OH BE JOYFUL RACE, CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO, USA, JUNE 2022
he Oh Be Joyful Steep Creek Race had kayakers racing waterfalls for the second year in a row in Crested Butte, Colorado. This is the first time in at least a decade that the race has happened officially for more than one consecutive year. The plan is to continue the momentum and go for three in a row in 2023. Levels were on the low-side of medium as a late snow storm shut the CB creeks down over Memorial Day weekend. Fortunately, some sunny days later that week turned the water back on. Many racers said it was not too pushy but still filled-in and fluffy. There was no carnage, no swims, and only a handful of flips; everyone had clean lines. One racer broke his boat at the put-in drop (a 15'waterfall for those unfamiliar), but he stayed in and finished his lap! There was still plenty of safety on shore, ready to help any boater in need. Times were tight, with the top three racers all within a few seconds of each other. The local boaters couldn't seem to keep the podium, which went to mostly out-of-towners. There were twenty-one racers, nineteen men, and two women. This year the OBJ Race awarded equal cash prizes
