COLLEGIATE WHITEWATER FEST, WASHINGTON, USA, APRIL 2026
The Collegiate Whitewater Fest was originally created in 2015 by a couple of students from the University of Puget Sound who knew that costs, community support, and lack of beginner and intermediate opportunities are major barriers to joining the whitewater community. They created CWF to provide student boaters with a safe space to collaborate, network, and race with their peers. That first year, they welcomed 15 students from three schools. This year, on April 4th, the 11th annual Collegiate Whitewater Fest had 77 student racers from 22 schools spread over five states.
©AJ Frank
Set in Index, Washington, on the Skykomish River, the CWF features intermediate (Class III) and advanced (Class IV+) races, with short-boat, long-boat, inflatable, and raft categories in time trials.
« They created CWF to provide student boaters with a safe space to collaborate, network, and race with their peers. »
One of the best things about the CWF is the peer support: the advanced racers work in teams to set safety for the intermediate race, and then intermediates cheer the advanced racers through Boulder Drop (Class IV+).
©Kaelan Hendrickson
Thanks to over 60 sponsors, the event, dinner, camping, and prizes were all free, and every single racer and volunteer received a prize, from flying sightseeing tours to quality whitewater gear. Many students connected with others from all over the Pacific Northwest and made boating plans for the coming months. Fourteen local organizations and businesses also came to recruit, demo, and educate these student boaters on all things whitewater-related.
Words: Clay Ross
