Okay, everything did not go off without a hitch but there were a of folks that were trying hard to make it right and they were successful in most cases. I had a very tough race against a young man from Mexico in a ICF C1 and if the course had been 7 miles shorter he would have beaten me. I think there is only so much time you can spend on one knee without wearing down and that is what happened to him. Our race went back and forth for 26 miles with him in the lead on the long flat stretches and I would catch up and pass him in the shoals and rapids. At the awards ceremony we congratulated each other, as best we could since neither spoke the others language, and took photos and each came away with quite a bit of mutal respect for the other. There was some prize money that was left down in Laredo, not all the classes filled up which suprised me given the large number of racers down in Texas. The race organizers are talking about even more prize money next year so put this one on your calendar.

Don,

Congratulations on your race. Any news from the other classes?

Mike

Here is an article from the local newspaper with a link to a video.

www.lmtonline.com/articles/2009/10/18/fr...50f07b3882525444.txt

Here is what I remember. Wade and Fred won tandem unlimited, Tommy won solo unlimited, Johan won K1, C2 tandem was a high kneel team from Mexico and I won C1, not sure about the rest.

I've sent the results spreadsheet to Bob Z. They could be showing up soon.

The Wall Street Journal was there and interviewed Wade & Sam, and other racers, I tried to "overhear" which stocks they were talking about, but didn't make out any ticker symbols.

Thanks for your hard work John-Mark. Time keepers are under paid and overworked. Of course you had a good support staff helping with boat numbers and what not. And of course the judges and other officials did a good job of keeping things rolling. Thanks to everyone that was involved in making this an event to remember.

Don

My team would like to thank everyone who helped organize the race as well as all the participants. We enjoyed ourselves in the race and on both sides of the border. I sure hope to see more K4s next year and obviously more big safari boats.

It should be mentioned that there was quite a battle in the multiman category. As I understand, the young K4 team was able to stay in the lead for the first couple of hours, while the 6-man paddled on single blades. Once the 6-man switched to double blades, the spirit of the K4 team was soon crushed.

It was very impressive to see the ICF Canoe (high kneel)teams holding out for so long, particularly on a course that required some river skills.

Thanks to all the organizers: Bob, Bob, Pete, and Ken to make this first year race such a big success. Also to all the volunteers who helped out in so many ways. Great race, fun venue, fantastic weather, and new compitition. Anxious to participate again.

John

Once again, my sincere heartfelt thanks for everyone who came down to Laredo to be part of this event. Yes, indeed, we had some glitches but I am proud our collective team effort & a whole lotta patience/understanding by all of you in the RIVER RACING COMMUNITY made the entire world of difference.

I am happy to hear the conversation.

Any suggestions and recommendations some of you might have, please address it to me while your memories are still fresh: info@laredosriofest.com

As we begin planning for next year, I will put forth your recommendations to the team of experts Bob Spain, Pete Binion, Jerry Cochran, John Harras and Ken Keiffer to take all matters into consideration. We shall accommodate as much as we feasibly can to continue to make the race better.

RACE OFFICIALS made a recommendation and we signed off on it for this inaugural event whereby we paid out a fair amount of prize money even in those classes that did not fill. That might change for next year but everyone who won 1, 2, and 3 in the classes not filled was given a decent Prize Purse.

AND FOR NEXT YEAR: October 15 & 16 are the dates we have tentatively selected. Some amount of modification in rules and PRIZE MONEY will be adjusted. Several competitors made a few recommendations about prize money adjustments and the team of officials will be taking those into consideration and making their recommendations before the end of this year.

KEEP LOOKING TO PADDLE 24 SEVEN and to our website for 2010 Laredos Rio Fest announcements during the month of December.

Onward and Forward!


Kindest and Warmest Regards/bob

Thank you to everyone who worked hard to pull this event together. It was an impressive turnout of support from the TCRA members and local paddling community. I have two requests for next year: porta cans at the start and classes for women to encourage more female participation. Thanks,Debbie

I too want to send thanks to everyone who helped put this together! What a great weekend! I concur with Debbie on the port a potty request...and would like to see a mixed division. Now I have been thinking (UH OH) but since I am sure the pre-race dinner and after party will be a go again... how about a way to talk to the Mexican paddlers? Some bilingual helpers and some get to know you activities? Maybe not but something to think about anyhow. My last request is to hold food at the end for the teams that started last I heard there was some jalepeno, bacon, wrapped shrimp that was incredible! Thanks for the shade there at the end and all the wonderful cultural entertainment. I will make that trip again next year for sure!

I'd also like to sincerely thank the RioFest Organizers, Volunteers, Teams and the community of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo.

Bob, Bob, Pete, and Ken, what a successful first year. Great race, fantastic weather, and a new, exciting emerging venue.

Thing that most impressed me and left the lasting image was the combination of cultures and sincere warmth, blending to make up a very unique setting and feel for the race.

Left Laredo feeling at peace ..and already trying to figure out how to clear my calendar for next year.

Can’t wait!

Hats off to RioFest!
Mike

PS- Also still drying my tears from the beautiful renditions of the American and Mexican National anthems sung prior to the race. The two soloist were awsome Wow!

PORTABLE TOILET: We had two that should have come to the starting line, it never showed up but rather got delivered to the park. Certain complications in our discussions with the landowner might have led to this confusion. BUT YES, for sure, next year. YES.

FOOD AT THE END: the delay in the start of the race led to this issue. And I dropped the ball in not communicating to the catering hotel to delay in serving the food. We'll work on this for next year as well.

TWEAKING THE RULES AND REGULATIONS: this is something that Bob Spain and company are currently formulating and discussing. I am confident before the end of this year we will have an update with next years race dates, classes, prize structure etcetera.

MORE INTERACTION WTIH MEXICO COMPETITORS: we have to work on this one as well. The quick 24 hour format does not necessarily help. However, if we had the dinner go off without the bus mishap, it just might have taken place. Translators is something we can certainly look into. The issue next year is going to be when we hold the dinner on the USA side and many from Mexico cannot cross over because of Visa issues. Held the dinner on the Mexico side for that reason.

Any and all other ideas we can incorporate - keep it coming. This is great discussion and I truly do appreciate the positive suggestions.

Many Thanks/bob

I thought it was a great venue and a fun race. I think going into Mexico for the dinner was cool, and if there are a lot of visa issues, then I wouldn't mind going into mexico again next year. Good job to the race organizers! Thanks!

Bob and everyone thanks so much for such a great experience, can't wait for next year. I wonder if you know who it was taking pictures on the river in the motor boat. I made some friends and I would like to see if there are pictures I can get for my own keepsake. If you know tell the boatman I was the one hit ran into head on and he told me to pretend he was a big rock! Perhaps he will remember...

Heres the link to the WSJ article, with pics'

online.wsj.com/article/SB125590848684793...rticleTabs%3Darticle

If Mexico competitors have issues with getting Visa to USA, we will certainly keep the option open of going back to the Mexico side. There are several ideas on the table at the moment including holding the welcome and registration process closer to the starting point (weather permitting) & then crossing over to the State of Nuevo Leon and the quaint little town of Colombia.

Rest assured - WE WILL KEEP ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE - as we begin planning for next year.

PHOTOGRAPHS: we will soon have a link to photographs. All of us had to go back to our day jobs to take care of some urgent matters. We will slowly get busy with providing you with photographs.

The photographers who took pictures from their boats - I don't have their permission to publish their contact information in an open format. If each of you can e-mail me a request by e-mail (info@laredohotels.org), I can then forward it to the photographer and put you directly in touch.


-bob