Reno River Festival 2008

It was a packed house on the Truckee

It was a clean sweep for the Jackson clan at Reno's 5th annual River festival during the freestyle competition on Saturday. They took the top positions in each division.

The competition opened at Wingate Park,with a flow of about 1000 cfs on the Truckee River, in front of a packed crowd of close to 8,000 spectators. The spectator's were treated to a typically sunny Reno day and some amazing whitewater kayaking.

The Winners

18 year old Emily Jackson switched places with last years winner, Tanya Faux, in capturing the women's division for the first time. Emily finished in second place in 2007.

Tanya traveled from Australia and finished second in this years's women's division in the freestyle competition- she had finished first in the last three Reno events. Current World Freestyle Champ,Canadian Ruth Gordon, finished in third place.

Dane Jackson,now 14 year's old and a veteran of Reno competition, bested his buddy Jason Craig, last year's winner and Reno native, in the Junior Division finals.

The patriarch of the paddling Jackson clan, Eric (EJ), took first place over Stephen Wright and Andrew Holcombe in the men's division.

One of the day's highlights was an impressive performance,sans paddle, by Eric Jackson. He started the second preliminary round,without his paddle. It was a treat for the crowd and just another feather in the cap of the 4-time world champion paddler.

The action continues on Mother's Day with outdoor concerts in the amphitheater, an expo area featuring the latest outdoor products, a variety of food booths and a beer garden featuring hand-crafted microbrews.

Sunday's paddling events will feature the ever popular slalom boatercross event, a down river race and a full day of whitewater paddling clinics. The clinics are geared for everyone, from beginner's to advanced paddlers.

Division Finalists for Saturday's Freestyle Competitions

Tanya Faux

Men's

1. Eric Jackson
2. Stephen Wright
3. Andrew Holcombe

Women's

1. Emily Jackson
2. Tanya Faux
3. Ruth Gordon

Junior's

1. Dane Jackson
2. Jason Craig

The Reno River Festival takes place at the $1.5 million Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield, located in the heart of the downtown business and arts district in downtown Reno. The park is both Nevada’s and the region’s first whitewater park and kayak slalom racing course and totals 2,600 feet in length. The park is rated a class 2 to 3 for difficulty (on a scale of 1 to 6) and features north and south channels that surround a city park on an island in the river, 11 “drop pools” and boulders for kayaking maneuvers, a slalom racing course, and 7,000 tons of smooth flat rocks along the shores for easy river access and spectator seating.

For more information about Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place contact 800-FOR-RENO (800-367-7366) .

Stephen Wright in orbit