GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — It didn’t take long for Chris Vogt, owner of Glenwood Canyon Kayak, to go from elation, after hearing that the Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park was selected to host the 2009 U.S. Kayak Freestyle Team Trials, to the reality of how much work it’s going to take to make it happen.

“When I realized that the team trials were going to be here my first thought was that this is a major event, not only for us, but for the whole kayaking community,” Vogt said.

The U.S. Team Trials could potentially draw thousands of competitors and spectators to the three-day competition next spring. The Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park Committee, which Vogt is member of, were thinking of how they were going to logistically pull off an event of that magnitude. The only logical answer was to hold an event this fall to see how it would work, according to Vogt.

That’s how the Throw Down Show Down freestyle kayak competition was born.

“It’s crucial for the whole valley that Glenwood put on the best event anyone can imagine,” Vogt said. “If we pull this off with aces, if we can put on an awesome face and show the kayak world that Glenwood can pull this together and put on a world-class event, others would be beating down our door for events.”

The Throw Down Show Down competition is scheduled to be a one-day event, on Sept. 21, for anyone who wants to compete. Categories will include men, women, open, junior and cadet classes. The main reason for the event is to test out the logistics of the whitewater park and to determine what potential problems could occur and how to deal with them now, before the team trials.

“It’s good for us, a dry run so to speak,” Vogt said. “It will let us plug the holes and critique ‘What are some of the problems we didn’t expect,’ and ‘How big are some of the other problems that we did see coming.’”

Vogt said they are looking at all sorts of potential challenges like parking, traffic and what the structure of the competition will be.

“The best way to see how something is going to work is to have done it once before,” Vogt said.

The Throw Down Show Down will be held on Sunday, according to Vogt, in order to accommodate other businesses on Devereux Road.

“We think it will be the least impact for the businesses there if we do it on Sunday,” Vogt said. “We are trying to be really considerate of those guys.”

With water levels dropping from higher levels seen this spring, the whitewater park will still be in good shape for the September competition, according to Vogt. And the cooler fall temperatures won’t scare off any competitors.

“Kayakers aren’t going to be put off with the cooler temperatures,” Vogt said. “They will be fine. I would say we are really good through October, almost.”

Contact John Gardner: 384-9114

jgardner@postindependent.com



Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO

Kayak competition The Throw Down Show Down Freestyle Kayak Competition at the Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park • When: 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 • Registration fee $20 prior to Sept. 21, or $25 the day of the event. Competitors can preregister at Glenwood Canyon Kayak. • For more information or to volunteer with the competition contact Chris Vogt at Glenwood Canyon Kayak, 928-9949.