Mountain Games Shift Water Races to New Rivers

The winter’s record low snowfall has left rivers in the Vail area running lower than usual, forcing organizers to rethink the water events for this year’s Mountain Games. Instead of canceling everything, they have moved most races to nearby rivers that still hold enough water for safe competition. The Pacifico Kayak Freestyle will now be held at the Glenwood Whitewater Activity Area, where qualifiers and semifinals run on June 5 and the final race takes place on June 6. Spectators can watch the action live on a big screen in Vail, and additional fun activities like slackline shows are planned. Three other races—the GoPro Down River Kayak Sprint, the Pacifico Down River R2 Raft Sprint, and the Slifer Smith & Frampton Down River SUP Sprint—have been relocated to a stretch of the Upper Colorado River between the Pumphouse and Radium recreation areas in Bond. All of these events will occur on June 6, but at new start times that fit the river’s flow.

The YETI Catch Wars fishing competition will also move to the Upper Colorado River on June 5, challenging anglers with changing water levels while they hunt for fish. Because the current river conditions are still too low, several events have been canceled outright: the Pacifico Gore IV Kayak Challenge, Pacifico Gore IV Raft Challenge, Pacifico Kayak Cross, and Pacifico Raft Cross. Athletes who signed up for these races will receive automatic refunds. Those registered for the relocated events do not need to take any action, but they can ask for a refund by May 15 if they prefer not to compete at the new venues. Organizers will keep a close eye on river levels as the Games approach, so any remaining events could still change. They encourage athletes and fans to download the Mountain Games app and enable notifications for real‑time updates. All details, including schedules and venue information, can be found on the official Mountain Games website or app.

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