WORLD’S TOP KAYAK PROFESSIONALS COMPETE AT 2008 RENO RIVER FESTIVAL

Fifth Annual Reno River Festival May 9-11, 2008

Kayaking’s most accomplished paddlers are preparing for the 2008 Reno River Festival, May 9-11, 2008. Top kayakers from Australia, Canada, Norway,New Zealand, Costa Rica and the United States are set to compete at the Truckee River Whitewater Park this May for the title of Reno River Festival champion. They are joined by a diverse group of athletes going head-to-head in the festival’s newest events, including the mountain bike speed trials and the “Run Amuck” fun run. The festival is free and takes place in the heart of America’s Adventure Place - downtown Reno, Nevada.

Current world freestyle kayak champion Eric Jackson returns to the Reno River Festival to compete for the men’s freestyle championship – a title he held in 2005 and 2006. Jackson is up against current Reno River Festival champion and local favorite Jay Kincaid. Kincaid’s training at the Truckee River Whitewater Park has helped him go on to win pro events around the world. Challenging Jackson and Kincaid is another freestyle winner and current U.S. national champion Stephen Wright of Washington D.C., as well as Bryan Kirk ofCharlottesville, Va. and Ben Guska of Glenwood Springs, Colo.

The action heats up even more in the women’s division. Current World Freestyle Champion, Ruth Gordon, said she is looking forward to the 2008 event. She is challenged by 2005, 2006 and 2007 women’s freestyle champion, Tanya Faux of Australia, New Zealand native Nikki Kelley and current junior freestyle champion and 2nd place Reno River Festival women’s finisher, 18-year-old Emily Jackson.

“The Reno River Festival is one of those events that you go into unsure of how people are going to do. You can never analyze the competition because you never know what high-score move they’re going to pull out,” said Emily Jackson. “The Whitewater Park allows us to do a lot of everything, and for that reason I’m really looking forward to the Reno River Festival - it has a great feature and an awesome community!“

The juniors competition presents a battle of best friends as Reno native Jason Craig, and Dane Jackson, son of Eric Jackson, go head-to-head. Now 14-years-old, Dane was named to the U.S. Freestyle Kayak Team when he was just 11-years-old.

The Reno River Festival has earned a reputation for showcasing world-class kayaking at its best. This year’s event is held May 9-11 at Wingfield Park in downtown Reno. The festival includes open and professional competitions, whitewater clinics and an expo featuring the hottest outdoor products on the market. Event-goers also can enjoy high-energy concerts, food for every craving and a beer garden featuring hand-crafted microbrews.

The Truckee River Whitewater Park is located just blocks from Reno’s 24-hour gaming excitement and other attractions including golf, skiing, hiking and bike trails, lakes and a selection of art museums and galleries. For more details about the fifth annual Reno River Festival, please visit ww.RenoRiverFestival.com or call 775.784.9400 x 119.

The 5th annual Reno River Festival is held in the heart of downtown Reno in the booming Riverwalk district at the city’s $1.5-million Truckee River Whitewater Park. Fast becoming America’s most exhilarating outdoor adventure showcase, the Reno River Festival attracts world-class athletes from all parts of the globe, May 9 – 11, 2008. The 5th annual Reno River Festival is presented by Reno River Festival LLC in Reno-Tahoe,America’s Adventure Place.