The countdown for the annual Clearwater Kayak Festival is in its final stages, according to Matt Kas (Kusunich), one of the principal organizers.
The action will begin this evening (Friday, 6 p.m.) with pre-registration at the Interior Whitewater building.
Saturday will be the downriver races, beginning for the first time with an experts' race through the Class 4 Sabre-tooth Rapids (located at 20 km on the Clearwater River Road). Start time will be about 11 a.m.
Downriver races through the more sedate Middle Canyon (at around 12 km) will follow.
Saturday evening the band Mamaguroove will put on a concert at Serenity Music Centre (between Birch Island and Vavenby on Lost Creek Road). Free camping will be provided.
This year's freestyle rodeo will be held at Little Pink on Sunday starting at about 1 p.m. This is a standing wave that is located on the river road side of the Clearwater River. It is ideal for viewing and photography, as you can literally almost reach out and touch the kayakers doing their stunts.
Little Pink is perhaps 20 minutes walk from the road. Watch for a sign around 2.5 or three km up the Clearwater River Road.