
White Water Festival
June 12 - 15, 2025



HALL OF FAME
RECENT NEWS
Andy Corra introduced into the FIBArk Hall of Fame
Andy has many years with US Kayak Team memberships, three National Champion titles and several additional accolades related to paddling. One of those accolades is holding the Guinness World Record from 2010 to 2017 when he paddled the farthest distance ever in a 24 hour period on flowing water. Andy paddled a phenomenal 269.71 miles down the Yukon River in Canada. This record was only broken in June 2017 when a group of 3 (younger) paddlers completed 287 miles in 24 hours in Idaho.
During Andy’s paddling career, he has (so far) achieved an astonishing eleven wins in the grueling 25.7 mile FIBArk Classic Downriver Race, the longest and oldest whitewater race in the United States! Andy is as much of an icon for America’s Oldest Whitewater Festival as anyone else!
In 2016, Andy was happy to beat his longtime friend and rival, Mike Freeman (also from Durango) who he has been paddling and competing with for nearly 35 years. Andy and Mike have been trading 1st place finishes in the Classic Downriver Race for several years, with Freeman having narrowly beat Corra in a sprint finish in 2015. Although neither Andy, nor Mike, have broken Nelson Oldham’s record of 1:47:18 yet, both were close in 2015 coming in just over 1 hour and 49 minutes.
Andy was inducted into the FIBArk Hall of Fame in 2018.
Name | Accolades | Year Inducted |
---|---|---|
Andy Corra | Three time National Downriver Champion, 11-time FIBArk Downriver Champion, Whitewater Industry Entrepreneur and Pioneer | 2018 |
Howard Blakey | First FIBArk Commodore 1954, FIBArk Pioneer and Advocate | 2015 |
Teddy Makirs | Pioneer, Champion, FIBArk Downriver Champion 1961, National Slalom Champion 1964 | 2014 |
Dannie Makris | Pioneer, Champion, FIBArk Downriver Champion 1963, FIBArk Commodore 1967 | 2014 |
Steve Frazee | Community Leader FIBArk Commodore 1959 | 2013 |
Eric Frazee | U.S. Slalom Pioneer, 1959 FIBArk Slalom Champion | 2013 |
Larry Zuk | Pioneer racer and boat designer, Founder of Colorado White Water Association | 2013 |
Theodore M. “Ted” Jacobs | Civic Leader and FIBArk Pioneer, FIBArk Commodore 1956 | 2012 |
Xaver Wuerfmannsdobler | International Champion, Pioneer, FIBArk Commodore 1966 | 2012 |
George Oyler | The Mountain Mail newspaper owner, Community Leader | 2011 |
Laurence “Campy” Campton | 1954 Klepper Trophy/1st USA Finisher, Pioneer, Leader, and Champion | 2011 |
Roger Paris | 954, 56, 58 Downriver Champion, Whitewater Pioneer & Teacher | 2010 |
Erich Seidel | 1953 Downriver Champion, US Slalom Pioneer & Outdoorsman | 2010 |
Roy Hicks “King of the Hill” | Tenderfoot Hill Climb; 8x Champion | 2009 |
Carol Kane Dailey | Pioneer in Women’s Kayaking, National & International Champion | 2009 |
Clyde Jones | 1950 Downriver Race Winner | 2008 |