Tag: lifestyle

Paragliding, bicycling and surfing on the June calendar

By Richard Uhlhorn

The view from Chelan Butte is awesome

It’s summertime in the Lake Chelan Valley and a number of exciting events are on the June calendar. With the weather promising to stay in the high 80s and even up in the 90s, the following events should keep the visitor and resident busy.

Ozone Paragliding Competion
This annual event draws paragliding pilots from 22 countries to Chelan to compete in that three dimensional space above Chelan. The competition is a lower event where cross-country pilots new to competition get to race along side and learn from some of the best paragliding pilots in the world.

This year 130 pilots are confirmed to compete in the cross-country tasks that will have them challenging each other from launch to goal.

The Ozone began on Sunday, June 14 and will continue through the week, ending on Friday, June 19 after which the U.S. Open of Paragliding will begin on Saturday, June 20.

U.S. Open
The US Open of Paragliding will be a Cat 2 Race to Goal USHPA sanctioned XC Competition held in Chelan this coming June.This annual flying competition attracts a worldwide group of paraglider pilots. This year the maximum number of 130 pilots out of some 400+ who registered will begin with a Practice Day on Saturday, June 20. The competition will start on Monday, June 21 and end on Saturday, June 27.

A competition pilot launches from Between the Rocks last year.

Pilots launch from the top of Chelan Butte from four main launch locations: Ants, Between the Rocks, Green Monster and Lakeside. Daily tasks are handed out at the morning meeting and the launch window generally opens between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. depending on conditions.

If you plan on driving up to watch the activity, the Skypark is a State Discover Pass designated area. You can purchase your Discover Pass here: Home | Discover Pass

Also, anyone accessing the Butte is required to carry a shovel and fire extinguisher. The road is primitive and narrow, so watch for oncoming traffic.

Cycle Chelan – Saturday, June 20
The Chelan Rotary Club has been hosting this event for a number of years as a fundraiser to support technical school and college scholarships for Manson and Chelan students.

There will be hundreds of bicyclists on the Lake Chelan roads on June 20 during the Rotary Club’s annual scholarship fund raiser.

This year riders are being offered four distinct rides as follows:

  • Cycle di Vino – A 30 mile beginner/intermediate ride along the shore of Lake Chelan with stops at a variety of wineries.
  • 45 mile Lake Loop for intermediate riders on both shores of the lake with a boat ride from one side to other side.
  • Metric Century is a 62 mile challenging ride with 4,000 feet of vertical climbing for brave intermediate and advanced road warriors.
  • Signature Challenge 100 miler is back. This ride is not for the inexperience roadie. McNeil Canyon is one of this state’s steepest inclines and the ride back down is exhilarating depending on how brave you are.
The climb up McNeil is steep
Many experience riders have no problem with the climb.

Battle of the Butte – June 26 and 27
River surfing has become an exciting activity in the valley. Each surfing season brings some great competition from around the Northwest, and the annual Battle of the Butte is an exciting and fun event to watch from the Best Trick competition to the Men’s and Women’s Open competition.

Lakeside Surf offers a number of amenities from the best fish tacos to hot and cold drinks. For more information go to Lakeside Surf’s website at: http://lakesidesurf.com

Professional surfers to compete in first Gerry Lopez River Surf Invitational

by Richard Uhlhorn

Lakeside Surf will be offering plenty of surfing action over the Labor Day weekend.

The Event:
It’s one of the most exciting action packed events of the year. On Labor Day weekend some of the best river surfers in the world will be in Chelan competing to compete for some of the $40,000 in cash prizes at the first biennial Gerry Lopez River Surf Invitational.

The History:
Over the past three years, Lakeside Surf has hosted an annual Continental Surf Cup featuring a European team against the best surfers from around the region. The highly successful Continental Surf Cup has been put on hold until next year to make way for the Gerry Lopez River Surf Invitational.

“It relieves some of the tension to be here,” said Robert Bordner. “The logistics of traveling here is challenging for the Europeans.” Obtaining team visas is one of the main challenges.

The Gerry Lopez event gives individual surfers from around the world to come and compete on one of the best standing river surf waves in the world.

The Venue:
Lakeside Surf has become one of the most enjoyable and stunning venues anywhere on the planet. Situated above Waterslides, Lakeside Surf offers both spectators and surfers an engaging experience. Spectators are always free and surfers, new and experienced have an exciting, adrenaline fueled rush of fast moving water 51 feet wide and up to six feet tall. The views from the location is also stunning offering a spectacular scene of Lake Chelan stretching out to the surrounding orchards and vineyards and mountains.

Lakeside Surf’s venue offers plenty of seating for spectators. Spectators are always free.

The Competition:
With $40,000 at stake, the Gerry Lopez River Surf Invitational will see a number of male and female surfers from around the world compete against each other in a variety of segments from tricks to open surfing competition.

Beginning on Wednesday, August 27, the Pros will have a practice session beginning at 12:45 p.m. and again beginning at 5:45 p.m.

On Thursday, August 28, The pros will again have some practice times, but actual competition begins with the Round 1 of the Open Amateur competition at 5:45 through7:15 p.m. Round 2 takes place on Friday, August 29 from 3 p.m to 4:30 p.m. with the finals from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m.

The top male and female surfers in the Open Amateur comp. will fill the final roster in the Gerry Lopez Invitational

Saturday’s Professional competition will begin with Heats # 1 followed by the Best Trick session and finishing up around 9:30 p.m. with the Best Trick & Grab session.

Sunday’s competition will begin at 2:30 p.m. with Standard Heat #2 followed by the Semi finals and Finals with an Awards show following.

The Competitors:
There are a number of local surfers on the list of professionals that fans will recognize and cheer for. High on that list is Cash Eygabroad who won this year’s Battle of the Butte competition with some incredible surfing. He’s joined in the pro ranks by Ben Benson who is a major challenger of Eygabroad’s. Liam O’Driscoll, Elijah Moody, Jared Eygabroad (Cash’s dad) and Logan Watson fill out some of the local surfers who will be challenging the surfers traveling to Chelan to try and claim some of that cash up for grabs.

On the ladies side, there is Cash Hoover who is from Hawaii, but is a well known Lakeside surfer. She is joined by Sierra White, Reese Bordner, Kale Funston and Madeline Cowan.

Sponsor Involvement:
Want your business to be front and center. Lakeside Surf has a number of options for you to consider. Join Rocket Apples, File Boats and other sponsors of this competition and be seen by hundred’s of spectators for as little as $200.00

For more information visit http://www.Lakesidesurf.com