Athletes at the Payette River Games were in good spirits on Sunday, and fiercely focused on the huge prizes that would be awarded at the end of the competition. With a prize purse of over $100,000, and $10,000 top prizes in both men’s and women’s categories, it was the biggest money event in whitewater history.

With Saturday’s preliminary events complete, the long races for both SUPs and kayaks took place on Sunday morning along the flatwater above the main section at Kelly’s Whitewater Park.

Carnage was the name of the game in the 8-ball finals for both men and women. Heads were being punched by bows of boats as kayakers maneuvered around, and anyone had the chance of winning—being in the lead at any point meant several 8-ball opponents were trying to take you out. The competition was complete madness that had the crowd on their feet. Bryan Kirk and Louise Jull took home first prize in the men’s and women’s categories.

As the day went on, the crowd anxiously awaited SUP and boater-cross finals. In the boater-cross, favorites such as Isaac Levinson and Gerd Serrasolses were competing against a large field that could possibly take them down. The best in the world were exchanging paddle checks and quick lead changes. Serrasolses ended up on top after having a solid run out in front of the final group. The SUP-cross was stacked as well, with both professional SUP athletes and talented kayakers participating.  

As the sun came down and brought the crowd of spectators some much-needed shade, it was time for the last event of the Payette River Games: freestyle kayak finals. The women were up first with a talented group, it was hard to tell who was going to be in the top three. Some struggled on the feature and got washed out, while others, like winner Emily Jackson, dominated with incredible tricks that put her at the top of the category. The crowd went wild when Rowan Stuart threw a huge loop the size of tricks being thrown in the men’s event.

The men’s final was full of talent as well, with the focus being on combo moves—every competitor seemed to have a huge bag of tricks that pertained to their style. Mathieu Dumoulin came out on top, with Dane Jackson in second place and Nick Troutman third.

Click here for videos and the full list of results from the 2014 Payette River Games. 

John Webster is a professional adventure photographer based in Boise, Idaho. He has a degree in Communication with an emphasis on video from Boise State University. Passionate about the outdoors, John shares his experiences through the medium of digital photography. You can check out his work atwww.webstermediahouse.com or at Webster Media House on Facebook.

In July, grandmother and expedition paddler Dr. Deb Walters will begin kayaking over 2,500 miles from Maine to Guatemala to raise awareness for Safe Passage. Walters hopes to tell the story of the children and mothers living in the Guatemala City garbage dump and raise funds for additional grades for a community school.

Walters expects her journey, starting July 2014, to take about a year.

 

Walters will stay close to shore from Yarmouth, Maine, to mid New Jersey and then follow the Intracoastal Waterway to Florida. To avoid the possibility of armed attacks on small craft in Mexico, Deb will travel from Florida to Belize aboard the sailing vessel Polaris. For the final stretch she will kayak along a barrier reef and open coast to Rio Dulce in Guatemala.

Dr. Deb Walters is a grandmother from Maine, retired scientist and university leader, Safe Passage Board Member, and kayaking adventurer. Her previous solo kayaking expeditions were in the Arctic, along the Atlantic coasts in the Northeast and the Maritimes, and through tropical waters in Mexico.

Walters will be carrying her food, water and gear for camping, but would welcome offers of a bed along the way.  To host Deb, or help out in other ways, click here. You can also sponsor per mile, follow the blog and read articles and stories.

The Payette River Games, the biggest money event in whitewater history, is being hosted this weekend in the small town of Cascade, Idaho. The venue, Kelly’s Whitewater Park has become an epicenter for river lovers and outdoor folk from a variety of backgrounds. Not only does this highly regarded event invite some of the world’s best kayakers, it also attracts SUP athletes, surfers, rafters, and volleyball players—the event has almost every summer activity you can imagine.

The crowds came in waves on Saturday and at the hottest point in the day, the crowd was bustling—the weather was perfect to watch preliminary events in men’s and women’s SUP-cross races, freestyle kayaking, and river surfing.

Occasionally a massive SUP carrying six people made the attempts at paddling whitewater to entertain the crowd. During the middle of the day the surfers took the stage, and one in particular was inspiring to watch. Derek Rabelo, a blind surfer from Brazil, made the crowd go wild as he stood up and surfed the main feature in the Men’s Surf Open event.

A dip in the warm waters of the North Fork of the Payette River, running through Kelly’s Whitewater Park, is cooling for both the athletes competing and the spectators filling the amphitheater-style riverside seating.

What makes the Payette River Games so special is how many different people from different backgrounds assemble in Cascade to celebrate their sports, and multiple countries and states are represented. Competitive and recreational athletes with different backgrounds are introduced to new ways to enjoy the river—SUP paddlers gathered to watch play-boaters in their heats and vice-versa.

Today (Sunday) the finals of each event will highlight the top athletes in each niche. Competition aside, it’s a prime display of our sport at its best—the Payette River Games are a celebration of competition, diversity and inspiring athletes in the watersports world.

Watch a live stream of Sunday’s finals at www.payetterivergames.com. 

John Webster is a professional adventure photographer based in Boise, Idaho. He has a degree in Communication with an emphasis on video from Boise State University. Passionate about the outdoors, John shares his experiences through the medium of digital photography. You can check out his work atwww.webstermediahouse.com or at Webster Media House on Facebook.

If you’re in the Ottawa Valley this weekend, head to OWL Rafting for a gear swap and evening of whitewater films.

There will be vendors including Kokatat, Werner, Esquif, Pelican, Level Six, Sweet Protection, MKC and TiTs DEEP, and anyone is welcome to open the back of their own van to sell items of their own.

Katrina Van Wijk will MC an evening of whitewater films and Whitewater Brewing Company will be serving samples of their local brews.

See below for more details and click for more information on OWL Rafting’s Facebook page.