FIBArk

FIBark is the oldest whitewater events/festivals in the United Sates, so old that the name itself stands for First In Boating the Arkansas, which originated back in 1950. The little town of Salida host this annual 3 day festival based around the river. 65 years later, we are still battling the Arkansas River, and this year was some high water, like really high, the highest the river has been in 20 years. 

With the 20 year high water most of the river features were flooded out, though luckily for us play boaters there was a great wave just upstream called “office wave” which hosted this years Freestyle event. Usually the freestyle runs after the Hooligan Race, which is a race of home made floats that float/ or sink there way down in a parade of 'anything but boats’ race. Though with the high water it was unfortunately cancelled and the Freestyle Finals became the main show for Saturday night.

Men’s Finals consisted of Stephen Wright, Jordan Poffenberger, Dave Fusilli, Max Karlson and myself. Everyone was looking good in a the wave and I was really impressed with what we could do on the wave itself. There were some big clean blunts, airscrews, front and back panams, helixes and blunt Mcnasty’s. Though after everyone had there three attempts to lay down the highest score I was honored to be able to paddle away sitting on top, closely followed by Stephen and then Jordan. It was a close event with lots of good rides and big tricks being laid down. What a great finish for my Father’s Day weekend.