Paddlefest River Rally Weekend

OUR COMMUNITY

by: Heather Gorby

Why didn’t we think of this in the first place?

Back in the day, when we were located in Nathrop Colorado, we had this grand idea. “Let’s make a festival for paddlers to kick off the season every spring.” We would pack up the entire store, move it to Silverthorne Colorado for 3 days and sell a lot of gear to paddlers from the Front Range and the Rockies. “Paddle Fest” was fun, but there was a major problem. The

paddling up there in the spring is very poor (too cold) and it was way too much work to move everything 80 miles away for a 3 day event. But we continued on with it because the paddling public enjoyed the event.

In 2005, CKS had an opportunity to move from its historic roots on highway 285 in Nathrop to downtown Buena Vista. Most folks thought we were crazy, and we did not deny that one bit. We had a vision. Not only of a bigger store, but of the future of paddling on the Arkansas River. This will be the place where every boater

would have to drive by to get to their favorite “up stream runs.” Folks will be driving slower in downtown so they will see us easier.  They will also have to pass us on the way to the new River Park and a little new place called South  Main.  “Let’s move.”  And we did.

Once into our new location, we saw the immediate benefits of being in downtown Buena Vista: Great river access, incredible paddling, non stop recreational opportunities, and even places to eat and sleep for our staff and clients. When the time came to plan again for Paddle Fest, we had to think about it for 1 second and we then moved the event to Buena Vista also.

Paddle Fest was a big success. We were able to get all the major manufactures and professional athletes to come to a place they already know and loved.  The weather and water was perfect. There was music on Main St, beer and food sales outside, paddlers of all abilities, movies, guest speakers, how to clinics, demo centers, kayak classes, sales, and fun for all. Paddlers from around the West flocked to our town to paddle, learn and play for 3 days.  It was a great success for us, for other local merchants and for Paddle Fest in general.

Everyone was so appreciative of the store’s move and for Paddle Fest to now be located in Buena Vista.  To us the event now made more sense. The “kickoff to paddling” should allow people to paddle and recreate in the best area possible.  That place in now downtown Buena Vista.

Paddle Fest is set in stone.  The weekend before Memorial Day is now the start of paddling in Colorado.  Come join us May 18,19,20th, 2007 for the best whitewater event in the best paddling town on Earth.
www.coloradokayak.com/paddlefest/home.htm

CKS Colorado  Kayak Supply