Join us for fun on the Cedar River at this year’s event in Charles City! The Charles City Challenge will include competitive kayak and SUP events for whitewater paddlers as well as fun for everyone else! Registration fee includes competition entry, event t-shirt, and a chance to win one of many prizes.

Charles City Challenge – Schedule of Events*

*schedule subject to change due to water, weather, or other circumstances.

FRIDAY EVENTS

Practice Day – all are welcome!

- 12-2 PM Grom River Surf Clinic with Hannah Ray J, Rob P & Crew

- 2-3 PM Reading Water with Carl Neubauer

- 2-4 PM River Clean Up at the Whitewater Park; Bragging rights for the best piece of trophy trash found! BYOGB (Bring Your Own Garbage Bag)

- 4 PM Friday Fry Float+

- 4:15-6:15 PM River Surf Clinic with Hannah Ray J & Crew

+Friday Fly Float – Kick off the festival by floating the course on a giant, fry shaped float. Even better – enjoy some fresh, hot fries at the end! No pre-registration required; meet on site by 3:45 PM to float! (Sponsored by Soifer Family McDonald’s)

SUP River Surfing Clinic:

“This is incredible!” you shout as you stand up on your first river wave loving the feeling of the board under your feet and the invigorating whitewater rushing by. You throw a fist up into the air ‘claiming’ as everyone excitedly cheers for you. Fellow river surfing comrades and onlookers are smiling just as wide as that huge grin on your own face as you revel in the accomplishment of surfing your first river wave!

Join us for Iowa’s only SUP river surfing clinic with Hannah Ray J. Hannah is a Team Athlete at Badfish SUP, Werner Paddles, NoCoast Stand Up, Colorado River Surf Co, Shred Ready and CKS Squad. She is an ambassador at Crawdaddy Outdoors and Astral. Hannah is a Community Leader at Land Locked Surfing and RAW Hero at RAW Adrenaline.

Hannah and her team of river assistants will guide you in all you need to know about SUP river surfing; equipment selection, SUP river surfing techniques, safety, and surfing on Charles City’s Double D Wave. No SUP river surfing experience is necessary but is helpful. Whitewater paddling experience, in general, is also helpful but not necessary.

To Register:

Contact instructor Hannah Ray J, [email protected] , to reserve your spot in the river surfing clinic. Class size is limited, so get your spot reserved today!

What’s included: Instruction, equipment use: board, paddle, whitewater helmet, whitewater pfd, quick release leash. You are encouraged to bring your own appropriate equipment/gear if you have it.

Location: Charles City Whitewater, Charles City, IA

Requirements: Must be able to swim. Wear water-appropriate clothing and footwear. NO strappy sandals or flip-flops.

Expectations: Bring a positive attitude and ready to get wet! Participants will be swimming in the Cedar River in whitewater conditions with moving currents. Expect rocks, swift current, varying weather and water conditions, and unstable surfaces. And HAVE FUN!

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

- 9 AM Registration on site. Paddler Registration Form

- 9:50 AM SHARP! IN-RIVER PARTICIPANT MANDATORY MEETING

- 10 AM Kayak Rodeo – Vertical Monkeys & Surf Machines

- 11:30 AM Surf Comp

- 12:30 PM Hooligan Race+

- 1 PM Boater X – Adult/Youth

- 2:00 PM SUP X – Adult/Youth

- 2:30 PM Balls to the Wall Race

- 3:00 PM Awards/Prizes

+Hooligan Race –This “just for fun” race with cardboard boats, tubes and other inflatable crafts, will be held at approximately 12:30 PM and is open to the public with no fee. Must be 12 years to race. Teams can pre-register, or register on site by 12:15 PM. (Sponsored by Quality Auto Service)

ADDITIONAL SATURDAY EVENTS

KIDS ACTIVITIES ALL DAY (Sponsored by First Security Bank & Trust)

- Story Walk – Walk the trail to read the posted story. Return forms to the activity tent to receive a free gift.

- CCWW Rocks – Multiple rocks are hidden around the riverfront area. Find one & return to the activity tent to receive a free gift.

- Scavenger Hunt – Kids can stop by the activity tent to pick up a scavenger hunt form, then answer the questions and return to receive a special prize.

VENDORS ON SITE SATURDAY:  The Cookie Dough’tique, Whatcha Like

DJ ON SITE SATURDAY:  TB Continued Entertainment (Sponsored by Tellurian Brewing)

SUNDAY EVENTS

Sunday Funday! Course open to recreational paddling – all are welcome!

Description of Race Events

Boater X

Location: Entire course

Categories: K1 Playboat, K1 River Runner/Creeker, Open. If needed Canoe.

Mens and Womens divisions (if not enough women, will have the option to run with the men)

Scoring: 2 appointed judges for finish line placement. 1 appointed volunteer per gate/obstacle ensuring sufficient effort taken to navigate course correctly. No timing.

Start: Boaters will navigate the set course. Depending on numbers that sign up, categories will be a mass start. If needed, categories may be broken up into heats.

Finish: Racers will eddy out on the river left side below Exit Exam and physically touch the finish target marker with a hand.

Boater X – Youth

Location: Entire course

Categories: K1 kayak

Scoring: 2 appointed judges for finish line placement. No timing.

Start: Mass start, boaters will navigate the course.

Finish: Racers will eddy out on the river left side below Exit Exam and physically touch the finish target marker with a hand. 

SUP X

Location: Entire course

Scoring: 2 appointed judges for finish line placement. 1 appointed volunteer per gate/obstacle ensuring sufficient effort taken to navigate course correctly. No timing.

Start: Mass start, SUPers will navigate the set course.

Finish: Racers will eddy out on the river left side below Exit Exam and touch the finish target marker with the paddle. No timing.

Rodeo – Beginner | Vertical Monkeys

Location: Exit

Categories: Mens/Womens K1

Scoring: ICF/Hometown Throwdown combo. Scoring conducted by appointed judges. Competitor gets 2, 2-minute rides to score. Rides combined for the final score. Boaters will be divided into groups for their 2-minute ride. First ride groups released from river left staging area. Once first rides are completed, second rides are started in the same manner.

Rodeo – Intermediate/Advanced | Surf Machines

Location: Exit or Tew Shanez -both rides must be in the same feature.

Categories: Mens/Womens K1

Scoring: ICF/Hometown Throwdown combo. Scoring conducted by appointed judges. Competitor gets 2, 2-minute rides to score. Rides combined for the final score. Boaters will be divided into groups for their 2-minute ride. First ride groups released from river left staging area. Once first rides are completed, second rides are started in the same manner.

SUP Surf Comp

Location: Double D Wave

Categories: Mens SUP, Womens SUP, Youth SUP

Scoring: Appointed judges will score based on technical skill, carves/tricks, and style. Scoring 0-10 scale. 2 rides, each ride combined for the final score.

Competitors stage in eddy, each receives 2 rides, no time limit on ride length (keep it within reason). 

Balls to the Wall Race

Location: Entire course

Categories: K1 Whitewater Kayak and SUP (kayaks and sups will run together in one mass start) Teams of 3 people. 1 colored beach ball per team will be assigned to each team. (Charles City will provide beach balls)

Scoring: Self judged, fun race for bragging rights. No timing or scoring. (Extra creativity award for best dressed team)

Start: Mass Start. All team members will start in the staging eddy river left, above dam drop feature. (whitewater kayak or SUP).

Festival Date: June 23-25 

Location:  Charles City Whitewater Park

700 Riverside Drive, Charles City 

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