Wow, what a festival!

With not much water elsewhere in the country, thousands of paddlers flocked to the mountains of West Virginia to enjoy the fall releases on the famed Gauley River.  Greeting these paddlers to the river were warm days full of rain and cool nights also full of rain, making the festival site a muddy mess that just added to the fun. 

The highlight of the event is the American Whitewater membership drive where six kayaks were raffled off to individuals who were members of AW.  AW would like to thank Kokatat, LVM, NRS, Patagonia, Smith, Kayak Session, Wavesport, Jackson Kayak, Dagger Kayak, Fluid Kayak, Liquid Logic, and Pyranha for helping sign up over 350 members to American Whitewater.

Great music was provided by Blue Pinto, The Half Time String Band, and Big City Sunrise who played until the wee hours of the morning.  With great give-a-way’s by many of the vendors and boat recycling / destruction at the Liquid Logic booth and Jackson Kayak the festival was full of great entertainment.  The 3rd Wave Sport Open, which included a mass start Pillow Rock Race this year, added to the variety of activies available at the event.  AW would also like to thank Anna Levesque from Girls at Play, North American River Runner, and Kokatat for hosting the Ladies on the Lower G which raised money for AW’s River Stewardship efforts.

Making the festival happen was an incredible group of volunteers who set the festival up, ran it smoothly, and even cleanup in the mud and rain.  A big thank you to all of those who volunteer to make this event so successful. What an incredible party! If you couldn't make it this year, be sure to make your plans to be there next year! Mark your calendars with this important date: GAULEY FESTIVAL - SEPTEMBER 22, 2007.