Charles City Challenge floats through weekend showers

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

It was a weekend on the water as locals and visitors alike raced down the riverfront for the Charles City Challenge Whitewater Festival.

The fun began on Friday as paddlers were welcome to hit the river for a practice day. From free-practice to river surf clinics, dozens came out to get a feel for the river ahead of the competitions.

For the kids, and adults too, Soifer Family McDonald’s sponsored the first Friday Fry Float, offering fast food fans a chance to float down the Cedar River on a French fry-shaped inflatable and receive a coupon for some free fries at the end.

The fry float was organized by Emily Garden, who saw that McDonald’s had the inflatable fry floats available and really liked the alliteration of it all.

“What’s funner than floating down the river on some fries on a Friday?” asked Garden.

After a sunny Friday, the weather turned dour Saturday morning. Most agreed the rain was needed in the area, however, and after some lightning-caused delays the sun came out for a beautiful couple of hours to get most of the events in.

The first event of the day, the Kayak Rodeo, was replaced by Edge of the World contests.

“We were able to get back on track and finish the day on schedule,” said Chamber of Commerce and Charles City Whitewater Tourism Coordinator Ginger Williams. “I think things went pretty well overall.”

From surfing to long boats, contestants raced down the river in a variety of ways in categories for all ages.

This year’s Charles City Challenge featured 33 registered participants, with five contestants coming from out-of-state and the rest from every corner of Iowa.

Williams said she was happy to see a strong performance from the locals participating in the day’s activities. Charles City residents Cutter Sanvig, Rob Pittman and Caleb Lundberg swept the Surf Comp – Prone category this year, taking the top three places.

“He (Rob Pittman) was very happy to see other Charles City residents competing in our home course,” said Rob’s wife, Phoebe Pittman. “He’s hoping to get even more locals out next year.”

Phoebe, who serves on the Charles City Council and is the council liaison to the city Parks and Rec Board, said she is proud to see the Charles City Challenge successfully bring community members together and attract visitors from afar.

“Overall I think this is a great event that really highlights our world class whitewater course,” said Pittman. “Even though water levels were low and the weather was not the most cooperative, everyone had a great day.”

While some enjoyed the strictly competitive contests, others got a chance to be creative in events like the Hooligan Race, which gave seven creative teams a chance to race down the river in whatever they could make float.

The day finished up with a “Balls to the Wall” race, a chaotic contest where teams battle to drive inflated balls down the river and run them back up to the riverside mural wall.

This is the 11th year for the Charles City Challenge and Williams says she has enjoyed watching the event grow and seeing returning participates come back year after year. She said she is thankful for all of the sponsors, volunteers and participants that help make the event successful.

“It’s really fun to see the community get more involved,” said Williams. “The challenge is truly my favorite event of the year.”

WHITEWATER CHALLENGE COMPETITION RESULTS:

SURF COMP – PRONE
Male
1) Cutter Sanvig, Charles City
2) Rob Pittman, Charles City
3) Caleb Lundberg, Charles City
Female
1) Emily Perreault, Mt. Vernon
2) Elisa VonBehren, Marion
SURF COMP – SUP
Male
1) Klayten Perreault, Mt. Vernon
2) Jason Thorp, Rolling Prairie, Indiana
Female
1) Evelia Perreault, Mt. Vernon
SURF COMP – RIVERBOARD
Male
1) Sonny Shepherd, Lake Mills
HALF SLICE – EDGE OF THE WORLD
Male
1) James Weeks, Adel
2) Glenn Harman, Waverly/ Marty Colbert, Cedar Rapids (tie)
3) Ted Colwell, Edina, Minnesota
Female
1) Paige Harman, Ames
FULL SLICE – EDGE OF THE WORLD
Male
1) Carl Neubauer, Marion
2) Daniel Pfeifer, Des Moines
3) Klayten Perreault, Mt. Vernon
Female
1) Hannah Ray J, Cedar Rapids
BOATER X – LONG BOAT
Male
1) Glenn Harman, Waverly
2) Ted Colwell, Edina, Minnesota
3) Jason Thorp, Rolling Prairie, Indiana
Female
1) Paige Harman, Ames
2) Becky Fenelon, Marion
BOATER X – SHORT BOAT
Male
1) Daniel Pfeifer, Des Moines
2) Klayten Perreault, Mt. Vernon
Female
1) Sarah Hockenson, Mason City
BOATER X – YOUTH
1) Willow Neubauer, Marion
SUP X
Male
1) Klayten Perreault, Mt. Vernon
2) DeWayne Manon, Machesney Park, Illinois
3) Jason Thorp, Rolling Prairie, Indiana
Female
1) Emily Perreault, Mt. Vernon
2) Becky Fenelon, Marion
3) Elisa VonBehren, Marion
Youth
1) Elisa VonBehren, Marion
2) Maren Nowicki, St. Paul, Minnesota
3) Avril Harman, Waverly
BALLS TO THE WALL
Winning Team – Silver Fox Crew: Glenn Harman, Waverly, Paige Harman, Ames, Daniel Pfeifer, Des Moines, Phoebe Pittman, Charles City
HOOLIGAN RACE
1) Daddy Daughter Dance
2) Tellurian Brewing