Event will combine water, youngsters and homemade cardboard boats; New adult division offers ‘fastest sinking boat’ award
RAPID CITY, SD—The City’s Parks and Recreation Department will host the third annual Cardboard Boat Races Saturday, June 14 at the 50-meter outdoor pool at the Roosevelt Swim Center. A new feature to this year’s event is the addition of an adults division with an award for fastest sinking boat.
Boat check-ins are at 9 a.m. with the boat launch slated from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Registration deadline for two-person teams is June 9. The racing event includes a kids division for youth between six and 13 years of age with awards provided for fastest boat, best design and titanic award, along with the new adult division.
“This is turning into a very popular event,” said City Recreation Special Events Coordinator Lindsey Myers. “Whether the cardboard boat makes it to the finish line, sinks at the starting line or somewhere in between, it’s a very fun event.”
A youth team’s land crew can consist of two adults who can assist with getting the boat in the water and helping the participants in the boat. No push-offs will be allowed.
There is no entry fee for teams and the event is open to the public. Participants are asked to wear bathing suits and shorts, no denim.
Teams are encouraged to dress in the theme of their boats. Boats will race half the length (25-meters) of the Swim Center’s 50-meter pool and the teams must begin and finish the race with the two-person crew intact. Boats must be made of only cardboard and duct tape. Boats can be propelled with the use of arms or cardboard paddles.
Rules and regulations are available at https://rapidcity.activityreg.com . For more information or anyone with questions, contact Lindsey Myers at 605-394-4175.
