2005 AW Gauley River Festival

Posted: 09/01/2005

By: Ben Van Camp

Each fall, American Whitewater gathers paddlers from around the country to celebrate another great whitewater season at a little river in the mountains of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /> West Virginia, "The Gauley". This year we have an extra reason to rejoice: A near disaster was recently averted by securing access to the Mason's Branch access area through an agreement with the Lost Paddle group for the 05 season. Read the full access story here. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Here is what is on tap for this fall's festival, now less than one month away:

Friday September 23^rd

Friday programs at Gauley Festival are going to take off this year with the return of the Wavesport Open, the Ladies on the Lower G, the American Whitewater Volunteer Feast, and the addition of the Whitewater Hall of Fame Bluegrass Bash ($5 or free with camping).

The Bluegrass Bash will feature two bands "A Rooster for the masses" and the famous "Green Sky Bluegrass Band", do not miss these guys! Plus to round out the evening we will have world premier of the lifestyle film "Wet House" and the presentation of the inaugural inductees into the Whitewater Hall of Fame.

For more information and a complete schedule of Friday's activities click here.

Saturday September 24^th

This is the true essence of Gauley Fest, the largest gathering of whitewater junkies anywhere. While everyone enjoys the river, the festival site will be a buzz of activity with vendors, silent auctions, bands, videos, and much more being prepared for the evening.

As always the marketplace will be full of great deals from all of our vendors and in the American Whitewater Silent Auction. If you can stop browsing for you will notice some great entertainment at the stage including the results of the Wavesport Open, IR Big Gun Show, a repeat performance from "A Rooster for the Masses", and the headlining group "Big City Sunrise" all part of Dagger Kayaks Sounds of the Mountains and Rivers!

Big City Sunrise was conceived in March of 2003 under the idea that a sense of community, a great live show, and a pure, youthful enjoyment of music would create a fulfilling atmosphere for both audience and musician. Two years later these ideas are what still drive BCS.

Bluegrassjam.net said: "few young bands blow your central spinal noeds clean out the first time you see them, but these guys smacked it down with lightning...I was literally blown away, you could say my Tevas are still scorched into the concrete." Check out the Big City Sunrise website to sample some music.

American Whitewater Membership Drive

What does the largest gathering of whitewater paddlers mean? The largest membership drive for AW ever! Craig Plocica AW's development director recently said "I will not leave the state of West Virginia until I get 500!" Now 500 may sound like a lot but there are 5,000 people at Gauley Festival that is just 10%.

So that Craig can come home to his family, we are going to provide some extra incentives for folks to join AW at Gauley Festival:

If you join or renew your AW membership at the event AW will:

· Give you a free beverage of your choice

· Hook you up with the ultimate swag bag ($75 retail value) that includes:

· Magazines from Kayak Session, Kayak, the AW journal

· A Clif Bar and Clif Shot

· Bottle opener from Dagger

· LVM DVD

· CD of great music from Teva

· Boat load of stickers

· NRS Strap

· All of this comes in a custom Kokatat / AW man purse

· Raffle ticket that you can use to win either a new Jackson, Wavesport, or a Dagger Kayak!

We aren't done yet, either! If you join AW as an Ender Club Member ($100) you will get a free pair of Teva sandals and a free Delorme Gazetteer (state of choice) in addition to your Ender Club T-shirt!

Now some of you are already members and are saying "Well what about me?" well we haven't forgotten you either. Come by the AW tent show your membership card and we will thank you with a free beverage of choice, free Clif Bar, and a raffle ticket for a free Dagger Kayak!

For more information about Gauley Festival check out the website at http://www.americanwhitewater.org/events/info/GHome.phtml or email Ben VanCamp at ben@amwhitewater.org!