Byrd wins overall Whitewater title

By FAITH MOLDAN/Bigfork Eagle

As usual, rain dampened the Whitewater Kayak Festival in Bigfork. The 32nd annual competition along the Wild Mile of the Swan River went off without a hitch though, as organizers, participants and spectators have grown accustomed to the fickle weather.

"It seems it's like this every year," Whitewater co-organizer Niki Dezanni said. "We still had a lot of people come out and watch." There were 30-plus participants this year.

James Byrd repeated his 2006 overall title with a fourth-place finish in the expert slalom, second place in the down river race and third place in boatercross. Byrd shared the overall win with Najce Poberaj who took home sixth place in the slalom, first in the down river race and second in boatercross. Poberaj Edged out Byrd by one second in the down race. They were followed by last year's overall winner Eric Freeburg. He won the slalom in a time of 1:26 while placing third in the down river race and sixth in boatercross.

Locals John Gangemi and David Meyer claimed third and fourth place. Gangemi finished the slalom in second place and 1:34. Meyers, who placed 13th last year, improved his showing. In his fifth year competing in the festival, Meyers' top placing was in the slalom with third. He clocked a time of 1:42.

In the lower slalom, Eric Walberg finished in a time of 1:39 for first place. He also won in 2006. Last year's lower slalom winner, Greg Fortin, finished sixth in 2:32.

Luke Cummings held strong at the top of the boatercross finishers. The 2007 winner also took home this year's first-place boatercross title.