Save the date for our 2025 event June 20-22, 2025!
More information coming soon!

Join us for fun on the Cedar River at this year’s event in Charles City! The Charles City Challenge will include competitive kayak and SUP events for whitewater paddlers as well as fun for everyone else! Registration fee includes competition entry, event t-shirt, and a chance to win one of many prizes.

More details to be added to this event page, so check back often!
Follow us on Facebook and visit ccwhitewater.com for more info.

Charles City Challenge – Schedule of Events*

*Schedule subject to change due to water, weather, or other circumstances.

FRIDAY May 31, 2024

Practice Day – all are welcome!

• 12-2 PM Grom (Youth) River Surf Clinic with Rob Pittman & Crew
• 2-3 PM Reading Water with Carl Neubauer
• 2-4 PM River Clean Up at the Whitewater Park; Bragging rights for the best piece of trophy trash found! BYOGB (Bring Your Own Garbage Bag)
• 4-6 PM River Surf Clinic with Rob Pittman & Crew
• 5-9 PM Party in the Park! | Downtown Central Park

SUP River Surfing Clinic:

What is riversurfing?
It’s utilizing surfboards designed specially for surfing standing river waves. Rob will
guide you in all you need to know about river surfing; equipment selection, river surfing
techniques, safety, and surfing on Charles City’s Double D Wave. No river surfing
experience necessary but is helpful. Whitewater paddling experience in general is also
helpful but not necessary.

Dates/Time: Friday, May 31st 2024 GROM (youth): 12-2pm. ADULT: 4-6pm.

To register, contact the riversurf leader Rob Pittman at rpittma@charles-city.k12.ia.us or
641-228-0819 to reserve your spot. Class size limited to approximately 10 people.
There is no cost for the surf clinic.

What’s included: Instruction and guidance from experienced river surfers. Will go over
river features, safety, swimming techniques and building your river surf skills!
Equipment use included: riversurf board, whitewater helmet, whitewater pfd and quick
release leash. You are encouraged to bring your own appropriate equipment/gear if you
have it.

Location: Charles City Whitewater, Charles City, IA. Meet at the riverside park grassy
area at approximately 11:30 for groms, 3:30 for adults to get gear/equipment ready.

Requirements: Must be able to swim. Wear water appropriate clothing and footwear.
NO strappy sandals or flip flops.

Expectations: Be Coachable and ready to learn! Participants will be swimming in the
Cedar River in whitewater conditions with moving currents. Expect rocks, swift current,
varying weather and water conditions, and unstable surfaces. And HAVE FUN!

SATURDAY June 1, 2024

• 9 AM Registration on site. Paddler Registration Form:  CCCRegistration Form2024
• 9:50 AM SHARP! IN-RIVER PARTICIPANT MANDATORY MEETING
• 10 AM Kayak Rodeo – Vertical Monkeys & Surf Machines
• 11:30 AM Surf Comp – Prone and SUP
• 12:30 PM Inflatable Float Fest+
• 1:00 PM River Runner Quad Slalom Cross &
•                   Downriver Dual Slalom SUP Cross
• 2:30 PM Balls to the Wall Race
• 3:00 PM Awards/Prize Giveaway
• 5-7 PM Supper Social at Tellurian Brewing

+Inflatable Float Fest – Float the course on your favorite inflatable craft – innertube, unicorn, flamingo, etc. – no SUPs or paddles allowed. This “just for fun” float will be held at approximately 12:30 PM. Open to the public; no fee to participate; must register on site by 12:00 PM; must have parental permission if under 18. Chamber Cash prizes to be awarded to 1st/2nd place favorites as determined by panel of paddler judges!  (Sponsored by Quality Auto Service)

ADDITIONAL SATURDAY EVENTS

PAWS ALONG THE CEDAR 5K – 5K or 1-mile walk/run along the Cedar River sponsored by PAWS Humane Society. Register at Tellurian Brewing beginning at 7:30 AM; 5K begins at 8:30 AM.

KIDS ACTIVITIES ALL DAY (Sponsored by First Security Bank & Trust)
• BookWalk – Walk the trail to read the posted story. Return forms to the activity tent to receive a free gift.
• CCWW Rocks – Multiple rocks are hidden around the riverfront area. Find one & return to the activity tent to receive a free gift.
• Scavenger Hunt – Kids can stop by the activity tent to pick up a scavenger hunt form, then answer the questions and return to receive a special prize.

VENDORS ON SITE SATURDAY:  Whatcha Like Food Truck

MUSIC ON SATURDAY:  Provided by TB Continued Entertainment

SUNDAY June 2, 2024

Sunday Funday! Course open to recreational use – all are welcome!

 
Description of Events

Rodeo – Beginner | Surf Machines
Location: Exit *Location will be determined the day of by the judges.
Categories: Men/Women K1 Playboat
Scoring: ICF/Hometown Throwdown combo. Scoring conducted by appointed judges.
Jam style format. Competitors will be divided into heats and will TAKE TURNS, ONE
AT A TIME in the feature scoring as many points as possible during the heat time limit.
(Heat time limit determined by judges, water levels, heat size). The next competitor may
not enter the feature until the competitor before them is clear.

Rodeo – Intermediate/Advanced | Vertical Monkeys
Location: Exit or Tew Shanez *Location will be determined the day of by the judges.
Categories: Men/Women K1 Playboat
Scoring: ICF/Hometown Throwdown combo. Scoring conducted by appointed judges.
Jam style format. Competitors will be divided into heats and will TAKE TURNS, ONE
AT A TIME in the feature scoring as many points as possible during the heat time limit.
(Heat time limit determined by judges, water levels, heat size). The next competitor may
not enter the feature until the competitor before them is clear.

Surf Comp
Location: Double D Wave *Location will be determined the day of by the judges.
Categories: SUP (using a paddle) Men, Women, Youth | Prone (no paddle) Men,
Women, Youth
Scoring: Scoring conducted by appointed judges based on technical skill, carves/tricks,
and style. Jam style format. Competitors will be divided into heats and will TAKE
TURNS, ONE AT A TIME on the wave scoring as many points as possible during the
heat time limit. (Heat time determined by judges, water levels, heat size). The next
competitor may not enter the wave until the competitor before them is clear. All SUPS
(using a paddle) will be in heats and then all PRONE (no paddle) will be in heats.

River Runner Quad Slalom Cross
Location: Entire course
Categories: Men, Women, Youth Kayak (river runner kayaks not to exceed 10′)
Start: Paddlers will start in the staging eddy river left, above Dam Drop feature.
Heats of 4 boaters will simultaneously traverse the set course.
Red gates will be assigned to boaters A and B. Green gates will be assigned to boaters C
and D.
Double gates are downstream gates where boaters must pass between the gates moving
downstream.
A single gate must be passed around moving upstream. Single gates may be passed by in
whichever upstream direction the boater chooses.
Gates will be on the honor system. If you miss one, re-acquire to complete it.
Finish is completed by who arrives AND touches the end target with your hand first.
Boaters must finish in their craft, swims/not with craft will be DNF (did not finish).
Top 1-2 boaters (depending on heat/class size) will move on to semi/finals.

Downriver Dual Slalom SUP Cross
Location: Entire course
Categories: Men, Women, Youth SUP
Start: Paddlers will start in the staging eddy river left, above Dam Drop feature.
Heats of 2 paddlers will simultaneously traverse the set course.
Red gates will be assigned to paddler A. Green gates will be assigned to paddler B.
Double gates are downstream gates where paddlers must pass between the gates moving
downstream.
A single gate must be passed around moving upstream. Single gates may be passed by in
whichever upstream direction the paddlers chooses.
Gates will be on the honor system. If you miss one, re-acquire to complete it.
Finish is completed by who arrives AND touches the end target with your hand first.
Top 1-2 paddlers (depending on heat/class size) will move on to semi/finals.

BALLS to the WALL Race
Location: Entire course
Categories: K1 Whitewater Kayak and SUP (kayaks and sups will run together in one
mass start) Teams of 3 people. 1 colored beach ball per team will be assigned to each
team. (Charles City will provide beach balls)
Scoring: Self judged, fun race for bragging rights. No timing or scoring. (Extra creativity
award for best dressed team)
Start: Mass Start. All team members will start in the staging eddy river left, above dam
drop feature. (whitewater kayak or SUP).
Instructions: Horn/whistle blast will signal Beach balls to be dropped from the
pedestrian bridge by Charles City community members. As soon as horn/whistle signal
commences the race begins! Your team must get your assigned beach ball down the
whitewater course through Exit Exam. Once through exit exam, all team members must
exit their crafts on RIVER LEFT. Then your entire team must RUN ON FOOT with your
team ball to the Gallery wall target located by Dam Drop. Your team ball must be in
possession of at least one team member. You may designate one person to carry the ball
or pass it off to each other, but ALL members must run to the target on the gallery wall at
Dam Drop. Once at the wall, the ball must touch the target and all team members must be
connected at the target (connected by hands, hand to shoulder, hand to foot, however)
Rules: Ball must be bumped, thrown, kicked, paddle whacked down the course. No
carrying the ball on your paddle craft or by any other means while in the river. You may
use your hands to throw the ball on the river. No pulling sprays skirts, drain plugs,
leashes, hair, gear, etc. No hitting other paddlers. No paddle slicing. No rough ramming
of paddle crafts. Any other display of excessive roughness or poor sportsmanship will not
be tolerated and teams may be disqualified for misconduct. This is a family friendly
FUN race!

Sponsors – Thank you!

Activities Sponsor – First Security Bank; Stage Sponsor – Winnebago Industries

Inflatable Float Fest Sponsor – Quality Auto Service; Supper Social Sponsor – Tellurian Brewing

Wave Sponsors –

Circle K Communications; CUSB Bank; Edward Jones – Jeremy Heyer | Jessie Schultz | Mark Sindlinger;

Fidelity Bank & Trust; First Citizens Bank; Larry Pump, CPA; Mike Molstead Motors; Subway

Additional Thanks – To the businesses and individuals who contributed prize donations, our volunteers, and Charles City Parks & Rec Department!