The Animas River was flowing above 1,000 cubic feet per second mid-morning Saturday in Durango, which boded well for Animas River Days, an annual celebration of the river and whitewater sports that started that morning.
Animas River Days Media Coordinator Hope Tyler said the low water year has everyone concerned, but the community was fortunate for the water flow Saturday.
“We actually have enough water to do all of our events. Nothing is canceled,” she said.
Tyler said over 30 vendors, three food vendors and three beer stations were spread about the grass overlooking Durango Whitewater Park. Some vendors had river sports equipment and others sold arts and crafts.
Events kicked off around 8 a.m. with a canoe and kayak slalom, which was followed by a downriver SUP race around 10 a.m. and a raft slalom afterward.
Later in the afternoon, BoaterX, a SUP/SURF competition and an inflatable pool toy rodeo were scheduled, to lead into the annual River Parade at 4:30 p.m.
Tyler said 19 people ranging from ages 6 to 60 competed in the slalom events Saturday morning. Four teams of four were registered for the raft slalom and included returning champions from slaloms from previous years.
Animas River Days was lucky with water flow Saturday morning – the U.S. Geological Survey clocked a morning peak flow of 1,010 cubic feet per second at 11:45 a.m. Saturday – but organizers were well prepared for a low flow with three new fun events, she said.
In the Smelter Slam Ball, boaters have to shoot a basketball through a hula hoop as they exit Smelter Rapids.
Two events were also scheduled for Sunday.
The Big Balls event consisted of teams of two competing to get over the finish line with their yoga balls in hand first. The twist is they are encouraged to throw their opponents’ yoga balls upstream.
A hot dog relay was scheduled for Sunday. It was formatted similarly to a standard relay, but upon reaching the finish on the river, racers have to down a hot dog at the emcee booth in the park to complete the relay.
Tyler said Animas River Days is held each year to bring the river community and greater community together to celebrate the river.
“Our river gives us a lot of very vital things – not just river sports,” she said.
Animas River Days is also about getting future generations invested in whitewater sports. Some revenue from the event pay for children’s scholarships at Four Corners Paddle School, she said.
Many families may not be able to afford to enroll their children in paddle school, but Animas River Days is there to help, she said. It offered between 10 and 12 scholarships this year.
“We outfit the kid with (his or her) first personal flotation device,” she said. “They (Four Corners Paddle School) provide a boat, paddles, everything they need to get on the whitewater – a lot of them for the first time.”
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