Oh-Be-Joyful kayak race

On Saturday, June 5 High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA) held the Oh-Be-Joyful Kayak Race, drawing both local and professional kayakers to the event. Pro kayaker Rush Sturges took home the first place trophy while local kayaking legend Rob Dickinson was ceremoniously allowed to wear the infamous “Boof” belt buckle for going big on the iconic 23-foot waterfall. 

The event was held to raise awareness for HCCA’s mission to protect Mt. Emmons from mining as well as its continued work maintaining Oh-Be-Joyful Creek for Wild and Scenic eligibility as part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) Forest Plan, which is in the middle of a multi-year public revision process. If you missed the event and would like to learn more about HCCA’s GMUG Forest Plan advocacy, or to show your support for new Wilderness and Wild and Scenic recommendations by submitting a comment, visit gmugrevision.com.

Thank you to Paul Raymond for volunteering to organize the event and to all of the local volunteer safety crew for keeping the event incident-free. Also, a big shout-out to Crested Butte Search and Rescue for being on the scene.

RESULTS

1 Rush Sturges 

2 Noel Parker 

3 Cole Conger 

4 Henry Heyman 

5 Brandon Krieg 

6 Mike Bone 

7 Rob Dickinson 

8 Tom Aex 

9 Ryan Beasley 

10 Adam Sampson 

11 Craig Phillips 

12 Joey Carpenter 

13 Steve Urich 

14 Paul Raymond 

15 Roy Harris 

16 Nicholas Wolfe 

17 Nate Ober 

18 Heath Bradley 

19 Brandon Renner 

20 Darrel Haggard 

21 Avery Potter 

22 Austin Woody 

23 Carrie Schlemmer 

24 James Johnson 

25 Jameson Moran