American Whitewater Refocuses Events Program to Better Serve Its Mission
ASHEVILLE, NC – After nurturing competitive freestyle paddling from its infancy in 1987, American Whitewater (AW) has announced a major shift in its events program for 2003.
“AW will step aside as the organizing force for freestyle paddling competition” notes Michael Phelan, AW Events Director. “This move will usher in a new era, building upon our storied history of hosting exceptional whitewater river festivals that started in 1986 with the Gauley River Festival. AW will focus its resources on an events portfolio that reaches a broader demographic, communicates its critical conservation and access messages, and can generate the financial and volunteer resources necessary to further drive its mission of protecting and restoring America’s whitewater rivers.”
American Whitewater’s Executive Committee recently voted unanimously to support the refocusing of the events program for 2003. In place of extending vast resources on the organization of a competitive freestyle event series, American Whitewater will host three major river festivals.
North Fork of the Feather Fest Belden,CA June 7th-8th
Deerfield Riverfest Charlemont,MA August 2nd-3rd
Gauley Fest Summersville, WV September 20th-21st
American Whitewater is particularly excited about crossing the Continental Divide and utilizing its wealth of experience to produce what will soon become one of the best river events in the western half of the country. The North Fork of the Feather River will act as a springboard to address the long-standing criticism that American Whitewater’s events program has been ‘East Coast centric.’
The American Whitewater River Festivals will focus on celebrating rivers with live music, food, and refreshments, and competitions; creating a venue for updating attendees on the local results of American Whitewater efforts to (mission)‘to conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.’
For more information, please contact:
Michael Phelan 828-252-0728
michael@amwhitewater.org