The Vail Recreation District partners with the Discover Vail, Eagle River Water & Sanitation District and Alpine Quest Sports to host the annual Vail Whitewater Race Series. The races will be divided between three categories, including kayak (under 9'6"), stand-up paddleboard (SUP) (under 11') and 2-person raft (10'6" or smaller) teams with different course challenges every week. Taking place on Gore Creek in Vail Village, the course challenge for each event will be determined the day of the race based on river flows. 

Race day bib pickup and registration begins at 4:00 p.m. There is a mandatory safety talk & course instructions at 5:20p.m. All races will begin at 5:30 p.m. See below in the 'Registration & Bib Pickup' section to learn where to pick up your bib!

Most races start at the Covered Bridge and end at International Bridge. The last race on June 4 will start at the Amphitheatre Bridge in Ford Park. Check out the 'Parking & Transportation' section below to learn more about where you can drop off your gear!

Who can participate?

The Vail Whitewater Race Series is open to all paddlers ages 16 and up with intermediate to expert abilities. The skills to run class III whitewater in your chosen craft are required. This is a fun way to track your individual performance, progress throughout the series and compete against others. All competitors are entering at their own risk.

Check out our other whitewater race in Minturn!

Race Dates & Afterparties

Join us after the race for a lively afterparty! We will award prizes to the top 3 male and female finishers in SUP, Kayak & R2! Following awards, we will be giving away some amazing raffle prizes* from our partners! Participants over 21 years of age will recieve free beer complimentary of New Belgium Brewing and Best Day Brewing!

*must be present to win raffle prizes

Please pick up you and your partner's beer tickets at bib drop-off after the race! Raffle tickets will be handed out at the afterparty.

Race #1-4 Schedule

Race #5 Schedule

Register in Advance!

It is highly recommended to register online to secure your spot. Online registration closes at 10:00 a.m. on race day and in-person registration opens on-site at 4:00 p.m. Sign up for the entire series for the best price!

R2-Raft is limited to 24 boats per race. Only one R2 partner needs to register for your team.

If you cannot attend a race that you are registered for: Please let us know at sports@vailrec.com. This helps us open the spot up for other boaters to have a rad time and expedites making the starting order to get you on the water quicker!

Bib Pickup & In-Person Registration

Race #1-4 (May 5-May 26): Racers can register and pick up their bib at International Bridge at 4:00 p.m.

Race #5 (June 2): Racers can register and pick up their bib at Ford Park Parking Lot at 4:00p.m.. There will be a VRD shuttle from International Bridge back to Ford Park Parking Lot. Alternatively, racers can plan their own shuttle between Vail Parking Structure and Ford Park Parking Lot.

R2-Rafters only need one paddler to wear the bib.

Vail Whitewater Race Series Rules

To standardize the competition, kayak length may not exceed 9′6”. Whitewater-specific plastic and heavy-duty composite boats only. Stand Up Paddleboards may not exceed 11’. Rafts make not exceed 10’6”. Inflatable Kayaks & Packrafts are allowed, but only if they are robust whitewater models worthy of the conditions. If in doubt about your vessel, ask Race Directors at least 24 hours in advance of competition.

• Hand Paddlers are ALLOWED | Sea kayaks & foot rudders are NOT ALLOWED.
• Properly sized PFD, helmet, and protective footwear are REQUIRED.
• Equipment will be reviewed at the start. The organizer has the right to refuse any nonconforming equipment (i.e., bicycle helmets, nylon spray-skirts, improper PFDs, etc.).
• Athletes are REQUIRED TO ALWAYS wear competitor bibs outside their PFDs.
• Athletes MUST be checked in and registered by 5:15pm.
• Athletes MUST attend the Safety/Rules/Course review meeting at 5:20pm sharp.
• The top 9 racers move to the Championship bracket. All other racers move to the Consolation bracket.
• Athletes MUST be in control of their vessel when finishing the race.

Race Format:

• Time Trial:
  • Down Creek: everyone gets a time and is seeded.
  • The top 9 finishers move on to the head-to-head championship bracket.
  • Places 10 and lower, get a consolation round in groups of 2, 3, or 4.
• Top 9 finishers get seeded into brackets as follows:
  • Heat #1 - seeds 1, 6, 9
  • Heat #2 – Seeds 2, 5, 8
  • Heat #3 – Seeds 3, 4, 7
• The winner of each heat will enter the final head-to-head race to determine the champion.
• Seeds 10 and lower go in consolation heats in groups of 2, 3 or 4.

Time Pentalties:

• If a participant false starts in the time trial, 15 SECONDS will be added to time. If a participant false starts during the brackets, the participant will be DISQUALIFIED.
• If a participant does not proceed through a gate in the designated way, 15 SECONDS will be added to the participant’s time.
• If a participant misses an obstacle, 15 SECONDS will be added to the participant's time.
• Participants must be in control while completing ostacles, failure to do so will add 15 SECONDS to the participant's time. SUP participants must be on their feet when completing an obstacle.

Did Not Finish (DNF):

• The participant’s body passes through the vertical plane of the East end of the International Bridge before the last obstacle is completed.
• In bracket competition, the participant misses any of the gates

Disqualified (DSQ):

• In the time trial, the paddler being overtaken does not yield to the faster paddler.
• Any action by a competitor during or in between races is deemed “Unsportsmanlike.”
• In bracket competition, the participant false starts.
• Participant races without race bib or bib is unreadable.
• Raft participants do not bring raft back to start for the next racers.
• Failure to be in control of vessel at the finish

If disqualification occurs after the participant’s last race, the racer may be disqualified for the following week’s race.

A protest of a judge’s call can be grounds for disqualification.

Race Results and Series Points

Results:

• Places 1-3 will be determined by their final head-to-head race.
• Places 4-9 for series points will be determined by their time trial time.
• Place 10 and lower will be determined by their head-to-head consolation race.

Series Points:

You are competing for points and awards at each race and the top overall male/female point scorers in each category at the end of the series will also receive prizes. Points are accrued each week based on your finish position. The lowest scoring race for individuals will be dropped from the final point total so series champions are determined based on their best four of five races.

• 1st – 50 points
• 2nd – 45 points
• 3rd – 40 points
• 4th – 35 points
• 5th – 30 points
• 6th – 25 points
• 7th – 20 points
• 8th – 15 points
• 9th – 10 points
• 10th – 5 points
• Participation – 5 points

Tie Breaker:

In the case of a tie, the highest average points per event will be used to break the tie. For example:

• If one paddler has 100 points and has participated in five races (20 points per race average) and another paddler has 100 points but has participated in four races (25 points per race average) the paddler with the highest average will be declared the winner.
• If two paddlers have the same number of points and the same average, a head-to-head tie breaker will be used to declare the winner (whoever won the most head-to-head races).
• If each paddler is still tied, then the LAST race in the season in which BOTH paddlers participated will be used to decide the head-to-head tie breaker.
• If two paddlers are tied and did not compete head-to-head against each other, then the paddler who finished the latest race in the calendar will be the winner.

2026 ERWSD Vail Whitewater Race Series Cost

*Raft Registration will be limited to 24 boats. Only 1 member of an R2 team needs to sign up. R2 partners who did not sign up their team will be required to sign a liability form on race day at the bib pickup area.

Thanks to hyside.com we have mini-maxes for participant use in 2026. If interested in purchasing a race boat, please reach out to hyside to inquire about purchasing a boat!

Explore Summer in Vail

Summers are an endless escape, a season brimming with morning sunrises that welcome sun-kissed days full of promise. Every new day is a new adventure. Well, that’s the way it feels during a perfect Vail summer.

Nestled in the Colorado Rockies and awash with the summer pleasures only a mountain town can bring, Vail, Colorado is much more than just a premier ski destination. It’s a premier destination all year long, with summer as one of the most fanciful times to bask in the serenity of this quaint European-style village.

The towering mountains and breathtaking surroundings bring on an instant sense of serenity, but serenity doesn’t mean you need to be standing still. Vail’s alpine landscape beckons you to explore at a level you’ve not reached before, in a way that works just right for you.

Exploring for some may mean mountain biking down a rugged path or creating family moments that turn into memories at Epic Discovery on the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster. For others it may mean meandering along a pristine stream, strolling through Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, or gentle introspection while trail hiking throughout the area’s natural beauty. Take a scenic horseback ride at Vail Stables or Piney River Ranch. If you prefer to be on the sidelines, watch impressive Vail sports athletes at the GoPro Mountain Games.

Take a Gondola One or Eagle Bahn Gondola ride to the top of Vail Mountain for dining, exploration and views that elevate your summer to extraordinary heights. Or opt for a round of golf at Vail Golf Club. Go fly fishing on Gore Creek. Book a spa date and romantic dinner. Create your own definition of play. The summer activities are endless.

Absorbing the history and ambiance of the town is another way to get swept away into the dream state that is Vail. Art, festivals, music, and dance come alive in the summer, as does a series of concerts in the open-air amphitheater beneath the stars. The Vail Farmers Market, Vail Dance Festival and Bravo! Vail are just a fraction of the magnificent culture Vail has to offer. Why pick just one event when you can choose them all?

Saunter past the covered bridge, across from one of the historical shops in town. Dig deep into the background of a village built with big hearts and hopes, one that flourished into the unique place it remains today. You will never grow tired of exploring the villages of Vail at your fingertips: East Vail, West Vail, Vail Village, and Lionshead Village.

Fuel up on fresh culinary experiences, with gourmet chefs and regional delights at every turn. Dining options run the gamut from the high-end to the more summer seasonal casual, with something to suit every taste.

Spend summer evenings unwinding on a balcony with breathtaking mountain sunsets or engage in the varied nightlife scene. Vail’s lodging comes in options to align with your Rocky Mountain personality, with all ready to deliver a restful night’s sleep.

Bring back the wonderment of the season and spend your summer in Vail.

You can learn more about Parking and Transportation at discovervail.com

Parking

Race #1-4: Please park at the Vail Parking Structure. We ask that you carpool if possible, this is a great opportunity to find a Designated Driver to participate and give you their free Mountain Time Lager!

Race #5: Please drop off gear at Ford Park, the first hour is free. We suggest parking at the Vail Village Parking Structure, which is free after 3pm. We ask that you carpool if possible. The race will finish at International Bridge where we will have a shuttle to take racers back to Ford Park if needed. You can plan your own shuttles as well if you don't want to wait for the VRD Van.

Drop-off Zones

Race #1-4: There is a drop-off zone at International Bridge to drop off your heavy boating gear and then park at the Vail Parking Structure. 

Race #5: Racers can drop off their gear at the Ford Park Parking Lot.

Protecting our rivers is important to us and hopefully it is for you too. We encourage all particiapants to learn more about how they can impact and support our local watersheds.

Many of these organizations are non-profits who are as passionate about boating, rivers and water conservancy.  Memberships and donations are accepted if you're looking for ways to contribute and support these organizations and their missions.

Local Resources & Organizations

• State of the River - Eagle River Valley
• State of the River - Colorado
• Eagle River Water & Sanitation District
• Eagle River Coalition | Facebook | Instagram
• Colorado River District | Facebook | Instagram
• Colorado Whitewater Association | Facebook| Instagram

National Resources & Organizations

• American Whitewater | Facebook | Instagram
• American Canoe Association | Instagram

Check out Previous Race Results & Photos on the Race Results Webpage.