First annual Peavine Whitewater Race dubbed a success

Thirty-seven competitors from five states went head-to-head racing down the whitewater of the White River in Stockbridge on Saturday, May 7. It was the first annual Peavine Whitewater Race—a fundraiser for Ridgeline Outdoor Collective.

After a mass start at the Route 100 bridge near Ted Green Ford, paddlers in a wide variety of solo and tandem watercraft hit their pace and navigated dozens of rapids over a timed distance of 5.5 miles.

With water levels significantly lower than seasonal averages, paddlers worked to find and follow that elusive ribbon of swift deep water that means the fastest and smoothest route downriver. The most challenging rapids were found back-to-back to back in the last mile of the course, between Stonybrook Road and Gaysville.

Members of the White River Valley Swiftwater Rescue Team joined other safety volunteers, ready to assist any racers who required it.

By the time the first finisher arrived at Gaysville around 1 p.m., overcast skies had given way to sunshine and high spirits. Racers and volunteers convened at Tozier’s afterward for classic food and drink and a brief awards ceremony.

Many are already looking forward to the second annual race, which is planned for Saturday May 6, 2023. For more information visit: ridgelineoutdoorcollective.org.

Overall Race Division

1. Simone Orlandi (bib15, in a kayak with a time of 0:44:53 setting a course record!)
2. Scott Gilbert (bib 7, in a kayak with a time of 0:45:03)
3. Erik Debbink (bib 16, in a kayak with a time of 0:45:37)
4. Noah Greenstein (bib 2, in a kayak with a time of 0:46:24)
5. Eric Jones/Amy Thornton (bib 14, in a tandem canoe with a time of 0:46:36)
6. Rob Terry (bib 13, in a kayak with a time of 0:47:56)
7. Reed Wilcox (bib 19 in a kayak with a time of 0:48:24)
8. Seth Westbrook (bib 12, in kayak with a time of 0:48:29)
9. Karrie Thomas (bib 22, in kayak with a time of 0:49:30)
10. Chris Ingram (bib 17, in kayak with a time of 0:49:34)
11. Willy Amidon/Susan Parsons (bib 30, in a tandem canoe with a time of 0:50:33)
12. Allison Burhans (bib 3, in a kayak with a time of 0:51:24)
13. Justin Beckwith (bib 24, on a stand up paddleboard with a time of 0:52:22)
14. Clay Murphy (bib 35, in a kayak with a time of 0:52:30)
15. Justin Reich/Benjamin Urquart (bib1, in a tandem canoe with a time of 0:52:55)
16. Daniel Zern (bib 9, in a kayak with a time of 0:53:23)
17. John Evans (bib 23, in a kayak with a time of 0:53:53)
18. Tim Goodrich/Patrick Dolan (bib 26, in a tandem canoe with a time of 0:54:17)
19. Eric Kingsley (bib 28, in a kayak with a time of 0:54:48)
20. Chris Weed (bib 4, in a kayak with a time of 0:54:54)
21. Rod Scharges/Chip Scharges (bib 29, in a tandem canoe with a time of 0:55:49)
22. Dan Webb (bib 18, in a solo canoe with a time of 0:59:07)
23. Kevin Dean (bib 5, in a kayak with a time of 0:59:39)
24. Ross Linthicum (bib 6, in a kayak with a time of 1:02:35)
25. Kelsey King (bib 8, in a kayak with a time of 1:02:56)
26. Zac Freeman (bib 34, in a kayak with a time of 1:04:44)
27. Bryan Luikart (bib 27, in a kayak with a time of 1:05:37)
28. Ryan Scott/Mitchell Jackman (bib 25, in a tandem canoe with a time of 1:17:12)
29. Maddie Clark (bib 11, Broken Boat kayak, did not finish)