Paddlers from Ska Brewing Co. battle to a first-place finish through the waters of the Animas River on Wednesday at Smelter Rapid during the 14th annual Battle of the Animas. The race, hosted by Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours, is a paddling competition between local tourism-based businesses.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Paddlers from Ska Brewing battle to a first-place finish through the waters of the Animas River on Wednesday at Smelter Rapid during the 14th annual Battle of the Animas. The race, hosted by Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours, is a paddling competition between local tourism-based businesses.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Paddlers competing in the 14th annual Battle of the Animas set off on the river Wednesday at the 29th Street put-in. The race, hosted by Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours, is a paddling competition among local tourism-related businesses. The race goes from 29th Street to Santa Rita Park.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Paddlers in the 14th annual Battle of the Animas set off on the river Wednesday at the 29th Street put-in. The race hosted by Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours, is a paddling competition among local tourism-related businesses. The race goes from 29th Street to Santa Rita Park.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Lauren Price from Eolus Bar and Dining listens to last-minute instructions from Alex Mickel, of Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours, before the start of Wednesday’s 14th annual Battle of the Animas. The race, hosted by Mild to Wild, is a paddling competition among local tourism-related businesses.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Paddlers in the 14th annual Battle of the Animas set off on the river Wednesday at the 29th Street put-in. The race, hosted by Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours, is a paddling competition among local tourism-related businesses. It goes from 29th Street to Santa Rita Park.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Justin Crump of Ska Brewing prepares to battle to a first-place finish down the Animas River on Wednesday during the annual Battle of the Animas. The 14th annual race, hosted by Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours, brings together local tourism-related businesses for a raft race down the river. It started at the 29th Street put-in and finished at Santa Rita Park.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald
The 14th annual Battle of the Animas took place Wednesday. The race, hosted by Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours, is a paddling competition between local tourism-related businesses.
The Animas River peaked Wednesday at 1,650 cubic feet per second. The river is rising as the weather warms up, and it is ramping up the rapids as we head into the weekend. The annual Animas River Days festival will take place Thursday through Saturday.
Here’s the schedule of events:
Thursday
6:30 p.m. Film Night and Kickoff Party, doors open at 5:30 p.m., $12/$10, Smiley Building Theater, 1309 East Third Ave.
Friday
4-5:30 p.m. Surf Competition Prelims, Santa Rita Park.
6-7:30 p.m. Kayak Freestyle Competition Prelims, Santa Rita Park.
Saturday
8:30-11 a.m. Kayak Slalom, Santa Rita Park.
11 a.m. Music begins, Santa Rita Park.
11 a.m.-noon SUP Slalom, Santa Rita Park.
11 a.m. Dog contests begin, Santa Rita Park. Registration for all dog contests will be available at Healthy Hounds and Fat Cats booth.
11 a.m. Dog Fetching Contest – River, Santa Rita Park.
11:30 a.m. Dog Fetching Contest – Land, Santa Rita Park.
Noon: Best Dry Land Dog Trick contest, Santa Rita Park.
Noon-2:30 p.m. Boater X, Santa Rita Park.
Noon-2:30 p.m. Last Paddler Standing, Santa Rita Park.
Noon Beer Garden opens with Ska Beer and alcohol sales, Santa Rita Park.
2:30-4 p.m. Surf Competition Finals, Santa Rita Park.
3:30-4 p.m. Smelter Smackdown Raft Race, launch at Ninth Street Bridge, finish at Santa Rita Park.
3:30 p.m. Yellow ducky races, Santa Rita park.
5-6:30 p.m. River Parade, Santa Rita Park.
6:30-7:30 p.m. Inflatable Rodeo, Santa Rita Park.
7:30-9 p.m. Freestyle Kayak Competition Finals, Santa Rita Park.
10 p.m. Late Night Dance Party at the The Balcony Bar & Grill – Backstage Theater, 600 Main Ave.
Sunday
All day Clinics offered through 4 Corners Riversports. For more information, call 259-3893.