This last weekend was the 26th annual Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival near Estacada, Oregon. Zach entered the cat boat races with a Madcatr cataraft racing frame and 14′ SOTAR Legend tubes. He also entered the oar boat race with a 14′ SOTAR raft and a River Hardware Creek Frame. Here are the results:

1st Place Cataraft Slalom
1st Place Cataraft Rodeo
1st Place Val’s Volleyball
1st Place Oar Boat Slalom

We also entered the paddle boat races. Thanks to Sawyer for letting us use super light bentshaft paddles and to SOTAR for rafts. This was our first time competing in paddle boat races and our hats are off to the Oregon Rafting Team for their solid victories. Their training and determination paid off all weekend. We were able to place in one event:

3rd Place R-4 Downriver Race

Thanks to the NWRA and the festival organizers for a great weekend!

We just got home from the 2nd annual Upper Klamath Race. The race began with a mass start of kayaks, catarafts, and paddle boats and began just above the Class IV+ Caldera. The finish line was seven miles later just below State Line Falls.

Team Hardware members Zach Collier and Pete Wallstrom were the first and second place cataraft finishers. They were so fast that they beat all paddle boats except the Oregon Rafting Team. Zach finished only 20 seconds behind the ORT and was right behind them the entire race. Momentum River Expeditions (Pete’s company) was the first rafting company to finish the paddle boat race.

A big thanks to Noah’s River Adventures and the Oregon Rafting Team for all their hospitality and for putting the race together. Thanks again to SOTAR and Madcatr for providing the best boat and best frame for the race! Our next event will be the Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival on May 16th & 17th.

This last weekend was the 2nd annual Upper Wind Race. It’s a three mile course through the biggest rapids on the Upper Wind. Our cataraft entry with Zach Collier won 1st place and was 56 seconds ahead of the next competitor. Here’s Zach’s report:

“The race was close, but I was much faster this year (and able to win) due to the SOTAR Legend cat tubes and the Matcatr racing frame. The Legend tubes have an upturned bow and stern that ran every drop effortlessly whether I was pushing or pulling. The Madcatr frame has the tunnel that allowed me to straddle rocks I couldn’t have otherwise. Plus the frame weighed only 20 lbs. Last year I lost by 30 seconds and with better gear, this year I won by a minute. Big thanks to SOTAR and Madcatr Creations.”

As you can tell, Zach was more excited about the gear than the race. Big thanks to SOTAR and MadCatr Creations for sponsoring Zach and Team Hardware.

The next race is the Upper Klamath Race on April 18th and 19th.