The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“G Dog might be coming in H-O-T”
Since 1995 the Oh Be Joyful steep creek kayak race has been on and off the radar. Some years the Forest Service permitting was in place and paddlers rolled into Crested Butte for a shot at the title against the local Gunnison Valley contingent of kayakers.
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Other years, word-of-mouth was the only way to find out. Still, fans of the famed steep creek that were in the know would show up for the unofficial Oh Be Joyful race.
This year, thanks to the help of the Gunnison River Festival and the work of Brent Toepper, the Oh Be Joyful race is official and is set to go off on Sunday, June 27 at 4 p.m.
Oh Be Joyful creek is in the Slate River drainage west of the town of Crested Butte and is arguably one of the top destinations for steep creek kayakers every spring and early summer. The run offers a mix of 10-foot to 15-foot drops and slide rapids.
Toepper has been involved in and competed in the race since its inception in 1995 and recalls the inaugural event.
“Everyone running Oh Be Joyful then thought it would be fun to have a race,” says Toepper. “Twenty people entered—it was $20 to enter, winner take all.”
In 2006, Toepper put in the time and effort to get the proper permits in place for the race and then came back to the Forest Service again to get a permit for this year. Toepper is hoping to make the race a legitimate annual event.
“I think the Forest Service saw I had done a good job in 2006,” says Toepper. “Essentially I want to try to make it something that happens every year. It could be the steepest creek race in the whole world.”
This year the course will start just below Ankle Breaker Falls, opening with a 12-foot drop in the first 25 feet and finishing at the bottom of Finish Line slide rapid.
It’s $30 to enter this year. Sign-up will be held at the Oh Be Joyful parking lot the day of the race. Toepper asks that all entrants run the course at least once by themselves before signing up for the race. The race is capped at 30 competitors.
Spectators are encouraged to come out and hike up to watch the race from the Oh Be Joyful Campground. In past years, the road was open to vehicles but it is closed this year. There will be flagging to help keep spectators on the trail and in safe areas for viewing. Toepper also asks that spectators respect the area and keep their dogs on leashes.
“I have seen dogs jump in and chase people,” says Toepper. “Respect the space.”
There will be cash prizes for the top finishers and some gear to give away.
“There will be a Compassionate Award because someone always breaks something,” says Toepper.
Anyone interested in the race can contact Toepper via email at brenttoepper@yahoo.com.
Crested Butte resident Milo Wynne has been running Oh Be Joyful for 15 years, “plus or minus a boof or two,” and has some advice for would-be competitors.
“You have to be in the right spot or you may get some broken bones,” says Wynne. “It’s like in a hockey game—when you get in the corners you gotta get your elbows up a little bit higher.”
Wynne may or may not enter this year but says he’s got a buddy looking to relive his past Oh Be Joyful glory days.
“G Dog might be coming in H-O-T,” says Wynne.
