Depending on what account you read, Salida's annual FIBArk (First in Boating on the Arkansas) whitewater festival started in 1949 as a bet between two friends over beers or coffee.

Current title sponsor New Belgium Brewing Company of Fort Collins probably would like you to believe lager fueled the first race, which featured 23 competitors in folding boats battling 56 miles of roiling whitewater between Salida and Cañon City. Two young Swiss boaters were the only finishers.

These days, the famous downriver race has been shortened to 25.7 miles (from Salida to Cotopaxi) and no longer passes through the raging Royal Gorge, but the long weekend's festivities will attract hundreds of world-class boaters and enthusiastic spectators from Thursday through June 20.And just about the only thing that won't be free is the beer.

"Just being on the river is really fun, hanging out on the river walk and watching all the kayakers," FIBArk 2004 president Diana Porter said. "And, yes, New Belgium is our sponsor, so we're selling beer, and all the music is in the band shell in Riverside Park right on the river, and it's all free."

With bands such as The Motet, Rebirth Brass Band and the Groovehawgs taking to the stage for this year's festival, the music is a big draw, but by no means is FIBark merely an excuse to drink beer and dance on the banks of the most rafted river in the United States.

The four-day festival includes a carnival, children's events, arts and crafts booths, food vendors, air band and karaoke competitions, a climbing wall, 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer runs, a hill climb, a parade and the Hooligan Race, featuring homemade and barely buoyant boats.

And, oh yes, there are the "real" races: a pro raft race, a freestyle kayak "rodeo," a kayak slalom and the historic downriver race - competitions that will draw top boaters from around the world.

"FIBArk is the one," said Chad Hixon, a native Salidan who owns Arlie Dale's Jug Liquors downtown. "People love it and love hanging out in Salida, so I would expect to see lots of big names here - a lot of pros."

Hixon is an expert class kayaker who took fourth in last year's rodeo, a judged event that features kayakers doing tricks on large waves in the river. In the pro division last year, two-time world champion and former Olympian Eric Jackson dueled Jed Selby and Brian Kirk in a three-way showdown, with Selby coming out on top and Jackson finishing second.

"I've never seen so many people so excited about watching kayaking," Hixon said.

This year's freestyle event will be part of the Colorado Cup, an inaugural bid to crown overall state champions in the various classifications. FIBArk will be one of seven statewide events in the circuit, which Hixon hopes will draw national attention.

"Basically, the idea is to have a point series throughout the year in an effort to cross-market all these events and to get paddlers to come to Colorado and stay in Colorado and travel around the state, hang out and spend their money," Hixon said.

The concept of boating as a major summer tourism draw is catching on from Golden to Gunnison, where whitewater parks with man-made underwater features in the heart of town bring in kayakers and the curious.

Hixon said the park in Salida designed by the famed Mike Harvey has revitalized the town.

"I grew up here, and even when I graduated from high school, downtown Salida was totally dead," Hixon said. "In the last 10 years it's a totally different place; people come down here to hang out, and there are businesses down here. It's great."

Schedule

THURSDAY

• 5:30 p.m.: Pro raft race

• 6 p.m.: Tenderfoot hill climb

• 6 p.m.: Kick-off party with The Motet

FRIDAY

• Noon: Freestyle prelims

• 7-10 p.m.: Nighttime freestyle expo

SATURDAY

• 7 a.m.: 5K and 10K running race registration

• 10 a.m.: Blue Paddle FIBArk Parade

• 10 a.m.: Slalom races

• 2 p.m.: Salida Skatepark Showdown

• 6 p.m.: Hooligan Race

SUNDAY

• 9 a.m.: Freestyle competition

• 9:30 a.m.: FIBArk 6-mile trail running race presented by Teva

• 10 a.m.: First wave of downriver race

• 4 p.m.: Downriver race awards

The Colorado Cup

• June 3-6: Teva Mountain Games in Vail

• June 4-6: Animas River Days in Durango

• June 6: Clear Creek Festival in Clear Creek Canyon

• June 11-13: Lyons River Festival in Lyons

• June 17-20: FIBArk Whitewater Festival in Salida

• June 26-27: Gunnison Whitewater Festival at Gunnison Whitewater Park

• More information

Moira Hundley, an intern at the Todd Crane Center Outdoor Leadership at Western State College, will administer the Colorado Cup.

For information, go to www.western.edu/coloradocup, e-mail moira.hundley@ western.edu or call 970-943-2148.

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