FESTIVAL EVENTS

Calling this a whitewater paddling event may be generous, but saying it is one of the most fun events of FIBArk would be right on. The Hooligan Race is open to anything that floats that’s not a boat. Hooligans dress up in costume and the winner is usually not just the fastest but often one of the few left standing, or, floating. This spectacle of “controlled chaos” is a local tradition that always produces a huge turnout. Don’t miss it!

This is a must-see event as rafts will go head-to-head through the whitewater park in downtown Salida.  Each team will show off their speed and swiftness as they battle for the lead to cross the finish line first.

Pine Creek Rapid is one of the most daunting rapids on the Arkansas River, rated Class V for the difficult maneuvers required to navigate the fast current and constant drops and holes.  The Pine Creek Race is an experts-only race, where paddlers navigate a giant slalom course through the rapid.  

During FIBArk weekend we will crown the overall top Man and Woman in the emerging sport of river stand up paddling. Stand Up Paddling or SUP originated in the coastal regions but for the last 7-8 years SUP has taken over the whitewater scene. Top athletes will compete in three disciplines competing for a cash purse.

FIBArk’s signature event, the Classic Downriver Race is the longest, oldest, most prestigious and perhaps the toughest race in North America. The Downriver Race is truly an athletic marvel and continues to be one of the most respected (maybe even feared) whitewater races. 

The inaugural FIBArk Freestyle Throwdown contest was started locally for the Freestyle community. We want to come together, enjoy the wave, compete, and most of all support a great cause (The FIBArk Youth Paddling Program).

A GIANT stand-up paddle board, oversized boxing gloves and a raging river, what’s not to love?!? Back again this year, the SUP BOXING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS will be better than ever! Competitors will battle mid-river, trying to maintain their balance while doing their best to knock their competition into the river.

Dogs and owners meet us at the boat ramp and listen to the PA. The exact location will be determined by water flow. This fun event celebrates our fearless, dedicated pooches as they retrieve items from the roaring Arkansas River. 

With all the serious raft races out there today, we almost overlooked the lighter side of rafting. Not anymore. Be ready to put on a show and kick off the freestyle action at the Salida Whitewater Park. Prizes will be awarded for nothing but silly moves. 

Brought to FIBArk in the fifties, the Olympic sport of whitewater slalom racing requires paddlers to negotiate a series of gates suspended over the river through the Whitewater Park in downtown Salida. Whitewater slalom places a premium on technical skill as paddlers are timed and penalized for missing, or even touching a gate as they pass through. 

Come check out these amazing athletes as they surf river waves on their shortboards and body boards. Location to be determined based on water flows, Scout Wave (downriver from the F Street Bridge) or the office wave (upriver from the main play hole, in back of Absolute Bikes) *Water level dependent.