Last saturday was the annual Kayak pour la Vie (kayak for life) race. Besides being an awesome kayak race, this event also gathers money for Cystic Fibrosis research and the Halte de la Rouge campground. The awesome spring time water levels got the Rouge flowing at a descent 180 m3/s.
More than 15 teams showed up and were ready for a fun but yet competitive day down the river. With 500$ in the men's category and 200$ in the women's category up for grabs, people were taking the race a tiny bit more seriously!!! The principle of the Rouge Challenge is pretty simple: First get yourself a good partner and two try to make it as fast as possible down the 2 class III-IV sections without loosing your partner!!!
The whole day was a success with smiles, sun and just the right amount of challenge!
Thanks to Jo Arnold and sponsors for setting up another awesome event. Pics are from my Bro, who did an awesome job while I was getting some footage. Keep posted for the VIDEO of this awesome day.
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| Jo going through the race rules and details |
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| Levels of attention are high when it comes to the rules |
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| Racers are getting ready for a day on the water |
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| Smiles, the most important aspect of the Rouge Challenge |
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| Again, those nice smiles! |
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| Meditating on the best line through the washing machine |
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| Setting up the plan for the race |
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| Training runs are the best in order to tune the lines for the race |
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| Learning from others experiences |
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| Entering the race course |
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Keeping focus towards the goal, the bottom of the river!
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| Keeping it tight is the secret |
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| Tight once again, even in the washing machine |
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| Entering the make or brake section of the monster |
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| Big waves need big moves |
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| Looking at the show from the side lines |
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| Focus towards the bottom |
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| Making the ferry above the infamous washing machine |
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| Sticking with your partner is important, even through difficult times! |
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| Punching of the the mean waves |
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| Plowing through waves |
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| Guys and the macho wave |
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| Phil and Mike pushing towards their 3rd 3rd place!! |
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| Just enough time to catch a breath |
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| Racers fueling on a good lunch provided by Kayak pour la Vie |
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| Racers catching a break before the second leg of the race |
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| Entering the infamous race breaking cascade |
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| Driving left towards the race saving boof |
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| Winning boof stroke about to happen |
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| Focus is the secret to winning |
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| Tight even towards the end |
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| Its all about focus, until you loose it |
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| Jo asking for dues to be paid |
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| Swimming paying up their dues |
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| Jo, race organizer extraordinaire announcing winning teams |
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| First ever female winning team |
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| Taking up the first place and all the cash! |
