Charles City Challenge Whitewater Festival

Join us for fun on the Cedar River at this year’s event in Charles City! The Charles City Challenge will include competitive kayak and SUP events for whitewater paddlers as well as fun for everyone else! Registration fee includes competition entry, event t-shirt, and a chance to win one of many prizes.

Charles City Challenge – Schedule of Events*

*schedule subject to change due to water, weather, or other circumstances.

FRIDAY EVENTS

Practice Day – all are welcome!

- 12-2 PM Grom River Surf Clinic with Hannah Ray J, Rob P & Crew

- 2-3 PM Reading Water with Carl Neubauer

- 2-4 PM River Clean Up at the Whitewater Park; Bragging rights for the best piece of trophy trash found! BYOGB (Bring Your Own Garbage Bag)

- 4 PM Friday Fry Float+

- 4:15-6:15 PM River Surf Clinic with Hannah Ray J & Crew

+Friday Fly Float – Kick off the festival by floating the course on a giant, fry shaped float. Even better – enjoy some fresh, hot fries at the end! No pre-registration required; meet on site by 3:45 PM to float! (Sponsored by Soifer Family McDonald’s)

SUP River Surfing Clinic:

“This is incredible!” you shout as you stand up on your first river wave loving the feeling of the board under your feet and the invigorating whitewater rushing by. You throw a fist up into the air ‘claiming’ as everyone excitedly cheers for you. Fellow river surfing comrades and onlookers are smiling just as wide as that huge grin on your own face as you revel in the accomplishment of surfing your first river wave!

Join us for Iowa’s only SUP river surfing clinic with Hannah Ray J. Hannah is a Team Athlete at Badfish SUP, Werner Paddles, NoCoast Stand Up, Colorado River Surf Co, Shred Ready and CKS Squad. She is an ambassador at Crawdaddy Outdoors and Astral. Hannah is a Community Leader at Land Locked Surfing and RAW Hero at RAW Adrenaline.

Hannah and her team of river assistants will guide you in all you need to know about SUP river surfing; equipment selection, SUP river surfing techniques, safety, and surfing on Charles City’s Double D Wave. No SUP river surfing experience is necessary but is helpful. Whitewater paddling experience, in general, is also helpful but not necessary.

To Register:

Contact instructor Hannah Ray J, hannah_rayj@yahoo.com , to reserve your spot in the river surfing clinic. Class size is limited, so get your spot reserved today!

What’s included: Instruction, equipment use: board, paddle, whitewater helmet, whitewater pfd, quick release leash. You are encouraged to bring your own appropriate equipment/gear if you have it.

Location: Charles City Whitewater, Charles City, IA

Requirements: Must be able to swim. Wear water-appropriate clothing and footwear. NO strappy sandals or flip-flops.

Expectations: Bring a positive attitude and ready to get wet! Participants will be swimming in the Cedar River in whitewater conditions with moving currents. Expect rocks, swift current, varying weather and water conditions, and unstable surfaces. And HAVE FUN! 

Festival Date: June 23-25