RiverGuides.ning.com

As river guides, outfitters, and private boaters we all know that one of the most special things about river trips is the people it attracts. These are people who you wouldn’t mind spending all day with, preferably on the river, but also at the local pub or barbeque. Now there is a place for you to meet and “hang” with all your river friends: RiverGuides.ning.com (RiverGuides).

RiverGuides is a social network built specifically for river folk. It serves as an open forum to everyone (guides, private boaters, outfitters, and even those who simply “love” river guides) and provides users with their own blogs, discussion boards, photo galleries, and lots of other features.

As outfitters and guides, we all know that having the right people is a key to running great river trips; however, networking in the river business doesn’t just start and end with outfitters and guides. There are shuttle drivers, office staff, trip-prep employees, travel agents, food providers, airline providers, and many others who influence our river trips.

These reasons are precisely why a networking tool like RiverGuides is of value to everyone in the industry. The spread of knowledge, the sharing of ideas, and the connection of people – all under the umbrella of love for rivers – is what RiverGuides is about.

So let’s share and connect, but most importantly, let’s love our rivers. Join RiverGuides.

Pull-Me-Down-Peter

This is Dan Thurber eating his favorite meal: rum, topped with muffin, topped with polish sausage. Yum.

EddyFlower Vertical Challenge

From www.eddyflower.com:

EddyFlower proudly presents the second annual “EddyFlower Vertical Challenge”, a contest of endurance, skill and mental determination. The competition is simple: you and your paddling buddies paddle as many runs as you can endure for 32 days and, to give your paddling purpose, the challenge involves raising funds for young adults with cancer. At the end of the event, the team in each division with the most vertical feet is crowned champion.

• The Vertical Challenge opens at sunrise May 15 and closes sunset June 15.
• Open to all paddlers, from all states (including Canada), of all skill levels.
• Compete for prizes in one of six divisions (Open, Class V, Class IV, Class III, Weekend Warrior, Womens) that best match your team's skill level.
• All funds raised go to First Descents a kayaking camp for young adults with cancer.
• Drives new American Whitewater memberships to protect and restore America's rivers.

FUNDRAISER
EddyFlower has partnered with First Descents to raise money for a great cause. What better reason to paddle when every stroke you take raises money for young adults with cancer! First Descents offers young adults with cancer outdoor experiences that will forever change their lives. The 2007 EddyFlower Vertical Challenge competitors raised over $7,500 and sent seven youth to kayak camp.

The goal is for each member on each team to raise as many donations as possible during the event for First Descents. All donations raised go directly to First Descents to provide cancer survivors with a free, week long kayak camp in Colorado. The top 3 individuals who raise the most donations for First Descents win a new Dagger Nomad 8.5, Aquabond Carbon Paddle, and WRSI Helmet. For fundraising suggestions, review the Ambassador Fundraising Package and Vertical Challenge Donation Opportunities documents for ideas.

AW MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
EddyFlower is proud to support American Whitewater to help protect and restore America’s rivers. The first 100 registered Vertical Challenge participants are eligible to renew or sign up for a new AW membership at discount rate of $10. The balance of the membership fee will be contributed by the gracious fundraising efforts provided by the members of the Front Range Paddle Association. FRPA focuses on youth character development through paddle sports.

PRIZES
The EddyFlower Vertical Challenge award ceremony will be held at The Spot in Golden Colorado on TBD. Prizes will be handed out or shipped to the winners. Thanks to our Sponsors we have the best paddling loot on the planet to give away! Prizes include:

Most Individual Donations - top 3 paddlers who raise the most donations for First Descents win:
• 1st: Dagger Nomad Creekboat
• 2nd: Aquabound Carbon Paddle
• 3rd: WRSI Helmet

Most Individual Vertical - top 3 paddlers who paddle the most vertical feet win:
• 1st: 9 Day All Inclusive Panama Kayaking Trip (Boquete Outdoor Adventures)
• 2nd: GoPro Helmet Camera
• 3rd: PeakUk Safety PFD

Open Division
• 1st: 1 of each: GoPro Helmet Camera, PeakUK PFD, Kokatat Drytop, Aquabound Carbon Paddle, Level 6 Skirt and Bladder
• 2nd: 1 of each: Smith Optics Sunglasses, Keen Shoes, WRSI Helmet, NRS Throw Bag, Tech 4O TraiLeader Watch

Class V Only Division
• 1st: 1 of each: GoPro Helmet Camera, PeakUK PFD, Kokatat Drytop, Aquabound Carbon Paddle, Level 6 Skirt and Bladder
• 2nd: 1 of each: Smith Optics sunglasses, Keen Shoes, WRSI Helmet, NRS Throw Bag, Tech 4O TraiLeader Watch

Class IV Division
• 1st: 1 of each: GoPro Helmet Camera, PeakUK PFD, Kokatat Drytop, Aquabound Carbon Paddle, Level 6 Skirt and Bladder
• 2nd: 1 of each: Smith Optics sunglasses, Keen Shoes, WRSI Helmet, NRS Throw Bag, Tech 4O TraiLeader Watch

Class III Division
• 1st: 1 of each: GoPro Helmet Camera, PeakUK PFD, Kokatat Drytop, Aquabound Carbon Paddle, Level 6 Skirt and Bladder
• 2nd: 1 of each: Smith Optics Sunglasses, Keen Shoes, WRSI Helmet, NRS Throw Bag, Tech 4O TraiLeader Watch

Womens Division
• 1^st: Go Pro Helmet Camera, Kokatat Drytop, Aquabound paddle, WRSI helmet, Keen Shoes

Weekend Warrior Division
• 1st: 1 of each: GoPro Helmet Camera, PeakUK PFD, Kokatat Drytop, Aquabound Carbon Paddle, Level 6 Skirt and Bladder
• 2nd: 1 of each: Smith Optics Sunglasses, Keen Shoes, WRSI Helmet, NRS Throw Bag, Tech 4O TraiLeader Watch

DIVISIONS
Choose from five divisions that best match your team’s skills. The team in each division with the most vertical feet is crowned champion. The individual with the most vertical feet will be crowned as the overall individual vertical champion.

• Open Division: all runs are eligible in this division. The team in this division with most Class I-V vertical feet wins.
• Class V Only Division: only Class V (V-, V, V+) runs are eligible in this division. The team in this division with the most Class V-, V, V+ vertical feet wins.
• Class IV Division: only Class I-IV runs are eligible in this division. The team in this division with the most Class I-IV vertical feet wins.
• Class III Division: only Class I-III runs are eligible in this division. The team in this division with the most Class I-III vertical feet wins.
• Womens Division: all runs are eligible in this division. The team in this division with most Class I-V vertical feet wins.
• Weekend Warrior Division: all runs are eligible in this division. The ten best days as a team will be totaled to determine which team has the most vertical feet. The team in this division with the most vertical feet wins.

RULES
All registered teams and individuals must abide by all event rules. Teams or individuals failing to adhere to the following rules may be disqualified at the discretion of the event staff. Prizes will not be awarded to teams or individuals that do not follow the rules or are suspected of cheating.

• Competition begins sunrise May 15 and ends sunset June 15.
• Maximum team size: 5
• Minimum team size: 1
• Competitors can only be registered on one team.
• No solo paddling. A minimum of two paddlers required on a descent in order to receive credit for the run. Second paddler does not have to be a team member.
• You must stop to help if you see another boater in trouble.
• Single run limitation set at 5 runs per team member i.e. each team member can only run one section of river 5 times.
• Must use put-ins and take-outs defined for the runs listed eddyflower.com for competition credit.
• Must complete entire run to earn vertical feet. Portaging unrunnable and unsafe rapids is acceptable. Running laps on one drop or few drops doesn't contribute to your teams vertical feet.
• $10 per person registration covers insurance fee for ACA insurance. All competitors must fillout, sign and fax an ACA Waiver. Fax waiver to 720.519.0708.
• Teams may recruit a new team member(s) if you have an open spot(s) during the competition, however, no trading people in and out once the comp starts.
• Each team must have a team captain. Team Captains will be the point person for all communications with EddyFlower before, during and after the event.
• Teams must register, pay insurance, and turn in waiver by May 14 to be eligible to compete.
• Teams are responsible for entering in run and donation information as soon as possible, and must be within 48 hours of the descent or are subject to disqualification. See Standings section for details.
• Honor system applies, team member registration requires real First Name, Last Name, and Email Address. Anonominity doesn't work well with the Honor System concept.
• Prizes will not be awarded to teams that do not follow the rules or are suspected of cheating.

STANDINGS
EddyFlower.com will provide real-time event standings reports. These report web pages will include up to date standings for each division including.

• Total Feet By Division
• Total Feet By Individual
• Total Donations By Team
• Total Donations By Individual

Note: Teams will be required to enter laps and donations directly into the EddyFlower Login page. The goal is to have teams enter in laps and donations as soon as possible to keep the standings as real-time as possible.

VIDEO
EddyFlower will be creating a complimentary DVD consisting of team videos and photos submitted during the event. Last years video was sic, big thanks to Walkaway Creative for creating it!

POSTER
Big thanks to Len Eckstein for designing this years event poster! Click here for the full size poster.

CONTACTS
For additional registration, event, or sponsor information please contact:

Paul Hemming
Cell: 303.332.6262
Email: paul@eddyflower.com

Brian Copanas
Cell: 720.394.5379
E-mail: brian@eddyflower.com