Freestyle Competition – Price $30
Salida Whitewater Park Boat Ramp
Register: On-line or at the FIBArk Boathouse
Age groups:
Cadet (13 and under)
Junior (14-18)
Pro (19 and over)
Thursday June 13th
2:00 pm Freestyle – Cadets, Salida Boat Ramp
6:00 pm Freestyle Cadet Awards, Location TBA
Friday June 14th
10:00 am Freestyle – Junior M&W Prelims, Salida Boat Ramp
12:00 pm Freestyle -Expert M&W Prelims, Salida Boat Ramp (starts directly after Juniors)
2:00 pm Freestyle -Pro M&W Prelims, Salida Boat Ramp
4:00 pm Freestyle -Junior&Expert Men’s SemiFinals, Salida Boat Ramp (starts directly after Pro Prelims)
6:30 pm Freestyle -Pro Men’s SemiFinals (no women’s), Salida Boat Ramp
Saturday June 15th
2:30 pm Freestyle – C1, OC1, Salida Whitewater Park
3:00 pm Freestyle – Expert&Junior M&W Finals, Salida Boat Ramp
7:00 pm Freestyle – Pro M&W Finals, Salida Boat Ramp
9:00 pm Freestyle Awards, Location TBA
FIBArk’s Freestyle Kayaking Rodeo is scored on the paddler’s ability to do tricks and maneuvers in a river hole or standing wave. Competitors do tricks such as loops, spins and tricky-woos while trying to combo the moves together to accumulate points based by style, difficulty and how “huge” the moves are.
Event History
Freestyle began in the early 90’s when P.T. Wood, our 2010 Commodore, organized the first Whitewater Rodeo held in conjunction with FIBArk. The paddlers attempted to stay in a “wave” on the river and perform such maneuvers as endos – putting the boat vertical in the water – or doing spins. The first Rodeos and Endo Competitions were held at Endo Rock in The Numbers rapids above Salida, but since 1996 the FIBArk Freestyle Competitions have been held in Salida at the FIBArk Boat Ramp.
Since 1994, the Whitewater Freestyle competition has been part of the FIBArk festivities. With the development of small, light kayaks paddlers are able to perform acrobatics in the water. The boaters must complete feats, such as standing on end and spins to accumulated points. In 1998, the FIBArk Freestyle contest gained national ranking. “Trophy moves” are scored on style, variety and the ability to do moves in either direction.
Past Winners
| Men | Women | |
| 1994 | Andy Corra | Nancy Wiley |
| 1995 | Ed Lucero | Nancy Wiley |
| 1996 | Mark Lyle | Erica Mitchell |
| 1997 | Sam Drevo | Erica Mitchell |
| 1998 | Clay Wright | |
| 1999 Junior Class: | Kyle Scarborough | |
| 1999 Citizen’s Class: | Jasen Mommer | Dawn Powell |
| 1999 Squirt Class: | Andy Bedingfield | Brooke Winger |
| 2000 Pro Class: | Clay Write | Aleta Miles |
| 2000 Expert: | Scott Alexander | Nancy Hiemstra |
| 2000 Sport: | Craig Kiskes | Ali Gober |
| 2001 Pro Class: | Macy Burnham | Erica Mitchell |
| 2001 Expert: | Jasen Mommer | Kat Rector |
| 2001 Sport: | Alex Hotze | Julie Funderburk |
| 2002 Pro Class: | Jay Kincaid | Karyn McMullin |
| 2002 Expert: | Nick Kleminsky | Jere Lester |
| 2002 Sport: | Truman Hornsby | Valeri Montoya |
| 2003 Pro Class: | ? | Tanya Shuman |
| 2003 Expert: | Chad Crabtree | Tracy Brabart |
| 2003 Sport: | John Gerstenbergor | |
| 2004 Pro Class: | Eric Jackson | Tanya Shuman |
| 2004 Expert: | Robert Peerson | Ali Wade |
| 2004 Sport: | Will Lokken | |
| 2005 Pro Class: | Eric Jackson | |
| 2006 Pro Class: | Stephen Wright | |
| 2006 Expert: | Chad Hixon | Cheyenne Rogers |
| 2006 Sport: | Glenn Dalgleish | |
| 2007 Pro Class: | Eric Jackson | Emily Jackson |
| 2008 Pro Class: | Stephen Wright | Emily Jackson |
| 2009 Pro Class: | Stephen Wright | Ruth Gordon |
| 2009 Expert: | Michael Patterson | Natalie Kramer |
| 2009 Junior: | Dane Jackson | Taylor Cote |
| 2010 | Dustin Urban | Ruth Gordon |
| 2011 | Matieau Dumoulin | Kat Levitt |
| 2012 Pro | Dustin Urban | Hailey Mills |
| 2012 Jr | Jorden Poffenberger | Lauren Burress |
| 2012 Expert | Nathan Werner |