Earlier in the season I traveled from Denver to Reno with some buddies for the collegiate nationals (you had to attend college to compete). It was a great time. I have never seen the Reno park before, it’s awesome, I especially like the way the river splits into two different channels, one for racing, where the Boater X was held, and the other channel that had a greater flow for play.
Saturday was the Boater X on the river right channel. I didn’t compete in the race, after seeing it I wish I had, it looked like a lot of fun. The racers gathered at the top of the course waiting behind the start line for the clock to reach zero, if a boater crossed the star line prior to the clock reaching zero the racer was disqualified. The many heats throughout the day were very exciting and packed with action. At the end of it all Lane Jacobs walked away with first place.
Rodeo freestyle was on Sunday, hosted in the play hole in the middle of the river left channel. About 20 college students from around the country competed. The scoring was not the traditional tricks equal points, but rather every ride was judged on skill, amplitude, and precision. Jay Kincaid was the judge for the event. I managed to place 4th in the quarter finals. After the dust settled (or water droplets collected that is) Jonny Myeres walked away with first.
The whole trip was a super fun time hanging out with some truly great competitors. I even was able to find Jason Craig running though the crowd. After it was all over we hit the road, it was a long drive back to
Denver.
Later, Eric Bissel
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