Animas River Days in Durango
Animas River Days in Durango celebrate the local Animas River and reflect the important connection that it has to the heart of the city. The festival is a much loved event and it emphasizes the importance of keeping the river ecosystem clean and healthy – as well as the whole of Durango. Why not come out this June and celebrate this year’s Animas River Days in Durango?
History Of Animas River Days
Animas River Days began in the year 1985, when the first official whitewater rodeo in the town of Durango was put on by local paddling legend Nancy Wiley. This event has been drawing paddlers and spectators around the world to its events ever since. Over the years the festival has grown and now it draws hundreds of people.
Event Info
Activities During The Events
This thrilling festival includes a number of events, including river surfing, stand-up paddling, freestyle kayaking, raft and kayak slalom, boatercross, the inflatable rodeo and a costumed river parade. Anyone can take part in the events, so sign up in advance if you want to join in with the fun. Durango has established a reputation as the best paddling community in the State of Colorado. There’s no other event quite like it, in the way that it captures the natural power and beauty of the Animas River and the energy of Durango.
Whitewater Park in Durango
Durango is home to the Whitewater Park, which is where many of the events of the festival take place. The Whitewater Park has hosted the US National Teams for many years for slalom, free-style and wild water events. It has also been where the US National Championships took place in open canoe slalom and slalom. From 1989 to the year 1996 it was also where the Champion International Whitewater Slalom Series were held.
The new park opened up in 2014 with 12 rapid features, including Corner Pocket, Smelter Rapid and Ponderosa. The larger rapids at the park rate as Class IIIs at the lower water sections and Class IVs at the higher water sections. The park has been re-shaped and there are three new good features. The top wave is a fast one that greens out at the top and in the lower water there is a wavy hole where you can do lots of tricks.
Head down to Animas River Days so that you can enjoy the fun of this great whitewater festival – one of the most exciting events in the Durango calendar.
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