GMC Down River SUP Sprint

GET UP, STAND UP, DON’T GIVE UP THE RACE!

Have you ever wanted to surf Gore Creek — SUP style? The GMC Down River SUP Sprint is your chance to race down Gore Creek in Vail on a stand-up paddleboard and put your speed and skills to the test. This SUP race runs a 4-mile stretch of Gore Creek from East Vail to Mountain House Gear Town. Competitors must stand strong and paddle fast because snowmelt from the nearby Gore Range makes for icy waters while navigating the Class II/III course. Add in a handful of low bridges, drops and wave trains, and the GMC Down River SUP Sprint becomes a race to remember.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8
10:30 AM

IMPORTANT: Registration for this event closes Friday, June 7 at 6:00 PM. Athletes should arrive at the put-in no less than 45 minutes before the race start time to go through a gear check, attend a safety meeting and pick up their competition bib.

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Event Overview

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

10:30 AM

Mirrored off the classic TINCUP Down River Kayak Sprint, the GMC Down River SUP Sprint is a race against the clock in the heart of Vail on Gore Creek. Anyone up for the challenge will run this 4-mile stretch of Gore Creek from East Vail to Vail Village SUP style. Competitors must stand strong because snowmelt from the nearby Gore Range makes for icy waters while navigating the class II/III course. Mix in a handful of low bridges, drops, and wave trains as paddlers battle it out in the SUP’ing of Gore Creek.

Times

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

10:30 AM

Rules

CATEGORIES:

Open – Men
Open – Women
Youth – Boys (17 & Under)
Youth – Girls (17 & Under)

mandatory EQUIPMENT:

Boards must be inflatable and may not exceed 11′. Boards will be measured at the start of the race.
Athletes must wear competitor bibs outside their PFD at all times.

required EQUIPMENT:

PFD
Helmet
Protective footwear
Full-legged wetsuit or drysuit
No leashes around ankles or wrists. If paddlers choose to wear a leash, it must have a release system that can be hand-activated and should also have an emergency break-away system.

The following will NOT be allowed:

Double-bladed paddles
Multi-hull boards
Foot rudder steering systems

Format & Rules:

Athletes must arrive at the put-in no less than 45 minutes before their race start time to go through gear check, attend mandatory safety meeting, receive their start time and pick up their competition bib.
Paddlers who lose their equipment and require a rescue of any kind and/or appear to be excessively falling and/or swimming will be pulled from the course by our safety team. Paddlers who lose their gear and exit the river will receive a DNF.
If a paddler is being overtaken by another “faster” paddler from behind, they must yield to the faster/overtaking paddler in a safe and respectful manner. This will not affect a penalty or DQ unless the paddler being overtaken uses blocking or any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct.
The race is run in time trial format.
Final race rules and format will be available during the safety meeting.
Event organizers and whitewater rescue teams are not responsible for equipment rescue and/or equipment removal from the GoPro Mountain Games whitewater courses should athletes lose their equipment during practice or competition.   
Athletes are encouraged to use reef safe sunscreen during all competitions.
All athletes should be aware that all competitions take place in mountain rivers which may have challenging conditions such as underwater obstacles, unseen hazards, rocks, debris and vegetation.
CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY. Before participating in this year’s GoPro Mountain Games, athletes’ gear should be CLEAN of plants, mud, and debris; DRAINED of standing water; and completely DRY before your competition. Following these CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY steps helps to protect the waters we paddle from aquatic invasive species.

BOARD DROP INFO:

Athletes will only need to show up to the morning meeting with their paddle, PFD and other personal gear.  Boards can be dropped at Vail Village Parking Structure the morning of the race beginning at 6:30 AM and will be shuttles to the put-in point.

race start info:

The race starts in East Vail at the end of Aspen Lane. There is no parking available, so athletes may be dropped off or take the shuttles provided by Lakota Guides and Timberline Guides starting at 6:30 AM on Saturday from the top of the Vail Village Parking Structure. Please allow plenty of time to check in and attend the mandatory safety meeting.

Please respect the Aspen Lane neighborhood and use the supplied porta johns at the put-in area.

DIRECTIONS TO PUT-IN:

From Vail Village: head east on South Frontage Road about three (3) miles. Turn right on Aspen Lane. This road is located right before you go under the highway. Put-in is located at end of Aspen Lane, at the “T” intersection of Booth Creek Lane.