The pack raft race is an event that requires a solid strategy, high endurance and a quick flowing river to perfect; all of which was on display at the 2024 Yampa River Festival on Saturday morning. 

The pack raft race begins on the shores of Charlie’s Hole behind Bud Werner Library. Competitors inflate their rafts using bags or pumps to the point they feel it can float on the river. 

Once they are satisfied with the inflation, they carry their rafts while sprinting up the core trail to A-Hole where they get on the yampa and paddle back down to C-Hole. The first to return is crowned the champion. 

With a participation rate at 600% of what it was last year, the pack raft race was sure to be competitive but Colorado Mountain College’s Kolby Lord was up for the task and took home the championship trophy. 

Lord said the key to victory was all about pacing himself. He was not the first to leave the inflation zone at the start, but made up for it with a speedy run to A Hole and a fascinating technique down the river. 

“There wasn’t really a lot of air in my raft,” Lord explained. “I realized that it rode a little better (on my back) and I wasn’t as much in the water.” 

Lying entirely on his back to stay afloat, Lord managed a quick pace down the Yampa for the victory. 

Other racers, like Sonia Homick, were not far behind but spent a little more time to inflate their rafts to a more capable psi. Homick said she continued inflating her raft until it began to take its true shape. 

Using a bag, her strategy is to capture as much air as possible, twist the back and put all her weight on it to quickly force the air inside the raft. 

“Some people do tons of little ones, but I find it more effective to get as much air as I can in at one time,” Homick said. 

The Yampa River Festival events continued throughout the day including a brand new fly fishing downriver race, the popular raft rodeo and the Drew Hyde Raft Race. 

Cassie Mefferd, who competed in pack raft race said it was fun to kickoff the festivities on Saturday morning and be a part of one of Steamboat’s biggest and best events of the year.