The Mother’s Day Rio Grande Whitewater Festival, An American Canoe Association Sanctioned event. Helmets required for all Races.
brought to you by: the New Mexico River Outfitters Association and the Bureau of Land Management, Taos Field Office.
May 10, 11, and 12, 2013
FESTIVAL HEADQUARTERS at Rio Bravo Campground, Orilla Verde Recreation Area - This is your soure for event information, race registration and great exhibitions by our sponsors.
THE WHITEWATER RACES begin Saturday with downriver, slalom, & rodeo events, for rafts, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards.
FREE FESTIVAL CAMPING for Event participants at RIO PUEBLO CAMPGROUND- BLM DAY USE FEE WAIVED FOR WEEKEND.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday May 10, 2013
- 9:30-5:00 River Rendezvous- River Guide Orientation $15 per person including lunch from the Pilar Yacht Club $5 a la carte speakers for AM or Afternoon sessions.
-Speakers: include Paul Bauer, Associate Director of New Mexico Bureau of Geology at NM Tech; John Bailey, Recreation Director, BLM, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument; Randy Roch, Manager of the BLM Orilla Verde Recreation Area; Brian Shields, Executive Director, Amigos Bravos: Because Water Matters, talks on Birds, Natural History and Archaeology– in progress.
-1PM Keynote : Protecting Rivers in a Time of Water Shortage: Rolf Schmidt-Peterson, Rio Grande Bureau Chief, Interstate Stream Commission & Steve Harris, Founder Rio Grande Restoration and Owner, Far Flung Adventures
-5PM Kayak- SUP- Inflatable Kayak Skills Clinic- Free –4 Corners River Sports, Rio Grande
To follow: Evening Rendezvous Mixer: Location: Orilla Verde Recreation Area. TBA
Saturday, May 11, 2013
-8 – 10 General Registration.
-$20 for the First Race, $10 for each race after, $60 per team of four, Rafting Race. First 100 entrants gets a Festival T-Shirt
-9AM – 5PM Free Kayak, Inflatable Kayak, SUP Demos: River Sports River Sports, Durango, CO. sign up, Rio Bravo Camp
9AM Book Signing with Paul Bauer at Rio Bravo Campground
-6:30AM – 12:00PM – National Migratory Bird Day: BLM Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center.
6:30 & 9:30AM Guided Bird Walk. 11AM. Reconvene at Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center. Kid’s activities. Live Birds of Prey from Santa Fe Raptors Center. Look for birds in Rio.
9AM Interpretive Hike with BLM Ranger on their new trails in Orilla Verde. Sign up Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center. Highway 64 in Pilar
-10AM-3PM: Fly Fishing Demos on the Rio Grande with Professional Guide, Toner Mitchell, Director of Public Lands Outreach, Trout Unlimited. Sign Up Rio Bravo
-10AM – Noon: Kayak and Canoe Downriver Race
Men’s and Women’s Division
Long Boat- 9 feet and above, Short Boat, under 9 feet, prizes for each category, free t-shirt
-1PM – 3PM Kayak, Canoe, SUP Slalom
-3:30 – 4:30 – Kid and Mom Raft Race – Junction Bridge to Lone Juniper or Lone Juniper to Quartzite take-out, prizes and free festival t-shirt. Find location at Rio Bravo or registration
5PM – 6PM Raft Downriver Race – prizes and free festival t-shirt
6:30-7:30 – Awards at Rio Bravo
7:45, Van Service from Rio Bravo/Rio Pueblo to Taos Mesa Brewery, Los Rio River Runners van provider
-8PM- Taos Mesa Brewery, Great band! Anthony Leon and the Chain, www.thechain.us facebook.com/anthonyleonandthechain. Taos Mesa Brewery www.taosmesabrewing.com supports this event 150%! All festival goers get in for free. You must write your name on guest list race registry table or band sign up at Rio Bravo headquarters. All ages welcome.
Sunday May 12th – Mother’s Day
-8AM – 12:00PM Pilar Yacht Club, Mother’s Day Benefit Breakfast for NMROA- New Mexico River Outfitter Association: All Welcome
9AM Book signing with Paul Bauer at Pilar Yacht Club Breakfast
9AM – 10AM Free Demos on Kayak, Inflatable Raft and SUP Four Corners River Sports, Durango, CO, sign up at Rio Bravo Campground . Variety of kayaks, inflatable kayaks, SUPS.
9AM – Interpretive Guided Hike with BLM Ranger- Meet at Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center
10AM – 1PM Paul Bauer: Geological Float on the Rio Grande for River Guide Education. Sign up at Rio Bravo. Space is limited
-Noon to 1:30PM – SUP Races
Men’s and Women’s Divisions
Long Board 11 foot and longer, Short Board under 11 feet. Prizes for each category/t shirt
-2 – 4 PM Kayak Rodeo at Sleeping Beauty- National Rodeo Judge: Ken Hovie of Colorado
Men’s and Women’s Division – Prizes for each category and free festival t-shirt
-2PM-4PM Blue Heron Brewery: Mother’s Day Music and Brews with popular singer, songwriter, Boris McCutheon. Just down road from races on right www.blueheronbrews.com
-4:30PM Après Race Awards & Party: Blue Heron Brewery: Rinconada. Raffle Drawing for Jackson Villan Creek Kayak/4 Corners River Sports.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GREAT SPONSORS!
SPONSORS: CLASS V Four Corners River Sports, Taos Mesa Brewery, Colorado Kayak Supply
SPONSORS: CLASS IV AIRE, NRS-Northwest River Supplies, WOGA Insurance Company, Sattler Insurance Company, Jacks Plastic Welding
SPONSORS CLASS II & III WOGA Insurance Co., Rio Grande Restoration, Pilar Yacht Club, Blue Heron Brewery , Taos Chapter:NM Green Chamber of Commerce, Taos Inn, Britt Runyon Photography, Smith Optics, Streit Fly Fishing, Taos Lifestyle-Sleep Sanctuary, Applebee’s of Taos, Gearing Up Bicycle Shop, Taos Mountain Outfitters, Taos Roasters, Outdoor Play, Sipapu Ski Resort, La Bodega Fresca.
Raffle for Jackson Villan Creek Kayak donated by Class V Sponsor: Four Corners River Sports, Durango, CO. Retail value $1,000. Raffle tickets: $5 each or 3 for $10. One free for racers and volunteers. Tickets on sale at Pilar Yacht Club (575) 758-9072 Mon-Sunday: 9-5, Blue Heron Brewery: Sun-Tues 12PM-6PM, Wed-Sat: 10AM-8PM 758-5831/575- 779-4778
An American Canoe Association Sanctioned event. Helmets required for ALL EVENTS.
$20 per person for the first event (includes an event T-Shirt) $10 Each additional Event.
$60 Per Raft of 4 (R-4) for the Raft Downriver Race.
For More Information Call:
Kokopelli Rafting Adventures (505) 983-3734
About the New Mexico River Outfitters Association:
The New Mexico River Outfitter Association is a collection of New Mexico's finest Outfitters who, seek to promote enjoyment of the river environment with the highest possible degree of river safety for our employees and the outfitted public, whom we serve.
