| KUAC’s 15th Annual RED GREEN REGATTA was AWESOME POSSUM! |  |
Another “awesome possum” day on the Chena River at the KUAC 15th annual Red Green Regatta!
To translate, Awesome Possum means winner – as in, the Grand Prize winner of a blue LiquidLogic Kayak donated by Paddler’s Cove. The unaccountably cute “playing dead” possum vessel, captained by Craig and Joy Van Dyke, was anything but dead in the water, as it drifted to the finish line with the judge’s respect for their innovative use of duct tape, integration of the Red Green theme, and impressive ability to stay afloat.
Everyone was pleasantly surprised by an “appearance” put in by Red Green himself, in the form of a life-size cut-out of Steve Smith, star of the Red Green Show which airs on AlaskaOne, Saturday nights at 8 p.m. Advance Printing donated the larger-than-life, really, Red Green. Glacier Point Pumping & Thawing rolled out Red Green’s Limousine, an artfully and – it goes without saying– tastefully decorated septic pump truck which added a special something to the day.
The day dawned gray, but a little drizzle did not dampen the spirits of the volunteers and staff who arrived at 8 a.m. , nor the enthusiasm of the captain who pitched a tent on the boat launch to have his craft already afloat when the set-up team arrived. There was a steady arrival of trailers loaded with all manner of semi-floatable vessels and participants festooned in a rainbow of duct tape clothing, including plaid-decorated duct tape life vests, Speedo swim-wear, and superhero costumes that beat anything we’ve seen on Halloween.
As soon as UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers fired off the starting pistol, 80 kooky crafts and their equally krazy-pants crews and captains sped on their way to a record finish time – despite the fact that it’s a flotilla and not a race – all thanks to high water levels and a rapid current. No thanks to the logjam under the Wendell Street bridge, which the Coast Guard Auxiliary set out to help people avoid.
Along the 2.2 nautical mile route, cheering crowds lined the banks and bridges of the Chena, and Craig Smith and his ProMusic raft provided melodic pandemonium, set to the tune of “Can’t You See” and powered by guitar-paddles, as you really can see in this video recorded by RGR Judge and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner columnist Dermot Cole.
Four-dozen or so volunteers donned safety orange and pitched in to make the event a big success – could not have done it without these fine folks! An extra big round of applause to the tireless crew from the 168th Alaska Air Guard, and their fearless leader and KUAC Community Advisory Council member Tim Carrier, for keeping the chaos at the Graehl Park boat launch to a minimum.
Luke Malek from Compeau’s skippered a crew of six in three boats to tow rafts out into the river at the launch, and others on personal watercraft helped at the take-out point at Pioneer Park. And the mystery boater who brought up the rear of the Regatta while fishing out balloons and other trash from the Chena with a net – we thank you – and the ducklings send their ‘quacks,’ too.
At the finish, ten prizes were awarded, with two Judges’ Choices again, but everyone was a winner – and without doubt, the KUAC Red Green Regatta retains its claim as Alaska’s Premier Duct Tape event!
Thanks to all who contributed photographs, including Deb Lawton, Toka Smith, Michelle Cote, Dorrie Breese, Mark Johnson, Mary Ann Nickles, Craig Lemke, Sheena Cummings, Gretchen Gordon, and Lisa Scerbak!
We send out CONGRATULATIONS to these WINNERS, and our everlasting GRATITUDE to all who made Alaska’s Premier Duct Tape Event a real happening!
WINNERS:
Grand Prize Winner of the amazing LiquidLogic Kayak donated by Paddler’s Cove Outfitters:
Awesome Possum #27, Co.Capts. Craig & Joy Van Dyke
2nd Place WINNER of the Floating Cabana Islander with cooler donated by Compeau’s:
Lil’ Red Dragon #69, Capt. Darren Frampton
3rd Place WINNER of a Sporting Tube from Compeau’s:
“Trash” Former # 52, Capt. Leon Walker
4th Place WINNER of a four-person rubber raft and paddles from Compeau’s:
Beaver Lodge #80, Capt. Barbara Bell
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
Red Lantern – even though this wasn’t a race, at least this vessel came in…in last place!
Troop 92×2 # 63, Co-Capts. Corey Kulis & Seager Stanley
Judges’ Choice (two this year) – a prize just for effort, anything that caught the judges’ imagination or attention!
Alaskan Animal Ice Float #48, Capt. Frank Stelges And The Knot Sure #51, Capt. Steve Hedgecoke
Best Appreciated at a Distance –The further away it is the better it looks!!
Tons of Jugs # 10, Capt. Diane Shoemaker
Most Un “FATHOM” able – given to the vessel that gave it a good go…but in the end sank or barely made it to the finish!
Seasonal Confusion # 19, Capt. Derek Bastille
Harold’s Debacle – honoring nerdy nephew Harold, or just a debacle in general!
Nothing but Time # 68, Capt. Josh Terry
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| Awesome VOLUNTEERS! Abby Arnold Registration/Liability Sarah Arnold Set up/Registration Capt Tim Berg Traffic/off loading Maggie Billington Poster Distribution Karen Boswood Registration Cc Payment Ashlee Breese Registration/clipboards in line Dorrie Breese Registration Michael Campbell Shore Patrol/Compliance Tim Carrier Traffic/off loading Michelle Cote Bridge photos Donald Cronce Traffic/off loading Lucas Cronce Traffic/off loading Sheena Cummings Greeter/Organizer & Information Pat Czajka Traffic/off loading Bobby Dubia Traffic/off loading Patty Dyer-Smith Captain-T-shirt & duct tape table Tim Ellis Set up/tear down Eric Falldin Shore Patrol Jill Falldin Shore Patrol Tim Gilbert Traffic/off loading Gretchen Gordon Judge-wrangler John Gould Boat – towline Robert Hannon MC Phil Hunt Traffic/off loading Michael Hupp Traffic/take out Greta Johnsen MC Joane Johnson Shore Patrol Mark Johnson Set up/Shore Patrol Pete Kasarskis Shore Patrol/Photos Abby Kasarskis Shore Patrol/Photos Rhonda Kitchens Set up/Registration Deb Lawton Shore Photos Kyle Malamute Boat – towline Manoli Malamute Boat – towline Daylen Malamute Boat – towline Luke Malek Boat – towline Keith Martin Keeper of the Peace Mary Ann Nickles Information Capt Michael Norwood Traffic/off loading Janice Norwood Traffic/off loading Alex Olesen Traffic/take out Donna Olesen Set up/Marquees/Reg./Liability Wanda Peros Registration/courier Sue Rainey Information Tom Richardson Set up/Marquees Mikalya Russell Traffic/off loading Chancellor Brian Rogers Starting official Deseree Salvador Helpers/Photos Lazar Salvador Photos/Button-maker Lisa Scerbak Communications/Volunteers Ethan Schumaker Shore Patrol Cindy Schumaker T-shirts & duct tape table/as needed Lynn Slusher T-shirts Steve Smith Red Green photo cutout Toka Smith Red Green photo cutout Althea St. Martin Information Lisa Stuby Traffic Lisa Sundberg Facebook Correspondent Tammy Tragis-McCook Shore Patrol Capt Beate Wilson Boat – towline Tommy Wilson Boat – towline Caroline Wolf T-shirts Doug Yoder Set up/T-shirts/Tear down |
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| Mission: Possum JUDGES’ BOAT Chuck Lemke – Boat Captain Phyllis Pendergrast – First Mate & Judge Dermot Cole – Judge Aileen Cole – Judges’ Helper Chuck Downham – Judge Patty Kastelic – Judge Larry Katkin – Judge Karen Perdue – Judge Nancy Russell – Judge Trent Schoenemann – Judge Tracy Vanairsdale – Judge Gretchen Gordon – Judges’ host |
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| SPONSORS & Other Heroes Bettisworth North – Lead Sponsor Glacier Point Pumping & Thawing Alaska Cruise Association Denali State Bank North Haven Communities Sportsmedicine Fairbanks Dr. Dan Johnson Orthopedics Paddler’s Cove Outfitters Compeau’s Pro Music Graphic North Dr. Phyllis Pendergrast River City Imprints Sportsman’s Warehouse Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce University of Alaska Fairbanks |
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| Special Thanks to: Advance Printing for Red Green’s “special appearance” Bettisworth North for your second year as supreme Lead Sponsor Capt. Chuck Lemke and Phyllis Pendergrast for skippering the Judges’ Boat Coast Guard Auxiliary for safety patrols on shore and on the water Compeau’s for donating a raft of floating prizes, and for volunteering to run tow-line boats. Fairbanks Fire Department for safety support on the river and banks Graphic North Wayne Clark for long-time support by printing promotional posters and flyers, and staffers Justin and Kelly, for waterproof-printing and special bucket delivery to the judges’ boat! Great Alaskan Bowl Company for customizing our special gift oars for our sponsors Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce for organizing Golden Days 2011 Paddler’s Cove Outfitters for donating the Grand Prize LiquidLogic Kayak Pioneer Park for event assistance and coordination Pro Music for rockin’ the sound system – Craig, Gabe and the whole guitar-paddlin’ show! River City Imprints for the bold t-shirts Sportsman’s Warehouse for donating the ‘thank-you’ oars Sue Sprinkle and 5th Ave. Design for our eye-catching logo designs UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers for firing off the starter pistol UAF Athletics for starter pistol loan UAF Facilities Services for signs, traffic cones and safety vests |
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