With about 70 people registered, the annual Clearwater Kayak Festival last weekend was a success, according to Mat Kas, one of the organizers.

For the first time the festival featured an experts-only downriver race through the Class 4 Sabre-tooth Rapids (located at 20 km on the Clearwater River Road).

Adrian Kiernan won the men’s event at the Sabretooth, while Tori Harrison won for the women.

Downriver races were also held through the more sedate Middle Canyon (at around 12 km). Mat Kas won for the men while Alison Spring won the women’s event.

A storm-caused power outage delayed the concert somewhat, but Saturday evening the band Mamaguroove performed for 200 to 300 people at Serenity Music Centre (between Birch Island and Vavenby on Lost Creek Road). Free camping was provided for kayak festival participants.

This year the freestyle rodeo was held at Little Pink on Sunday. A standing wave that is located on the river road side of the Clearwater River, Little Pink is nearly ideal for viewing and photography. Members of the audience could literally almost reach out and touch the kayakers doing their stunts.

Adrian Kiernan won the freestyle event for the men, while Darlene Fair of Kamloops took first place for the women.

Clearwater Kayak Festival was first held in 2007 and has been held on annual basis most years since that time.