Year 2001 Race Pictures
These are images from the year 2000 and 2001 Raft Races taken with Fujifilm consumer-level cameras. Click here for latest pictures of the 2002 Raft Race. The Calgary Bow River Raft Race was photographed from Bowness Park to the halfway point at Edworthy Park, where the crews break for lunch and entertainment. If your browser supports frames, these pictures are available in the Viewer for easier viewing.
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Latest pictures of the 2002 Raft Race
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Crews assembled at Bowness Park in northwest Calgary on 19 August 2001, ready for the 11am start of the 19th annual race. Actually, it's not so much a race as a river party with continual water fights. As you will see from the photographs, there is also a relaxed attitude regarding the definition of a raft. After the start the rafts drift eastwards on the Bow River and go under the 85th St Bridge, where they face the first of several crowds anxious to dump buckets of water on suitable targets, i.e. everyone.
The next challenge is passing under the Bowmont Bridge just above where the CP Rail tracks cross the river near 77th St. There follows a relatively quiet period while rafts drift past Bowmont Park on their left. Then, appropriately, it's round the bend southwards to line up for the James Hextall footbridge, where a very spirited crowd stands ready with buckets and water guns filled to capacity.
This is one of the shallowest parts of the course, and despite the cooperation by TransAlta, who increase flow from the Bearspaw Dam for the race, several rafts run aground. Then its under the TransCanada Highway and round the bend again to resume the easterly course past Shouldice Park. All too soon the footbridge at Edworthy Park looms, and panic sets in as crews struggle to reach the south bank, where lunch, a hot tub and entertainment await them.
Contents are intended for entertainment only.
(c) 1999-2002 Tactical Executive Systems Inc