Whitewater festival this weekend in Bigfork
Bigfork native Jonathan Meyers remembers the good days of the Bigfork Whitewater Festival, when over 100 competitors would arrive in town for the annual event.
While the event has fewer competitors than it once did (about 40 kayakers competed last year), the spirit of the Swan River Wild Mile remains strong.
The 38th annual festival gets underway Saturday with a weekend full of racing on the whitewater section below the spillway on the Swan River one mile above Bigfork.
Organizers are hoping to revive the spirit of the Bigfork Whitewater Festival by banking on its natural amenities.
Being located on Bigfork’s back porch is one asset. “It’s a really unique spot to have a whitewater festival,” Meyers said. “It’s super sweet here.”
For example, there’s great spectating along the course, especially at the big rock at the upper portion of the kayak slalom event.
When Meyers was growing up in Bigfork the festival was a main stop on the national whitewater rodeo circuit. That has since passed, and with the date of the festival on Memorial Day, many boaters head over to the Lochsa River in Idaho. Still, a hardy group of kayakers — and some rafters — will be on hand this weekend.
Helping draw more boaters back to Bigfork is a $2,000 cash purse.
Sunday’s triathlon will consist of a 4-mile flatwater paddle (above the dam), a 14-mile bike ride and a 4-mile run. The race starts at the bridge on River Road, 2 miles behind Bigfork on Highway 209, on the Swan River at 9 am.
Registration is at Kalispell Athletic Club or at kalispellathleticclub.net, or at the Garden Bar at 8 a.m. the day of the race.
BIGFORK WHITEWATER FESTIVAL
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Whitewater Fest Schedule
Thursday, May 23
6 p.m. Volunteer Meeting at Whistling Andy’s Distillery
Friday, May 24
6 p.m. Stoke Float! Meet at Sliter’s Park
Saturday, May 25
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - Event registration at RV near Sliter’s Park
10 a.m.-Beginner slalom at take-out
11:30 a.m. - Mandatory boaters meeting (Expert Slalom racers only) at The Big Rock
Noon - Expert Slalom Start at The Big Rock
All Day -Stand-Up Paddle Board demo at Bigfork Bay
Sunday, May 26
8 a.m. triathlon registration @ Whitewater RV
9 a.m. triathlon start @ Swan River Road Bridge
10 a.m. downriver start (kayaks first, then rafts) @ Wild Mile Put-In
1 p.m. Giant Slalom Race Start (Kayaks followed by Rafts) @ Wild Mile Put-In
Awards Ceremony to follow the giant slalom race at Sliter’s Park. Whitewater Festival dinner and silent auction follow the awards ceremony at the Garden Bar.