Each year, an onslaught of Mini-Me’s descend upon Colorado’s annual river games: The GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, CO, FIBArk and the Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival. These wave munching Mini’s partake in some of the craziest, carnage-causing races we’ve ever seen. Here we’ll take a look at the 2015 GoPro Mountain Game’s rafting events.
There are 2 raft events at the GoPro Mountain Games: The Down River R2 Raft Sprint and the Raft Cross.
DOWN RIVER R2 RAFT SPRINT
The Down River R2 Raft Sprint is a new event at the GoPro Mountain Games. Identical in format to the Down River Kayak and SUP Sprints, the R2 Raft Sprint is a four mile raft race (two person rafts) on the Class II/III whitewater of Gore Creek from East Vail to the Covered Bridge in Vail Village. With a rally race format, rafters drop at timed intervals and teams race against the clock. See more info here for 2016’s Raft Sprint.
RAFT CROSS
The Raft Cross is a raft race (two person rafts) on the Class II / III whitewater of Gore Creek in Vail Village. Two person teams have a chance to showcase their speed, agility and aggression in a timed qualifying run through the heart of Vail Village on Gore Creek. Teams are then placed in “race pods” of no more than three teams to go head to head in the Vail Whitewater Park (1/10th of a mile). The winner(s) advance to the next round. Along the way, rafters have to navigate no less than 2 upstream gates and get this, RAMMING IS ALLOWED! The Raft Cross is a rafting competition not to be missed! Here’s the details for 2016’s Raft Cross.
If you’re in the Colorado, make sure to stop by and check out the action! Here’s a short video of the highlights during the 2015 GoPro Mountain Games: 2015 GoPro Mountain Games Festival Mashup!
Another HUGELY Wild and Wonderful outfitter of West Virginia, we present ACE Adventure Resort. You know the saying, “pictures don’t do justice”? Yeah, it’s like that. Check out this 30 second clip to sum it all up. There’s really no way to capture all that is ACE, but we’ll do our best!
In the heart of over 1500 acres of New River Gorge playland, ACE has so much fun to be had. Go rock climbing, mountain biking, paintballing, horseback riding or just plain old hiking. There’s even mud obstacle courses! Plenty of fresh air, fun times and bonfires are waiting to soothe that travel itch and satisfy any level of thrill-seeker.
The main attraction are the rivers and for over 35 years, ACE has guided folks away from their reality and into some world-class whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley Rivers:
The Upper New is more tame and kid-friendly for beginners with a few challenging intermediate Class III rapids. The Lower New boasts their most popular whitewater with more than 25 Class II to Class IV rapids.
Considered one of the Top 10 Whitewater Rivers in the World, the Gauley River is West Virginia’s legendary run.The Upper Gauley has unforgettable runs full of steep drops, massive holes and colossal waves. Roller coaster waves and challenging drops best characterize the Lower Gauley, though it’s not as steep as the Upper.
Here’s where HYSIDE comes in.
Load up and head for adventure!
Yes, you carry your own boat to the put in. Get movin!
“Ace has purchased rafts from Richard since the “Sunrunner” days. The Hyside raft is the most durable and maintenance free raft we have used and we have tried every brand. We have a fleet of more than 250 craft. This year we are finally retiring rafts that were built in 1992. That is 23 – 24 years of use on the New River Gorge and Gauley River….Class 4-5 whitewater. We use Hyside rafts on the Upper G down to 450 Cfs and we use them on the New River with flows that exceed 33,000 cfs. Our guides love them because they always bring you home without incident. We use 12’, 14’ and 16’ Pro series. Hyside has always been open to work with our special requests and design changes. It has been an honor to have such a vendor relationship. The newer lighter rafts use the same awesome durable fabric but has taken the unnecessary weight out of each raft: eg. Rubstrake, grommets, neo wear patches, etc. The durability is the same but now they handle even better. The competition is scrambling to follow Hyside.”
Jerry Cook
President
ACE Adventure Resort
Slap pillow rock with your paddle!
As you can see, ACE’s resort is tremendously vast, full of everything to do both on and off the New River and the Gauley. It’s not easy cramming 1500 acres, 9 zip lines, 4 sections of river for white water rafting, 3 lakes for kayaking and swimming, miles of trails for mountain biking and hiking, and all the fun that goes with it into this one page, but we gave it our best shot. If this doesn’t get your heart going, you’d better check your pulse.
ACE’s lake toys!
And now, the newest attraction for ACE…CONCERTS! (You thought we were finished, ha??)
Party in the Hollar. September 12th, don’t miss out.
After a hard day of playing in the sun and the killer venue at night, head back to camp and stay with ACE. They have so many options, words can’t express. (we mean it, check it out here). Anything from RV camp sites and tent camping, all the way up to gorgeous, deluxe cabins, with hot tubs, full kitchens, satellite tv, AC/heat and then some…
If you want get away from it all, make sure to stop by this hugely adventurous getaway. All of this is within a day’s drive of most of the eastern United States.
Visit ACERaft.com to get the lowdown on all this cool stuff waiting for you in the heart of West Virginia.
Rafting on Clear Creek in Idaho Springs, Colorado is no small task. Just a short drive from Denver, Clear Creek is a very technical Class IV-V tributary of the Southe Platte River, dropping a staggering 120 feet per mile and filled with unique obstacles to maneuver. One daring outfitter who hits the Creek head on is AVA Rafting and Ziplining. AVA opened on the Arkansas River outside of Buena Vista, CO in 1998. They slowly expanded over the years and are now operating all over Colorado, focusing primarily on the Upper Colorado River, Clear Creek, the Blue River, and the Arkansas.
On a typical summer day, AVA is blowing up their entire 30 boat fleet of Hysides to embark on all sections of Clear Creek. AVA operates on Clear Creek from 2000 CFS down to 85 CFS. Throughout the season, they’ll be punching bus-sized holes at high water, and towards the end of the season, at 100 CFS, they’ll be sneaking through lines half as wide as the boat. At 1000 CFS and more than 120 feet per mile, Clear Creek can challenge the most experienced rafter.
Just one normal day operating at AVA puts a lot of stress and wear and tear on the boat. The Creek is unique, in that you face everything from extremely sharp rocks to ancient pitons put up by rock climbers, found along the side of the Creek, in the advanced-canyon section. There are so many objects threatening to puncture rafts on the creek that Hyside is the only brand AVA runs.
A single AVA Hyside may run down the Creek 6 times in one day. That’s 12 rides on a trailer down the interstate and 36 unique customers loading up at the gravel put-in, while their guides ready the boat and the rest of their gear. That’s 6 different guides with different styles, tying different equipment all over the boat. Combine this with the variety of water levels and you’re seeing one of the harshest environments for a raft.
One main factor to helping AVA conquer the Creek: THE GEAR.
To combat the daily abuse of the Creek, AVA’s HYSIDEs are custom built for exceptional tear strength and abrasion resistance. We build their fleet from our Outfitter PRO line, boasting 2520 Double-Denier Hypalon for “second-to-none” tear strength. Our Double denier nylon base fabric is braided before it is weaved, creating an incredibly tough tear strength. To put it in perspective, this technology was conceived from bullet proof vest technology. To take it a step further, we apply U3 urethane coverage, which coats the entire bottom half of their fleet in a slippery, stout coating of urethane (think truck bed liners, but slick). This tough, slippery surface helps AVA slide over rocks and avoid punctures (a huge factor in rafting on Clear Creek).
Another major factor that helps AVA “stay afloat” on such a wild stretch: THE GUIDES.
AVA’s guides of the Lower Canyon of Clear Creek have an average of 6 years of experience and have traveled much of the world. These guys have made rivers their life. They choose to come back to AVA on Clear Creek year after year because of the quality of the staff at AVA and the challenge of the whitewater.
Many of AVA’s senior staff lay claim to a decade or more of guiding experience and nearly half the guide staff was originally trained at AVA. Several have now become the river managers at their various outposts. They pride themselves on not only having the skills on the water, but maintaining a superior level of professionalism and guest service that they bring to their guests.
AVA operates rafting on more than Clear Creek; they offer trips on the Arkansas River, the Colorado River, the Blue River; they also offer ziplining and horseback riding.
Enjoy zipline adventures on two very unique courses: A cliffside course in idaho springs, above the outpost, or a mountaintop course in granite, overlooking pine creek rapid on the arkansas river.
From trips fit for beginners, to advanced full-day class IV-V rafting with a delicious BBQ lunch in the middle, AVA has something for you.
In addition to rafting, they offer guided river SUP and IK trips, as well as rentals of all of the equipment you might need for a lazy afternoon or a multiday adventure. They guide families down the scenic Upper Colorado and lead thrill seekers through the Class V Gore Canyon.
So here’s a Wild and Wonderful getaway in the mountains of West Virginia. Nestled just above the New River, Adventures on the Gorge is one fun-filled, family hot spot you’ve got to see to believe. AOTG has literally everything to do and the layout of this outdoorsy playland is perfectly planned as a one stop shop for everything you need. Spend your days rafting, rock climbing or just relaxing. Spend your nights dining and choose camping or deluxe cabins nestled in the woods.
Canyon Falls Swimming Hole is the “coolest” spot in this place.
Wake up early and check in so you can hit the water. The Upper Gauley is world renowned for Class V adventurous fun!
Check out these NEW, snazzy orange head-turners, designed just for AOTG to run on the New and the Gauley! These puppies are a big tube, diminished tube design, for ultimate performance and stability. Equipped with our PRO 2520 denier for unmatched durability and tear strength, custom frame chafers wrapping entire top of the boat and our custom U5 urethane bottom coating will ensure these boats stand up to ANYTHING the New and Gauley (and guides) can throw at them.
Our last trip out to visit AOTG, we even got this comment from one of their carnage-hungry photographers, “They’re almost TOO stable!”, so we think these new boats are on the right track. Footcups secure the front passengers and custom valve placement, d-rings and handles have been positioned to their liking. This year, they’ll be getting blue urethane bottoms to match their fleet colors.
The NEW Pro 16.0XD, designed specifically for Adventures on the Gorge
We’re not kidding when we say they have everything to do! In addition to their rafting mainstay, AOTG offers zip-lining, climbing, rappelling, SUP, mountain biking and so much more.
Are you brave enough? Scale the rocks during AOTG’s Summersville Lake Tour, just don’t look down!
After a day of play, spend the nights enjoying great food, company and views. AOTG has three restaurants on site to choose from, Smokey’s, Chetty’s, and Buffler’s. All boast breathtaking atmosphere and architecture, to keep you cozy while you unwind and enjoy your meal after an adventurous day.
Chetty’s Pub has become a local’s hang out, especially after a day of grueling and exhilarating whitewater fun. Try the burgers!Gourmet dishes, a wide range of beers on tap and an atmosphere that doesn’t quit.
After some grub and pub, relax and enjoy the view. The sites of the Gorge from here are second to none.
Settled in AOTG’s woodsy acreage, there are several options for lodging, ranging from tent camping all the way to 5-star deluxe cabins. The amenities are excellent if you decide to camp (Yay for hot showers and bathrooms close by!). That’s what we did!
All in all, this is place is one of a kind. These guys do it big and really know how to have fun. To get in touch with Adventures on the Gorge and see what packages are available, call 888.406.4679 and check out their website HERE.
