Wild Mile kayaking festival coming soon

By FAITH MOLDAN / For the Pilot

With river levels rising all around the valley, all eyes will soon be on the Wild Mile of the Swan River as kayakers from all over take part in the 32nd annual Whitewater Kayak Festival on May 24-25.

Co-organizer Nikki Dezanni said the schedule of events will remain the same as in recent years, with no additions or changes to the events.

"So far, it's just right," Dezanni said of the water level. "It's just starting to come up, and if the cold weather continues, it should hold steady."

Whitewater events begin with registration from 9-10 a.m. at the Garden Bar in Bigfork on Saturday. The beginner slalom starts at 11 a.m. upriver from the power plant and one-lane bridge. The expert slalom begins at 2 p.m. further upriver.

Also part of the festival is the paddle triathlon on Sunday. The race includes a four-mile paddle, 14-mile bike ride and four-mile run. It begins at the new bridge on River Road — two miles behind Bigfork along the Swan River on Montana 209.

Registration for the triathlon is at 8 a.m. at the Garden Bar — one hour before the scheduled start time. Participants can also register at the Kalispell Athletic Club prior to race day.

Registration costs $42 per team or $18 for solo athletes and includes T-shirts and burgers. For more information, call Stan at Kalispell Athletic Club at 752-2880 or 253-4103.

Sunday's events include the downriver race and boater-cross, as well. The downriver race is scheduled to start at 11 a.m., and the boater-cross begins at 1 p.m.

"It's mostly local paddlers," Dezanni said of the competitors. "It's really anybody's game. There are so many good paddlers."

Awards and raffle conclude the weekend festivities after the boater-cross at the Garden Bar. One of the many items raffled off will be a kayak donated by Silver Moon Kayak.