PADDLERS COME FROM FAR AND WIDE TO COMPETE IN THE 2ND ANNUAL RENO RIVER FESTIVAL, MAY 12-15, 2005
RENO, Nev. (April 29, 2005) — The toughest competitors in the world of freestyle kayaking are hitting the waters of the Truckee River at the 2005 Reno River Festival, May 12-15, 2005. Among the line-up are ten of the worlds most famous kayakers, according to Playak.com and Boatertalk, who recently named 50 of the worlds most famous kayakers. Famous names such as Eric Jackson, Jay Kincaid, Tanya Shuman, Billy Harris, Brooke Winger and Dustin Urban will all battle it out for top honors at the Reno River Festival where spectators can cheer on their favorites through a series of competitions in addition to getting in on the action with clinics, demos, an expo, live music and more, all available throughout the weekend.
"We're so excited to have so many world-class athletes visiting Reno for this event because it officially puts our Truckee River Whitewater Park and Reno-Tahoe, America's Adventure Place, on the map as a true adventure destination," said Deanna Ashby, executive director of marketing for the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA). "With the industry's top men and women kayakers returning for another venture at success, this year's competition will be more exciting than we ever expected - and will make for some great entertainment on the water this May!"
Top kayakers scheduled to compete at the Reno River Festival include:- Jackson, ranked number one on the Playak.com list of the World's Most Famous Kayakers, is the current World Freestyle Kayak Champion and founder of Jackson Kayak. Jackson is an Olympic athlete who helps to push the sport as head of Team JK (Jackson Kayak), his personally-sponsored kayaking team.
- Kincaid is a northern Nevada local and the 2003 World Freestyle Kayak Champion and last year's Reno River Festival winner. Ranked number eight on the Playak.com list, the competition between Jackson and Kincaid will be fierce as EJ has vowed on his website to beat "local boy", on his own stomping ground.
- Shuman, number nine in the Playak.com rankings and one of the most recognizable female kayakers in the world, according to doubleyouess.com, should add heat to the women's race with her adventuresome maneuvering and competitive spirit. Shuman is currently the U.S. National Freestyle Champion and is sure to be a tough opponent for last year's champ, Brooke Winger.
- Winger, a four-time national champion is definitely up for the challenge, which should provide a great spectator experience. Winger is ranked number 32 out of 50 on the World's Most Famous Kayakers list on Playak.com
- Harris is a three-time Canadian World Champion and is currently the number two kayaker in Canada. Harris is the Director of Wilderness Tours at Canada's largest kayaking school and was listed at number 21 in the Playak.com rankings.
- Dustin Urban, number 42 on the World's Most Famous Kayakers list compiled by Playak.com and last year's Reno Invitational bronze medalist, will celebrate his 21st birthday in America's Adventure Place while competing on the Truckee River at this year's event. A member of the U.S. Mens Freestyle Kayak Team, Urban is a student at Princeton University and teaches kayaking as part of the Outdoor Action Program.
- Jimmy Blakeney, current U.S. National Freestyle Champion and four-time member of the U.S. Men's Freestyle Kayak Team, is an advocate for the sport of kayaking by helping to create whitewater opportunities across the country and by sitting on advisory boards for a variety of kayak parks. Blakeney weighed in as the 12th most famous kayaker in the world on the Playak.com list.
- Nikki Kelley, recent winner of the first ever Red Bull Extreme Race and number 19 on the Playak.com list, has a competitive edge that has yet to be surpassed and is known for her extreme and fearless attitude.
- Twenty-four year-old Andrew Holcombe was ranked number 28 according to Playak.com and was a silver medalist in the 2003 International Freestyle Paddling Competition. Holcombe is a third-generation kayaker who was raised on the water, spending 200-300 days per year on the water for almost a decade.
- Bryan Kirk was the 2002 Bronze World Freestyle medalist and is notorious for his intense technical ability and amazing style. Kirk has competed in kayaking events world-wide and is the 48th most famous kayaker in the world according to Playak.com.
Other kayakers, not included in the Playak.com listing, who will be competing in the Reno River Festival include:
- Tanya Faux, an Australian kayaker and outdoor recreation instructor, Faux was the Australian Whitewater Freestyle Kayaking Champion in 2004. She also placed second in the Canadian Freestyle Kayaking Competition in 2003.
- Amy Jimmerson, 2005 member of the U.S. Women's Freestyle Kayak Team, earned her spot by placing sixth at last year's Women's World Freestyle Kayak Semi-Finals.
- Jesse Murphy, the second-youngest competitor at this years event, is also a member of the U.S. Men's Freestyle Kayak Team and holds sponsorships from kayak and extreme sport companies including Perception Kayaks, Grateful Heds, AT Paddles and Smith Sports.
- Scott Feindel, a two-time member of the Canadian Freestyle Kayaking Team where he held a second place finish at the 2005 team trials, has kayaked in waters all over North America and Scandinavia.
For further information on the 2005 Reno River Festival or the athletes competing in this years event, please visit www.RenoRiverFestival.com. For more information about Reno-Tahoe, Americaâ's Adventure Place, logon to www.VisitRenoTahoe.com or call 800-FOR-RENO (800-367-7366).
The Reno River Festival is held at the $1.5 million Truckee River Whitewater Park, located in the heart of Reno's booming downtown business and arts district. The park, with rapids rated class 2 and 3, is both Nevada's and the region's first whitewater park and kayak slalom racing course, totaling 2,600 feet in length and featuring north and south channels that surround an outdoor amphitheater and park. There are 11 "drop pools" and specially-placed boulders for kayaking maneuvers, a slalom racing course, and 7,000 tons of smooth flat rocks along the shores for easy river access and spectator seating.