Webster Wildwater Weekend - Generations of Fun
Each spring kayakers, canoeists and rafters are drawn to Webster County to travel down the Elk River’s whitewater for some camaraderie, fun and adventure. The staging area for the Webster Wildwater Weekend is Bakers Island in Webster Springs, while the race course is some 5 miles of class II & III whitewater up the Elk River. The annual event attracts newbies and experienced river enthusiasts alike. “The Elk River, in particular, has always been one of my favorite rivers to run and we’ve been all over the state,” explains Suzanne Simmons who has attended the event from the beginning along with her family. “It’s a nice section of water that has just enough challenges with lots of opportunities for playing around too.”
Suzanne Simmons gets ready for another race at the Webster Wildwater Weekend event.
The love for river sports in the Simmons family started with Suzanne’s father, Barney Lilly, back in the 70’s. Lilly built the family’s first kayak in their garage from a kit that included a wooden frame. “My dad and brother attended the very first Webster Wildwater Weekend and since then it’s been something that the whole family looks forward to,” she said. “The event has definitely grown since it first started. For a lot of us paddlers, it means that winter is over. A lot of us haven’t seen each other since we put our paddles away in the fall, so when the Webster Wildwater Weekend hits it means the start of another season.” While in town for the event, boaters also use Baker's Island as a meeting and rendezvous point for the weekend to organize local river trips.
Barney Lilly makes his way down Parcoal Falls or the PX rapid at a past Webster Wildwater Weekend event.
Spring means melting snow and rain showers too, which all contribute to higher water levels and the opportunity for running the river’s rapids. “You get to see West Virginia from a different perspective, being out on the river. It’s not the same view you’d get just driving down the road,” Simmons continued. “It’s fun for the crowd watching too. There are always lots of people pulled off the road watching the paddlers come down the rapids and cheering them on.”
Visitors from all over West Virginia and beyond turn out for the whitewater event in Webster Springs. “River enthusiasts come from all walks of life and all parts of the state. The WVU Adventure Recreation Club and Marshall University Outdoor Adventure club both attend, along with other groups and individuals from around the state,” Simmons explained.
The event isn’t all about fun, it’s also about raising awareness and funds for the Elk River Watershed. The watershed occupies the central portion of the Elk River’s stream. “I can’t say enough about the sponsors and community support the event has behind it. Each year the Webster Springs IGA sponsors an inflatable kayak, as the grand prize. Other local businesses and organizations sponsor prizes and giveaways that paddlers love, like carabineers, water proof jackets and so on,” Simmons said. “Camp Caesar has been gracious enough to join with the Watershed Association to house the participants and everyone enjoys the indoor campfire circle on Saturday evening. They also bring in a local band and have food to celebrate the awards ceremony.”
The whitewater fun kicks off the first of April with the start of the Webster Wildwater Weekend in Webster Springs. For those who are interested in watching, the race begins at noon at Curtain Bridge just above Webster Springs.
