Down River SUP Sprint

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

10:30 AM

Mirrored off the classic TINCUP Down River Kayak Sprint, the Down River SUP Sprint is a race against the clock in the heart of Vail on Gore Creek. Anyone up for the challenge will run this 4-mile stretch of Gore Creek from East Vail to Vail Village SUP style. Competitors must stand strong because snowmelt from the nearby Gore Range makes for icy waters while navigating the class II/III course. Mix in a handful of low bridges, drops, and wave trains as paddlers battle it out in the SUP’ing of Gore Creek.

BOARD DROP INFO:

Athletes will only need to show up to the morning meeting with their paddle, PFD and other personal gear.  Boards can be dropped at Vail Village Parking Structure the morning of the race beginning at 6:30 AM.   

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

10:30 AM

CATEGORIES:

Open – Men/Women
Youth (17 & Under) – Boys/Girls

EQUIPMENT:

• Boards must be inflatable and may not exceed 11.′ Boards will be measured at the start of the race.
• Athletes must wear competitor bibs outside their PFDs at all times.
• Event organizers and whitewater rescue teams are not responsible for equipment rescue and/or equipment removal from the GoPro Mountain Games whitewater courses should athletes lose their equipment during practice or competition. 

required gear:

• PFD
• Helmet
• Protective footwear
• Full-legged wetsuit or drysuit
• No leashes around ankles or wrists. If paddlers choose to wear a leash, it must have a release system that can be hand-activated and should also have an emergency break-away system.

The following will NOT be allowed:

• Double-bladed paddles
• Multi-hull boards
• Foot rudder steering systems

Format & Rules:

• Athletes must arrive at the put-in no less than 45 minutes before their race start time to go through gear check, attend mandatory safety meeting, receive their start time and pick up their competition bib.
• Paddlers who lose their equipment and require a rescue of any kind and/or appear to be excessively falling and swimming will be pulled from the course by our safety team. Paddlers who lose their gear and exit the river will receive a DNF.
• If a paddler is being overtaken by another “faster” paddler from behind, they must yield to the faster/overtaking paddler in a safe and respectful manner. This will not affect a penalty or DQ unless the paddler being overtaken uses blocking or any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct.
• The race is run in time trial format.  
• Final race rules and format will be available during the safety meeting.   

lOCATION:

The race starts in East Vail at the end of Aspen Lane. There is no parking available, so athletes may be dropped off or take the shuttles provided by Lakota Guides and Timberline Guides starting at 6:30 AM on Saturday from the top of the Vail Village Parking Structure. Please allow plenty of time to check in and attend the mandatory safety meeting.  

Please respect the Aspen Lane neighborhood and use the supplied porta johns at the put-in area. 

DIRECTIONS TO PUT-IN:

From Vail Village: head east on South Frontage Road about three (3) miles. Turn right on Aspen Lane. This road is located right before you go under the highway. Put-in is located at end of Aspen Lane, at the “T” intersection of Booth Creek Lane. 

PRICE

EARLY BIRD PRICING // February 1 – April 5, 2023
$40

REGISTRATION PRICING // April 6 – May 31, 2023
$45

EVENT PRICING // June 1 – June 9, 2023
$55

PAYOUT

TOTAL PRIZE PURSE: $3,000

MEN – Open
1st – $750
2nd – $500
3rd – $250

WOMEN – Open
1st – $750
2nd – $500
3rd – $250

PRIZES

Prizes to be determined.