March 8, 2023 – Denver, CO – Down River Equipment has announced plans for Raftopia 2023, which will return as an in-person event this spring. Raftopia is the largest western rafting sale and gathering of the river community. It historically marks the beginning of the rafting season in Colorado.
Raftopia will begin on Monday, March 27 with a weeklong sale, followed by a two-day outdoor exhibition and used gear sale that brings rafters, manufacturers and nonprofit organizations together. All of which culminates with a giveaway of over $30,000 in prizes on Saturday, April 1.
Customers will shop for the best deals of the year, check out brand-new products, and explore Down River’s Used Gear Showcase. There will be opportunities to meet with dozens of paddlesport industry leaders.
This year’s committed exhibitors include The River Radius Podcast, AIRE, Badfish, NRS, Hyside, Maravia, Rocky Mountain Rafts, Cataract, Sawyer, SportTrail, Jack’s Plastic Welding, American Whitewater, Protect Our Rivers, Astral, Over It Raft Covers, The UNspilt, Mustang Survival, Protect Our Rivers, American Whitewater, Tornado Anchors, and Optic Nerve.
In-person and online customers will have a chance to win a over $30,000 in giveaway prizes including raft packages from partners like AIRE, NRS, and Badfish, a raft trailer from SportTrail, and many others. Down River will start the giveaway reveal on March 20.
On Friday and Saturday, customers are invited to shop one of the biggest used rafting gear collections of the year. The assortment of used river gear will range from entire raft packages to accessories.
Sam Carter, host of The River Radius Podcast, will be this year’s emcee and is collaborating with Down River on interviews for select exhibitors.
New Belgium is providing beer for the event, and Dedicated Bistro & Bakery will be there on Saturday, April 1.
Additional information, including the event schedule is below. You can also learn more at downriverequip.com.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Monday-Thursday (3/27-31):
9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Raftopia Sale Starts!
Shop Raftopia Sale & Earn Giveaway Entries
Friday (3/31):
9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Shop Raftopia Sale & Earn Giveaway Entries
Meet & Greet Industry Manufacturers (starts at 1 p.m.)
Used Gear Sale (starts at 1 p.m.)
Saturday (4/1):
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.:
Shop Raftopia Sale & Earn Giveaway Entries
Used Gear Sale
Giveaway Announcements Start (starts at 3 p.m.)
Finale Giveaway Announced (4 p.m.)
