A Last-Minute Team, A Second Place Finish

Sometimes the best plans start with no plan at all. This past weekend was an example.

Last month I put it out on the internet that I was a free agent for this infamous Colorado event, the Salida 3p. This race is a three-person, three-sport event where each teammate takes on a different leg—skiing, biking, and kayaking. It’s a fast paced event that links mountains to river, with transitions that matter just as much as speed. If anyone needed a kayaker I was in. Not long after, I got a message and was picked up by Dane and Ryan out of Salida. Ryan’s an absolute beast on the bike, Dane had the ski covered, and just like that… we had ourselves a team. 

I rolled into Buena Vista a few days early and set up camp right along the Arkansas River. Truck parked, water flowing, sleeping for a few days next to the river—it doesn’t get much better. Mornings were slow, coffee in hand, watching the same river we’d be racing. 

A few days in the Arkansas Valley is time well spent! So many awesome places to visit. One favorite, the hot springs. Chaffee County sits on a geological phenomenon that produces a handful of world class places to soak. One day I cruised over to Mount Princeton Hot Springs to loosen up and prepare to go full gas.

Another highlight of the trip was seeing the new surf wave that the Town Of Buena Vista just put in. River surfing has taken off in Colorado and many communities are putting in these recreational river features that are not only fun to surf, but also equally as engaging for spectators to watch.

Race day showed up quick. A little chaos, a lot of effort, and everyone sending it for the team. Transitions clicked, legs held on, and somehow this last-minute crew pulled off second place overall.Not bad for a “hey, anyone need a kayaker?” kind of weekend. Off the couch and on to the podium!

These are the ones you remember—good people, unreal places, and figuring it out as you go.