Kern River Kickoff

The Kern River is Southern California's premier whitewater run, and offers something for every level of riverboarder! Whether you're into big, pushy, technical boulder gardens, steep narrow waterfalls and drops, or just fun wave trains, the Kern has sections of it all.

This year's Kern River Festival will be the kickoff for the 2009 Face Level Riverboarding Championships (FLRC). It's appropriately the home of defending FLRC champ Alex Koutzoukis, whose win in the overall series in 2008 earned him a surfing and riverboarding trip to Costa Rica!

You can bet that Alex will be back to kick the season off right on his home turf - but he's not the only one stoked to get the riverboarding competition season started! A number of Alex's CORE Team FLI teammates are making the trek to sunny So Cal as well, and are geared up for the competition which looks stronger than ever before!

The Kern River is in Southern California, but the water is not "balmy" by any means, and the Kern event will be early in the year. So bring your cold-water wetsuit and your fastest board, because you'll need both!

Outside of the races, there will be plenty of opportunity for you to experience more of this great river drainage on your own or with a group. Test your mettle on Brush Creek, a shallow cascade of drops, some as high as 18 feet! Or experience the geological beauty of the area and do as much as 20 miles in a day through massive boulder gardens and pushy holes. The Lower Kern, depending on how much is releasing from the dam, has some sections that will make even the most experienced boarder - the Kern's own "Fast Eddie" go white knuckled.

But if you're just getting into the sport, there is plenty of Class III as well, and the races will be held on predominately Class III / III+ whitewater.

So come join the fun, kick off the riverboarding season with some adrenaline, and maybe even take home some prizes! Not to mention, points toward the overall championship and a riverboarding trip to some exotic location!



Schedule of Events


Saturday

Extreme Downriver

10am- Cable to park in Kernville

Surf Competition

4pm- Cable rapid, or wave above Ewings


Sunday

Boardercross

9:30am- In the park

Plan to officially register race weekend, prior to the events. You may submit your tentative RSVP on Team FLI to let us know you may be coming.

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Comment by Stephen Pink on March 4, 2009 at 12:03pm

Very likely that I'll be able to go, but I'll let you know when I know for sure. -Stephen

Comment by Alex Koutzoukis on March 5, 2009 at 8:01pm

You HAVE to come STEPHEN!!

Comment by Rochelle Parry on March 10, 2009 at 4:24pm

What do we do about registration? are we just handling it up there? I don't see Riverboarding anywhere on the form from kernfestival.org

Comment by Alicia Anne on March 13, 2009 at 12:31pm

They haven't updated anything on their site that I am aware of. They said they are going off the same schedule from last year, with maybe minor tweaks. We won't be doing any sort of pre-registering on our end. For now, just say, "Hey I'm coming," so we know who to expect ; )

Comment by Rochelle Parry on March 15, 2009 at 1:25am

I've rsvp'd here; need I do more?

Comment by Alicia Anne on March 15, 2009 at 8:07pm

You're good! And I know your flight itinerary...I'm pretty sure you'll be there :) I'm bringing a fun game , but it's a surprise ;)

Comment by Sofia Koutzoukis on March 15, 2009 at 9:21pm

Cant wait!!!! I WILL do the rest of the river this year.

Comment by JEFF TUTTOBENE on April 10, 2009 at 10:00pm

Hey People My name is JEFF ---Nickname JEDI, I've been boarding for 5 years on the South fork American , Kings River above Pine Flats Resivoir, the Lower Kern below the dam. This is my first meet and greet with the FLI members at an event. Who's camping at Frandys camp ground by the Kernville bridge?
and wheres sign up at on Saturday morning?
I might bring another buddy who is my wingman on all the runs I do. his name is Wes , We were planning for the Kings on the 17-19th till I got an email from ICE about this event. so were there. thanks and my email is jeff@minigunz.com get back to me on any answers to my questions, Jedi

Comment by Josh Galt on April 12, 2009 at 12:59pm

Jeff, looking forward to meeting you in person finally! Registration will be in the park the whole weekend, we're working with the Kern River Festival on that aspect. I'm not sure who all is camping but it looks like we're going to have a big crowd, going to be great!

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