Badfish river surfing boards, and learned a ton from the few hours on the staircase wave with some tips from the shaper Zack.
Cheers to all the people I met and paddled with! Next up Lake Dillon and The Summit Games!

Stand-up paddleboard SUP surfing and racing in Salida and Buena Vista from Jason Blevins on Vimeo.