Five Time Winner - Green Race Champion Tommy Hilleke
photo by Ian Curcio
The Green River Narrows is called ‘The Fast-food of creek boating’ and for good reason. There is no river in the world that has such easy access to class five rapids, consistent 3-4 season flows, and consistent dam-released water levels. It’s also the home of the most extreme downriver kayak race in the nation – a 4-6 minute descent dropping over 342 feet in about a mile of length.
This year was the 10th anniversary of the event, but felt just like any other – 72 testosterone and Red-bull jacked men and 3 women in boats from 8-12 lengths bombing down, spinning out, and occasionally swimming parts of the bedrock but boulder-choked course as a crowd of 350+ spectators cheered, jeered, and tried to keep from slipping in from the steep bedrock rock banks. The crowd favorite – 4 time race winner and LVM super-star Tommy Hilleke – was back in town with his trusty blue Prijon Tornado to defend his crown while his primary competition – boy wonder Pat Keller – was out due to a recent 80 foot Costa Rican waterfall misadventure. his left the door wide open for the rest of the Asheville / Tornado crowd to grab a place in history should the champ spin-out. Accordingly, the river was jam-packed with Tornado’s doing lap after lap on the course the week before the race. Race boasted 75 degree temps with fall colors peaking throughout the gorge.
The race had its moments, as it always does. Several racers surfed, some went swimming and some hiked back up for a second run. Tommy Hilleke went home with his 5th Green Race trophy and the course record (a 4:32!). The local Tornado crowd dominated the top 10 placings, while I ended up surfing just long enough to let Eric Jackson take 11th and the short-boat title. The post-race party went off thanks to Astral and Liquid Logic’s BBQ but everybody knows it’s just the ‘cool-down’ after one smoking hot race. That feeling you get on course – while the clock is ticking down and you’re rolling through your lines and your 200 friends are cheering as you ‘Ride the Lightening’ off Gorilla . . . that’s best moment in the world. It’s also what the annual Green Race is all about.
Clay Wright
Here’s the Top 15!
1. Tommy Hilleke
2. Chris Grattmans
3. John Grace / Toby McDermont
4. Jason Hale
5. Chris Harjes
6. Adam Herzog
7. Joe Barkley
8. Caleb Coaplen
9. Daniel DeLaVergne
10. Bo Wallace
11. Eric Jackson
12. Clay Wright
13. Jeb Hall
14. Heath Miller
15. Chris Young
Racers of the 10th Annual Green River Race
photo by Christie Dobson
Racers "Ride the Lightening" off Gorilla, while spectators get a front row view of the Class V rapid.
photo by Ian Curcio
350+ spectators hike the 2 miles to the rapids...the trail is famous for it's steepness.
photo by Ian Curcio
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