The Coosa River Basin Initiative’s WATERFEST XV splashes down this Friday and Saturday with a host of paddle-powered fun.
WATERFEST XV will include a 6-mile canoe, kayak and paddleboard race on the Etowah River, a 1.5-mile raft race on the Oostanaula River and canoe and kayak tug o-wars at Heritage Park in downtown Rome.
More than $3000 in prizes will be up for grabs at the event as paddlers compete for awards in the races, tug-o-wars and CRBI’s annual Canoe-a-thon.
In the Etowah River Race, prizes will be awarded to the fastest finishers in multiple divisions and to participants with the best decorated boat and best race costumes.
While paddlers are racing down the Etowah, participants in the Blue Sky Outfitter Recycled Raft Race will make their way down the Oostanaula River from Ridge Ferry Park.
Teams are encouraged to create their own rafts using primarily recycled materials. Prizes will be awarded to the fastest finisher and in the following categories: Most Original, Best Engineered, and Most Enthusiastic Crew.
The event will culminate with the Canoe Tug-O-War contests in the Cedar Creek Park & Outdoor Center Tug-O-War Pool, a giant portable pool that will be erected at Heritage Park and the finish line for the races.
In these contests, two canoes will be tied end-to-end and co-ed teams will attempt to paddle-pull their opponent across the pool. The tug-o-war tournament champions will take home $200 cash and gift certificates to local restaurants.
Kayak Tug-O-Wars and canoe and kayak demo rides in the Cedar Creek Park Pool will kick off the weekend of activities Friday, June 5, beginning at 5 p.m.
In the Canoe-a-thon, CRBI supporters will raise money from friends, family and business associates with the top fundraisers earning prizes including a new Old Town canoe from Johnson Outdoors and a new kayak from Cedar Creek Park & Outdoor Center. In the youth division, students 16 and under will compete to win a special youth kayak.
Registration for four-person Canoe Tug-O-War teams is $80; registration for the Etowah River Race is $40 for solo paddlers and $50 for tandem teams. Recycled Raft Race registration is $35 per team.
All registrations include a year’s membership in CRBI and event t-shirts
Participants can register at www.coosa.org/events/waterfest
Those wishing to compete in the Canoe-a-thon can set up an online fundraising page at
www.firstgiving.com/coosa or call CRBI at 706-232-2724 for more information.
CRBI is a 501c3 non-profit organization and member of the International Waterkeeper Alliance. Its mission is to inform and empower citizens to protect, preserve and restore North America’s most biologically diverse river basin.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT SHIRA KERCE AT 706-232-2724 or email at skerce@coosa.org