Lyons Outdoor Games 2009 a big success (photos below)

Despite the bad weather forecasts around the Front Range, we enjoyed perfect temps and no rain both Saturday and Sunday for the 7th annual Lyons Outdoor Games. This was by far the biggest and best event the Town of Lyons has held with between 2,500 and 3,000 people attending.

According to one of the organizers of the kayak events, Marty Cronin of Jackson Kayaks, "It was well attended and sponsored, and I believe the community really saw a great time, so that, to me, is a thumbs up!” The event, he added, was a great boon for the community.

“We have seen the cadet rodeo (kids’ freestyle kayaking). grow 100% each year, from four kids to 13 or 14” Cronin stated. “The cadet rodeo is one of the really important aspects of this event. We have the opportunity to see kids get into the sport and develop skills early on. The real pros in the world all started on the water when they were five and 10 years old. Our plan is, five or 10 years from now, to have a whole new crew of teenagers just ripping. We are super excited to see all this starting to come together at the Lyons Outdoor Games.”

Both the kayak and the bike elements of the Games are hugely positive for both the Lyons and the greater Front Range community.

“Kids winning boats are the ones coming back, and they are bringing their friends,” Cronin stated. “They are having a damn good time, and parents talking to parents. Things are starting to snowball. I’m seeing it in just three years since we’ve been involved.”

Chad Melis of Oskar Blues agreed. “Though there weren’t a huge number of kids competing, the new pump track and dirt jumps were built so that both adults and kids could progress,” he explained. “Using the Games as a way to leverage and create that park is going to pay off in the long term as far as getting kids the skills to participate in the future and have fun on their bikes.”

This is really a huge success story, he added. “We have a $150K skills bike park that we got for just a few thousand dollars (because of volunteer support and sponsorship.,” Melis stated. “The town will benefit, the bike shops will benefit, and the community will benefit.”

Full slalom results and partial creek boat/freestyle results

Adam Barron Memorial South Saint Vrain Creek Boat Race
1. Tao Berman
2. Pat Keller
3. Brian Kirk

Women's Pro Freestyle
1. Emily jackson
2. Ruth gordon
3. Elaine

Men's Pro Freestyle
1. Steven Wright
2. Nick Troutman
3. Brian Kirk

Cadet Rodeo
1. Alec Banderhoof
2. Sage Donnelly
3. Paul Palmer

Slalom Races
C1
1. Steve Isenberg -- 119.78
2. Jp Griffeth2 -- 125.82
3. Alex Dodge -- 128.72
4. Griff Griffeth -- 135.13

K1
1. Scott Shipley -- 100.37
2. Griff Griffeth -- 108.47
3. Alex Dodge2 -- 109
4. Will Grubb -- 112.37
5. JP Griffeth -- 118.47
6. Henry Hyman -- 119.66
7. Lamar Simms -- 128.75
8. Tyler Newton -- 139.87
9. Jack Heyman -- 142.16
10. Henry Hyde -- 159.84
11. Marshall McQuillen -- 161.19
12. Max Karlsson -- 267

K1-W
1. Emily Jackson -- 123.44
2. Lauren Buress -- 134.34
3. Sarah Dodge -- 135.13
4. Sage Donnelly -- 154.94
5. Emily Grubb -- 243.78
6. Samatha Cole Johnson -- 334.59

Age Group Results:

C1 - Junior (17 – 18)
1. Jp Griffeth2 -- 125.82
2. Griff Griffeth -- 135.13
C1 - Open (19 – 29)
1. Steve Isenberg -- 119.78
2. Alex Dodge -- 128.72

K1 - Cadet (16 and under)
1. Henry Hyman -- 119.66
2. Jack Heyman -- 142.16
3. Henry Hyde -- 159.84
4. Marshall McQuillen -- 161.19
5. Max Karlsson -- 267

K1 - Junior (17 – 18)
1. Griff Griffeth -- 108.47
2. Will Grubb -- 112.37
3. JP -- 118.47

K1 - Open (19 – 29)
1. Scott Shipley -- 100.37
2. Alex Dodge2 -- 109
3. Lamar Simms -- 128.75
4. Tyler Newton -- 139.87

K1-W - Cadet (16 and under)
1. Lauren Buress -- 134.34
2. Sage Donnelly -- 154.94
3. Emily Grubb -- 243.78

K1-W - Junior (17 – 18)
1. Sarah Dodge -- 135.13
2. Samatha Cole Johnson -- 334.59

K1-W - Open (19 – 29)
1. Emily Jackson -- 123.44

Thanks to all our awesome sponsors for supporting this event:

Town of Lyons
Oskar Blues (Lyons local)
Smith Optics
Montbell
Subaru
Kelty
Spot Bicycles
Jackson Kayaks
Laughing Grizzly
BMA
Yellow Designs Stunt Team
ACA
Fluid Kayaks
Immersion
Tomahawk
Bitterbrush Cycles (Lyons local)
A Spice of Life (Lyons local)
Blue Sky Mortgage Company (Lyons local)
Ideal Market
Kona
Sierra Designs
Hatrock Excavating (Lyons local)
Bella Energy
Elevation Outdoors
Loki
Mountain Buzz
Leave No Trace
River Gypsies
Blue Mountain Stone (Lyons local)
Vitamin Water
Kokatat
Outdoor Divas
Alpine Sports
Flappy's Print Shop
Rocky Mountain Sunscreen
Barking Dog Cafe
USA Freestyle Kayaking
The Lyons Recorder (Lyons local)
Aspen Meadow Veterinary Specialists
Planet Bluegrass
LeeLikesBikes.com
Monster energy drinks
Cronin Jewelers
Boss Hogg Enterprises