Having a Ball: Kayakers enjoy CWA’s newly-formatted downriver race

When playing sports outdoors, there can be some interference from the elements — the wind, rain or snow. But it is unusual to navigate the ball around a minefield of tubers, swimmers and other kayakers.

Still, six teams of kayakers managed it July 10, as the Colorado Whitewater Association hosted its annual downriver race – but with a new format.

Rather than a strict individual sprint down the creek, as in previous years, this year’s was a ball race.

The kayakers grouped into teams of two or three, and together, navigated a yoga ball about 200-300 yards down the creek and across the finish line. They were allowed to hit their own ball with their paddles or hands, but couldn’t interfere with the other teams’.

Between heats, the kayakers were strategizing ways to improve but ultimately said they were having a lot of fun.

“The competition seems fierce,” Boulder’s Jake Davidson said before the race started. “I expect it will be a battle of wills.”

The teams competed in a tournament, with two teams going head-to-head for most heats. The exception was the so-called “monster loser’s bracket,” where the three teams that lost in the first round competed simultaneously. The winning team would reintegrate into the main bracket.

Team H2O not only survived the three-way elimination round but ultimately came back to win the entire tournament. Winners received gift cards to local businesses for their efforts.

CWA board member Nik White, who helped organize the downriver race, described how the CWA has been hosting events like this and the Golden-based kayak rodeo for 25 years. With more than 700 members across the state, he said it’s a great way to bring kayakers together in Golden during summer.

‘A battle of wills’

Downriver race participants weren’t required to be CWA members to participate, but registration was free for members.

As such, Lakewood’s Andrew Daw signed up for a membership just before the race. Golden’s Courtney Kloor, his teammate, convinced Daw to join her and another teammate for the race, with the three of them competing under the name Whitewater Wackos.

Kloor said, in general, there are several types of kayaks, each with their own pros and cons. The playboats are smaller but maneuver better, while the half-slices are longer but go faster. The team had a mix of playboats and half-slices.

Some types of kayaks wouldn’t be practical for this type of event, she said, because it would likely involve hitting rocks and other boats. So, plastic kayaks were better, since they can take the hits better.

Kloor said she’s done a few minor races before, but had never done a team event. Daw, meanwhile, said he’d never competed in any kayaking event before, but was eager to try.

Davidson and his fellow Boulderite Jonathan Russell, who competed as Team Tech Ballers, said they’d competed in other CWA events in Golden before but had never done a ball race.

The two said they go kayaking together regularly, with Davidson believing that their synergy would help them in the competition.

‘A great way to spend the summer’

Overall, Davidson and Russell said Golden’s Clear Creek Whitewater Park is one of their favorite kayaking spots. Davidson estimated that they visit it every other week in the summer.

Russell summarized the experience as: “We come for Clear Creek and stay for the Mexican food.”

The creek’s also a convenient location for Golden-area kayakers like Kloor and Daw.

Daw said he started learning kayaking about a year-and-a-half ago, and while he said it’s harder than it looks, he also didn’t want people to be intimidated by it the way he’d been.

The kayaking community is super-welcoming, he said. He can post on social media that he wants to go boating and ask if anyone would want to go with him for safety and fun, and people will go with him.

“It’s not as scary as it seems,” he said.

Kloor, who’s been kayaking for three years and is a CWA member, said the sport is “a great way to spend the summer,” as it offers the same thrill as downhill skiing. She also encouraged others to try it.

White said the CWA is hosting other events in Idaho Springs and the Bailey area later this month.

Overall, the CWA hosts events across the state and throughout the year, to give kayakers a chance to meet even during the off-season. It also partners with Golden and other cities on their whitewater features, he said, and has been promoting whitewater access and conservation for 70-plus years.

For more information, visit coloradowhitewater.org.

Click through additional photos from the July 10 competition: