Over 2,000 people spent sunny Saturday, Nov. 2, on the banks of Green River near Saluda, North Carolina, cheering for kayakers competing for the fastest run over the roaring Class V Rapids.
Hundreds of people hug the riverbank to watch the biggest drop of the run, while the safety crew stay alert during the Green River race on Nov.2, 2019. Photo by Wyatt Burnette.
The 24th annual Green River Run saw 157 kayakers hoping to set some new time records and take the title in this prestigious race. Said race took place on the most difficult section of the Green River (called the Narrows), dropping 200 feet in .6 miles. Any athlete completing the race in under 5 minutes stood to gain some serious bragging rights, spectators said.
Dane Jackson, a nationally acclaimed kayaker, kicked off the race tearing through the rapids and setting a fast pace for the other competitors. “I always enjoy racing on the Green River. These world-class rapids provide a great challenge to not only me but the other competitors as well,” said Jackson. Jackson finished first with a time of 4:04.4 minutes, setting a new course record. The previous course record was set by Eric Deguil in 2017 with a time of 4:05 minutes. Jackson posted a video of his record-setting run on his Instagram.
Mark Taylor, a participant, was one of two boat classes racing in a longboat, with other racers competing in a short boat. “The Green River is the wildest white water I have experienced. I had a tough run, but I will be back next year to try again,” Taylor said.
Short boat times are much slower than longboats. The fastest short boat time on the day was Dane Jackson’s. Taylor finished 11th overall with a time of 4:24 minutes.
A longboat competitor dives down the last drop just in front of the finish line of the Green River race on Nov. 2, 2019. Photo by Wyatt Burnette.
The first Green River race was in 1996 with only 16 racers. Over the years the number of racers has grown, and so have the crowds. Patrick Blum, a first-year attendant of the race, was impressed by the cheering and the support for the kayakers.
“This has been quite the spectacle from these amazing athletes. The hike was long, and I am not looking forward to the uphill climb waiting us when we leave the race,” said Blum. The trail is 2.7 miles one way, with a very steep decline to the river requiring the use of a rope to pull themselves back up the hill.
The awards ceremony took place at the Green River Ranch where music and food were provided. Racers then spent the night camping and sharing their experiences from Saturday’s events.
Every participant’s results can be found on the Green River Race website.
