By Carli Johnson SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
On Saturday, June 28, fleets of rainbow-colored kayaks could be seen descending the Gallatin River as they took part in the Gallatin Whitewater Festival. The annual event, hosted by the Wave Train Kayak Team, brought in whitewater kayakers, rafters and spectators for three separate events throughout the day.
The event has taken place on and off and under various leadership since 1978. Among countless volunteers, the past three festivals have been led by Wave Train kayak coach Brooke Dunnagan. All proceeds go back to the Wave Train, a nonprofit organization that specializes in youth kayaking programs.
“It’s a lot of fun, running the event,” Dunnagan said in an interview with EBS. “There’s a lot of preplanning, but I know it’s going to work out because this group of people are so awesome.”
Second in command to Dunnagan for the event was volunteer and parent of two Wave Train team members, Charise Young, now in her third season volunteering.
“I’m passionate about being part of the community and helping out where I can with something that I love to do,” said Young in an interview with EBS.
This year, the festival took place at the 35 MPH bridge pullout across from the Lava Lake trailhead. Here, participants and spectators could enter raffles to win various whitewater gear, with a grand prize of a brand-new kayak.
Over 80 total participants took part in three races throughout the day. The first event was the slalom, where participants navigated a course of gates in the fastest time possible. If a participant touched a gate with their head, paddle, body or boat, they received a two-second penalty. If they missed the gate completely, they received a 50-second penalty.
Kayaks are piled on top of a van for shuttling before racing. PHOTO BY CARLI JOHNSON 
Two kayakers paddle hard as they enter House Rock rapid. PHOTO BY CARLI JOHNSON 
Rafters paddle down the Gallatin River during the downriver race. PHOTO BY CARLI JOHNSON 
A kayaker paddles past House Rock. PHOTO BY CARLI JOHNSON 
Spectators watch as kayakers come down through House Rock rapid. PHOTO BY CARLI JOHNSON 
A kayaker paddles into a wave on the Gallatin River. PHOTO BY CARLI JOHNSON
The down river race followed. Rafts and kayaks put in just above the Thumper rapid and descended individually through the Mad Mile section of the Gallatin River for a total distance of just under five miles, taking boaters anywhere between 20 and 30 minutes to complete.
The final, and arguably most exciting, race of the day was Boater X. Paddlers lined up on the cobble beach at the Lava Lake trailhead and took off at the sound of an air horn. From there, participants descend the Mad Mile through House Rock rapid and finish just after the Boulder Garden with a tap of an orange cone on the left side of the river to mark the completion of their lap.
The three races in combination resulted in two reigning champions, aptly earning the title of King and Queen of the Gallatin. With two out of three first place finishes and one second place finish, Finley Bishop won the title of King. Anneka Door won Queen with a first place finish in Boater X and two second place finishes in slalom and downriver.
Wave Train’s executive director Dave Zinn noted his past winning streak in slalom races. This year, he said his students outran him, landing Zinn in third.
“It’s really cool for me to see the younger paddlers in the area take first and second,” Zinn said.
As the final racers pulled their boats from the river, the Gallatin Whitewater Fest wrapped another successful year. With over 80 participants, ages 12 to 72, the event was a direct reflection of the community spirit within the paddling community.
“The fundamental thing for me with the whitewater festival is getting that community together to celebrate the Gallatin River and the local river culture,” said Zinn. “So it was a huge success on that front.”
