The Toby Creek Whitewater Kayak Festival returns this month, July 27-29, with a cash prize purse of over $3,000.

The 4th annual Toby Creek Kayak Festival is being held July 27-29 on the world-class whitewater of Toby Creek between Invermere and Panorama Mountain Village. This section of river offers racing venues for intermediates, advanced and elite paddlers alike and, unlike many other whitewater kayak races, non-paddling spectators can get up close and personal with the action.

The vibe of the event tends to be super laid back but once the elite field gets on the water on Sunday things get down to business with a cash prize purse of over $3,000 on offer. This is the main draw for spectators but there’s also a lot of action to be seen in the intermediate (Class III) and Advanced categories.

“The Toby Creek Kayak Festival is a great weekend for paddlers of most abilities and spectators from all backgrounds,” says organizer Simon Coward of Aquabatics in Calgary. “There’s great paddling, music and beer. How can you go wrong?!” For more about Simon and the river app he’s developing, read our story “Trailforks for Paddling.”

Competitors, volunteers and spectators are asked to register online by visiting tobycreekrace.com and following the registration link. Everyone is encouraged to get settled on Friday then there will be a full day of paddling events on Saturday along with free yoga sessions, a DJ as well as a dinner that night at the Heli Springs Lodge property across the road from Panorama. Sunday is the Elite men’s and women’s finals on the steep and challenging Slipping Rock rapid.

The event is sponsored by NRS, Dagger Kayaks, Alberta Slalom Canoe and Kayak, Aquabatics Calgary and more and you can find more information about it on the website: tobycreekrace.com.