CaliBurnFest 07

Check out the video from this year's race: Click Here

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2007 Burnt Ranch Gorge Race.
Photo: R.Stocum

The Third Annual Burnt Ranch Race was held on October 13th, 2007. This year there was a return of previous competitors as well a great showing of 1st time racers. In addition to a record number of kayakers there were also 3 raft teams racing down the Gorge for the first time ever. Beginning with a mass start in the rapid above Toilet Bowl, sometimes called "Son of Scrapper", racers battled for position early on.
Dan Menten got off with an early lead which he maintained until the middle of #1. At which point Charlie Center managed to sneak by, dropping the right side of #2 with Dan right on his back.

Photo: R.Stocum
Charlie Center and Dan Menten battling for first place at the finish line.


Congrats to Charlie for winning the 3rd Annual BRG Race!

Dan was awarded a Gortex Drytop courtesy of Kokatat.

Luke Walker won a pair of float bags for swimming without them courtesy of Colorado Kayak Supply.

In the Shortboat Class Todd Baker won in his 1st ever trip down the ranch.

Team Bigfoot, guided by Matt Hogge, won the 1st ever Raft Race Division.

Team Wet had the largest showing bringing 2 rafts for the competition.

Counts for this year estimate participation around 40-50 people, including the 3 rafts.

Thanks again to everyone for attending, as well as Kokatat and Colorado Kayak Supply who supplied prizes free for participants.

In addition thanks to Shaun Walker (Times Standard) and Robin Stocum (Trinity Journal) for taking and suppling photographs of the racers.

Photo: P.Gamache
Ben and Erick working on pulling the strainer out of the lip of "Toliet Bowl". Photo:

Photo: P.Gamache
Testing out the cable cam system the day before the race.

October 13th, 2007 - Race Day

Photo: P.Gamache
Kokatat definitely had a presence at the race.

Photo: P.Gamache
Bigfoot Rafting getting fired up.

Photo: P.Gamache
Mass start underway.

3rd Annual Burnt Ranch Gorge Race Results:

Photo: S.Walker
1st Place: Charlie Center
2nd Place: Dan Menten

Photo: S.Walker
3rd Place: Erick Conklin

Photo: S.Walker
4th Place: Ben Hawthorne

Photo: S.Walker
5th Place: Alex Wolfgram (Winner of 2005 BRG Race)

Photo: S.Walker
6th Place: Ben Wartburg

Photo: S.Walker
7th Place (1st Place Short Boat): Todd Baker - This was Todd's first time ever paddling the Gorge.

Photo: S.Walker
8th Place (2nd Place Short Boat): Rush Sturges
9th Place (3rd Place Short Boat): Chris Zawacki

Photo: S.Walker
10th Place (4th Place Short Boat): David Maurier

RAFT RESULTS (1st Ever Raft Race Down BRG):

Photo: S.Walker
1st Place: Bigfoot Rafting Co. (Guide - Matt Hogge. Paddlers: Joel Escandon, Ryan)

Photo: S.Walker
Photo: S.Walker
2nd Place: WET (Guide: Paul Gamache. Paddlers: Rachel, Simon Wolfegram)

3rd Place: WET (Guide: Alex. Paddlers: Unknown)
Unfortunately, a small dog fell down the cliffs of the gorge about 40' and Shaun missed the picture of the last Wet boat. Stupid Dog. If you really want to hear the story of the tumbling dog ask Rush about it, he seemed pretty horrified from the experience. For those who care the dog was fine.

Finishers and Random Shots:

Photo: S.Walker
Robin Stocum photographing the race.

Photo: S.Walker
Shon Bullock.

Photo: S.Walker
The Burnt Ranch Safety Team getting into position. Matt Porter, Greg Speicher, Dustin Stonner.
Photo: S.Walker
Photo: S.Walker
Luke Walker.

Photo: S.Walker
Lou Jacobson.

Photo: S.Walker
Alex Wolfgram.

Photo: S.Walker
Unknown Finisher.

Photo: S.Walker
Unknown Finisher.

Photo: S.Walker
Daniel Brasuell.

Photo: S.Walker
Conor Ross.

Photo: S.Walker
Wendy, Alex, and Greg.

Photo: S.Walker
Alex Horangic

Photo: S.Walker
Unknown Boater.

Photo: S.Walker
Photo: S.Walker
Greg Speicher

Photo: S.Walker
Everyone did a great job with safety and looking out for one another. Dustin Stonner pulling in a swimmer at the bottom of #2.

Photo: S.Walker
Diane Gaydos.

Photo: S.Walker
Will Parnham.

Photo: S.Walker
Geo.

Photo: S.Walker
Mike Ward.

Photo: S.Walker
Another Burnt Ranch Fan.

Photo: S.Walker
Wendy.

Photo: S.Walker
Martin Belden.

Photo: S.Walker
Paul Fritze.

Photo: S.Walker
Damon Goodman.

Photo: P.Gamache
Team Bigfoot heading towards #3.

Photo: P.Gamache
Showing the way to the post-race party. Thanks again to Rita for the awesome party spot!

Photo: P.Gamache
Paddlers paying current and past dues.



Mixing downriver racing with the explosive progressiveness of ocean big-air kayak surfing, the CaliBurnFest is set to return to the North Coast for the second consecutive year.

Details:

October 13th: Burnt Ranch Gorge. Meet at the Burnt Ranch Falls campground at 11am. Rafts welcomed, any boat over 8’6 will be entered into the long boat category. Safety paddlers, timers, photographers and videographers, are all appreciated.

Race will be in mass start format from above toilet bowl, same as last year. Rafters will start at toilet bowl as well but will raft down in five minute intervals after the kayakers. Bottom hole of number 2, river right, will mark the finish line for both kayakers and rafters.

Free beer and camping will be available at Burnt Ranch Falls Campground Saturday Night.

October 14th: Camel Rock Big Air Comp. Meet at Camel at 2pm. Location may change based upon surf conditions. Divisions include: Big Air Trick, Over the Lip, Raft Ride, and Carnage.

Check out the results video Ben Wartburg put together for last years comp.



Questions, Suggestions, Donations, Contact: Paulgamache@gmail.com