2009 EVENT STATISTICS
The EddyFlower Vertical Challenge was a HUGE success in 2009. Here are some of the results from the event.
- $34,424 funds raised for First Descents
- 1,182,276 vertical feet paddled equal 40 sea to summit on Mt. Everest
- 43 teams from 13 states
- 182 competitors
- $15,000 in prizes
- 1389 eligible runs in 31 states
FUNDRAISER
EddyFlower has partnered with First Descents to raise money for a great cause. What better reason to paddle when every stroke you take raises money for young adults with cancer! First Descents offers young adults with cancer outdoor experiences that will forever change their lives. The 2007, 2008 and 2009 EddyFlower Vertical Challenge competitors raised over $68,500 and sent 68 young adults to kayak camp. Check out this video on First Descents.
All donations raised go directly to First Descents to provide cancer survivors with a free, week long kayak camp in Colorado. For fundraising suggestions, review the Ambassador Fundraising Package and Vertical Challenge Fundraiser documents for ideas.
You can make your donations online or send checks directly to First Descents. Please make all donation checks payable to "First Descents" and mail to First Descents PO BOX 2193 Vail Colorado 81658 attention Kelley Brupbacher.
Everyone who makes a donation and provides their complete mailing address will receive a tax letter from First Descents. Letters will be sent out on the following days: May 1st, June 1st and July 1st.
DIVISIONS
Choose from six divisions that best match your team’s skills. The team in each division with the most vertical feet is crowned champion. The individual with the most vertical feet will be crowned as the overall individual vertical champion. Check out the runs eligible in your division. If we are missing any runs please let us know and we'd be happy to get them uploaded.
• Open: all runs are eligible in this division. The team in this division with most Class I-V vertical feet wins.
• Class V Only: only Class V (V-, V, V+) runs are eligible in this division. The team in this division with the most Class V-, V, V+ vertical feet wins.
• Class IV: only Class I-IV runs are eligible in this division. The team in this division with the most Class I-IV vertical feet wins.
• Class III: only Class I-III runs are eligible in this division. The team in this division with the most Class I-III vertical feet wins.
• Womens: all runs are eligible in this division. The team in this division with most Class I-V vertical feet wins.
• Weekend Warrior: all runs eligible in this division. The ten best days as a team will be totaled to determine which team has the most vertical feet. The team in this division with the most vertical feet wins.
2008 SPONSORS
Thanks to our sponsors we have the best paddling loot on the planet to give away! Prizes include:
• Kokatat PFDs
• Kayak Session
• Aquabound Carbon Paddles
• Boquete Outdoor Adventures 7 day trip to Panama
• Fluid Kayaks
• Shred Ready Helmets
• Face Level Riverboarding Gear
• Keen Shoes
• Smith Optics Sunglasses
• NRS Revolution Dry Tops
• Alpenglow
• Loki Hoodies
• Predator Waterproof Video Camera
• Level 6 Skirts and Bladders
• Tech 4O TraiLeader Watches
• Gaia Sports Sneaky Petes Waterproof Bags
• Red Bull Energy Drinks
• Outdoor Divas Hats & Gift Bags
2008 PRIZES
The EddyFlower Vertical Challenge award ceremony will be held at TBD. Prizes will be handed out or shipped to the winners. To see where you and other competitors stand during the event, please use the ' 2009 Standings' reports found on this standings event page.
Top Donations - Individual:
The top 15 competitors that raise the most donations for First Descents will receive the following prizes:
- 1st: 7 day kayaking trip to Panama (airfare excluded) through Boquete Outdoor Adventures
- 2nd: Predator Waterproof Helmet Camera
- 3rd: Aquabound Carbon Paddle
- 4th: Kokatat PFD
- 5th: Shred Ready Helmet
- 6th: Gaia Waterproof Bag
- 7th: Loki Hoodie
- 8th: Smith Optics Sunglasses
- 9th: Keen Shoes
- 10th: Smith Optics Sunglasses
- 11th: One Day lift ticket to Vail CO
- 12th: Keen Shoes
- 13th: One Day lift ticket to Vail CO
- 14th: Smith Optics Sunglasses
- 15th: One Day lift ticket to Vail CO
- 16th: Smith Optics Sunglasses
- 17th: One Day lift ticket to Vail CO
- 18th: Keen Shoes
- 19th: One Day lift ticket to Vail CO
- 20th: Smith Optics Sunglasses
*Check the "Total Donations by Individual" Report on this page.
Top Donations - Team:
The team that raises the most money for First Descents will receive the following prizes:
- Loki Hoodie, Shred Ready Helmet, Kokatat PFD, Gaia Waterproof bag, Keen Shoes
*Check the "Total Donations by Team" Report on this page.
Most Vertical - Individual:
The top 5 competitors who drop the most vertical feet will receive the following prizes:
- 1st: Fluid Solo Kayak
- 2nd: Aquabound Carbon Paddle
- 3rd: Kokatat PFD
- 4th: Gaia Waterproof Bag
- 5th: Smith Optics Sunglasses
*Check the "Total Vertical by Individual" Report on this page.
Most Vertical - Team:
1st place prizes for teams with the most vertical includes:
- Open: Kokatat PFD, NRS Dry Top, Shred Ready Helmet, Tech 4o Watch, Level 6 Spray Skirt
- Womens: Aquabound Carbon Paddle, NRS Dry Top, Shred Ready Helmet, Tech 4o Watch, Level 6 Spray Skirt
- Class V: Loki Hoodie, NRS Dry Top, Shred Ready Helmet, Tech 4o Watch, Level 6 Spray Skirt
- Class IV: Kokatat PFD, NRS Dry Top, Shred Ready Helmet, Tech 4o Watch, Level 6 Spray Skirt
- Class III: Aquabound Carbon Paddle, NRS Dry Top, Shred Ready Helmet, Tech 4o Watch, Level 6 Spray Skirt
- Weekend Warrior: Loki Hoodie, NRS Dry Top, Shred Ready Helmet, Tech 4o Watch, Level 6 Spray Skirt
*Check the "Total Vertical by Team" Report on this page.
Vertical Club - Individual:
The top Vertical Club competitors will receive the following prize:
- 1st: Kokatat PFD
- 2nd: Shred Ready Helmet
- 3rd: Gaia Waterproof Bag
- 4th: Keen Shoes
- 5th: One Day lift ticket to Vail CO
*Check the "Vertical Club" Report on this page.
EVENT RULES
All registered teams and individuals must abide by all event rules. Teams or individuals failing to adhere to the following rules may be disqualified at the discretion of the event staff. Prizes will not be awarded to teams or individuals that do not follow the rules or are suspected of cheating. WAIVER: All competitors must fillout an online waiver.
• Open to all paddlers (kayakers, rafters, canoers, riverboarders), from all countries, of all skill levels.
• Competition begins sunrise May 15 and ends sunset June 15.
• Maximum team size: 5, minimum team size: 1
• Competitors can only be registered on one team.
• Single run limitation set at 5 runs per team member i.e. each team member can only run one section of river 5 times.
• Must use put-ins and take-outs defined for the runs listed eddyflower.com for competition credit.
• Must complete entire run to earn vertical feet. Portaging unrunnable and unsafe rapids is acceptable. Running laps on one drop or few drops doesn't contribute to your teams vertical feet.
• Competitors must register, pay registration fee and fill out online waiver to be eligible to compete. Competitors will be UNABLE to enter laps unless the Registration Fee is paid and the online Waiver is filled out.
• Teams may recruit a new team member(s) if you have an open spot(s) during the competition, however, no trading people in and out once the comp starts.
• Competitors are responsible for entering in run and donation information directly into the event webpage within 48 hours of the descent or are subject to disqualification. The goal is to have teams enter in laps and donations as soon as possible to keep the standings as real-time as possible.
• Teams are not allowed to switch divisions once competition has started.
• Teams are not allowed to change team names once competition has started.
• Honor system applies, team member registration requires real First Name, Last Name, and Email Address. Anonominity doesn't work well with the Honor System concept.
• You must stop to help if you see another boater in trouble.
SAFETY RULES
All competitors of the EddyFlower Vertical Challenge must abide by the following safety rules or will be subject to disqualification. WAIVER: All competitors must fillout an online waiver.
• Do to the dispersed nature of the Vertical Challenge competition, every competitor is responsible for providing their own safety and the safety of their team members. EddyFlower is not responsible for the safety of the competitors. Individual competitors use their own discretion in regards to choosing runs, run difficulty levels, setting safety and the number of times they paddle a run.
• All information on the EddyFlower website, including but not limited to descriptions of rapids, routes, difficulty levels, water levels, directions, and weather are the subjective view of the author and may not constitute accurate information. EddyFlower is in no way meant to serve as a substitute for a guidebook, careful river reading, scouting, personal assessment of skill, and common sense. Recommended 'runnable' water levels do not constitute a determination of conditions under which a river or creek is 'safe.'
• Every competitor is responsible for careful river reading, scouting, personal assessment of skill and common sense before proceeding down a run. River conditions can change at any time, so competitors are responsible to inspect any potentially hazardous sections of whitewater before paddling.
• Every competitor is responsible for carrying a full complement of safety equipment at all times including: first aid kit, breakdown paddle, pin kit, throw rope and a river knife.
• Every competitor is responsible for talking through emergency procedures prior to paddling.
STANDINGS
EddyFlower.com will provide real-time event Standings reports. These reports will include up to date standings including:
• Total Feet By Division
• Total Feet By Individual
• Total Donations By Team
• Total Donations By Individual
• Vertical Club
VIDEO
EddyFlower will be creating a DVD consisting of team videos and photos submitted during the event. Last years video was sic, big thanks to Jeremy from Walkaway Creative for creating it! Thanks to all the bands here that contributed!
POSTER
Big thanks to Len Eckstein for designing the 2008 & 2009 event posters!
PODCAST
Here's information about last years event and what the shakedown is for 2009 at Inbetween Swims.
CONTACTS
For additional registration, event, or sponsor information please contact:
• Paul Hemming - paul@eddyflower.com
• Nick Aguon - islandertek@gmail.com
• Matt Rensel - matthew@eddyflower.com
2009 Vertical Challenge Sponsors