The California River Quest today announced that it has registered more than 60 paddlers from six U.S. states, Canada and the United Kingdom. Participants range in age from 25 to 75 and include a group of 11 wounded veterans from Team River Runner. Paddlers’ crafts include kayaks, canoes, surfskis, outrigger canoes, standup and prone paddleboards.
Paddlers can register as Adventure class or Competitive class. All participants start in Redding, CA at the Sundial Bridge. The 25-mile course (the Challenge Quest) takes out at Balls Ferry in Anderson, CA. The 50-mile course (the Ultra-Marathon Quest) takes out at Riverside Park in Red Bluff, CA. The 100-mile course (the Endurance Quest) has a third checkpoint at Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area in Corning, CA and finishes at Bidwell State Park in Chico, CA.
The 2019 California River Quest will be held on May 26 with registration on May 25 and a celebration lunch on May 27 at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in the Big Room. There will be a staggered start with the Adventure class taking off at 6:00am followed by Competitive class standup paddle boards at 6:30am followed by the rest of the Competitive class at 7:00am.
The California River Quest is not for profit, though it is set up as a business. However, the California River Quest is run 100% by volunteers and profits are donated to organizations that advocate for and protect rivers. This year, Friends of the River will be the beneficiary.
“We created this event because we love padding the Upper Sacramento River and want to share this special place with other paddlers,” said Emily Matthews, race director for the California River Quest. “It is very important to us that this is an inclusive event. We are excited about the diverse group that we have registered so far that includes sponsored paddlers, recreational paddlers, wounded veterans and septuagenarians.”
About Team River Runner
Team River Runner believes that every wounded and disabled veteran deserves the opportunity to embrace new challenges, invoke leadership, and promote camaraderie. Team River Runner provides an outlet to fulfill these beliefs – inviting wounded and disabled war veterans and their families to participate in adaptive paddling programs. About Friends of the River Founded in 1973, Friends of the River is California’s only statewide river conservation organization that drives protection and restoration of rivers to support sustainable water solutions through advocacy and education. Its work focuses on awareness of and promotion of solutions that minimize the impact on California’s rivers by optimizing the use and storage of water.
About the California River Quest
The California River Quest is a paddling event held on the Upper Sacramento River. It provides a variety of course options that makes it interesting for competitive paddlers as well as accessible to adventure paddlers. The California River Quest provides a unique opportunity to paddle special piece of the Sacramento River that remains natural and clean. The course begins at Sundial Bridge and flows through riparian forests and oak woodlands teaming with wildlife and plants as well as a section that runs through a lava canyon. For more information about the California River Quest, visit www.californiariverquest.com.
