Steep Creek Championship
STEEP CLASSIC
Dropping a whopping 480-feet per mile, Homestake Creek is a paddling gem that was once known only to Vail Valley locals.
In 2002, local kayakers hosted a successful grassroots race on the creek with no more than a keg of beer waiting at the finish line. The next year Mountain Games took Homestake Creek nationwide as some of the world’s best kayakers hucked their meat down drops like “Leap of Faith” and “Piece of S**t.” Race rules are simple – the fastest time to the finish line of the ¼ mile creek wins.
The Steep Creek Championship is for serious Class V kayakers. Pins, swims and injuries happen here, even to top athletes. The course is on Homestake Creek located outside the town of Red Cliff and is approximately ¼ mile long and drops 480′ per mile. All competitors must have successfully navigated the course prior to the competition.
CATEGORIES:
Open – Men
Open – Women
EQUIPMENT:
- Boats must be plastic, production whitewater creek boats under 9′ length with bulkhead footrests and appropriate grab-handles.
- Pre-production, modified or non-creek specific boats within the standards of modern creek-specific designs may be allowed, but only with prior approval of the Race Directors.
- Athletes must dress for creek-boating Class V whitewater; Rescue-certified PFDs are recommended.
- Full-face helmets and elbow pads recommended. Low-protection slalom helmets are prohibited.
- Unsafe or excessively used equipment (such as: excessively worn PFDs, unsuitable helmets, damaged boats, spray skirts with holes, inadequate footwear etc.) may be deemed unsuitable.
- Throw bag required. Float bags strongly encouraged.
- All athletes are required to have their have their boat washed onsite prior to training and racing at the designated boat wash station or they will be subject to disqualification. Please be respectful of the US Forest Service for allowing us to use this precious resource.
- Athletes must wear competitor bibs outside their PFDs at all times.
- Event organizers and whitewater rescue teams are not responsible for equipment rescue and/or equipment removal from the Mountain Games whitewater courses should athletes lose their equipment during practice or competition.
FORMAT & RULES:
- The Steep Creek Championship is for serious Class V kayakers. Pins, swims and injuries happen here, even to top athletes. The course is on Homestake Creek located outside the town of Red Cliff and is approximately ¼ mile long and drops 480′ per mile. All competitors must have successfully navigated the course prior to the competition.
- All competitors must have successfully kayaked the course stretch of Homestake Creek prior to competing.
- Women will compete first. Athletes’ start time within each division will be determined by date and time of registration. Those registering first will start last in their division. Special requests for start times will NOT be accepted. Athletes must adhere to the start position he/she is given.
- Two runs for all athletes, Ladies First, Reverse Bib Order
- Second run start order same as first run
- THE COMBINED TIME OF THE 2 RUNS WILL DETERMINE WHETHER YOU MAKE FINALS
- The race will run in a time-trial format. Women will be sent out in two (2) minute intervals and men will be sent out in one (1) minute intervals. Athletes’ bib and start times will be electronically and manually recorded at the start and finish line.
- Athletes start on the designated starting ramp. The race starter will give each athlete a 30-second and 10-second warning and begin the start countdown at five (5). At “go”, the athlete will be released. Finish times will be recorded when the athlete crosses the finish line.
- At minimum, the top 50% of athletes competing in each division will advance to the second round. Ideally, 5 women and 10 men will advance to the one-run final round. Exact competition format to be determined an announced based on entries and water levels on the day of the race.
- Due to downstream hazards, all athletes must take out at the designated take-out or they may be subject to disqualification from the event.
Location:
The course is on Homestake Creek located outside the town of Red Cliff and is approximately ¼ mile long and drops 480′per mile. All competitors must have successfully navigated the course prior to the competition.
DIRECTIONS TO START LINE FROM VAIL:
I-70 west to exit 171, Minturn/US Highway 6 & 24. At bottom of ramp, take right. Follow Highway 6 & 24 about 30 minutes. Cross over the Red Cliff Bridge. About 1.4 miles past the bridge, take a right and park. Walk down the hill about 100 yards to the start line. Parking is very limited so please carpool with friends.
PRICE
REGISTRATION LAUNCH // February 5 – April 4, 2020
$45
EARLY BIRD // April 5 – August 16, 2020
$50
EVENT PRICING // August 17 – August 23, 2020
$60
PAYOUT
total prize purse: $7,000
MEN
1st – $2,000
2nd – $1,000
3rd – $500
WOMEN
1st – $2,000
2nd – $1,000
3rd – $500
PRIZES
Custom YETI Awards for top 3 winners within each category.
First place male and female Pro category finishers will win an epic piece of YETI gear!
homestake creek
red cliff, co
This ¼ mile stretch of creek near Eagle County’s oldest town, Red Cliff, is the location of the Steep Creek Championship. Homestake is for experienced kayakers, but spectating the race is extremely fan-friendly! By car it takes about a half hour from Vail Village to reach Homestake Creek for the competition.
