Event Preview: New River Gorge Festival

For the second year in a row, Ace Adventure Resort will host the New River Gorge Festival, showcasing all the amazing outdoor recreation opportunities the New River Gorge has to offer. This year’s festival is set to take place May 12-14th, with the fun kicking off with the New River Film Festival Friday at 4pm.
There are two whitewater events at this year’s festival, the rolling rodeo and downriver race. The rolling rodeo will be the first event on Saturday morning, starting at 11am. The rolling rodeo consists of a freestyle kayaking competition that involves several features on the New River. Competitors start by launching off a wooden ramp and throwing moves mid-air, before landing in a pool below. Talk about fun! From here paddlers will have a couple of consecutive rapids to show the judges their best downriver freestyle moves. Waves trains provide the perfect setting for wave-wheels, macho moves and whatever else you can throw! In addition to downriver play there will be at least one feature to surf a session or two at.
The downriver race will start at 3p on Saturday at Cunard put-in. Racers will line up and sprint to Fayette Station, ending underneath the New River Bridge about 6.5 miles downstream. This race is all about being fast in the flatwater and keeping it straight and clean through the rapids. There are different classes for kayaks, rafts and even inflatable kayaks – if you can find three competitors to make a class, you can race!
Saturday will conclude with a night of music at Ace Adventure Resort and an award ceremony scheduled for 9:30p. Sunday morning provides an opportunity to give back, at a river clean up in partnership with the New River Conservancy.
Other off-water events are scheduled, with something to do for all ages. Check out Ace’s website for registration and more details on this event: https://aceraft.com/event/newrivergorgefestival/