Delta, Colorado "Crazy Raft Race" Returns!

Crazy Raft Race circa 1985

Lost for over two decades

This summer Western Slope SUP and the city of Delta are bringing back a Delta County tradition lost for over 2 decades. June 26th, 2021 the Crazy Raft Race will return to the Gunnison River for the first time in 22 years. What is the Crazy Raft Race you ask? Picture teams of 10 participants racing through Delta on home-made rafts. These “rafts” are composed of everything from irrigation pipe, to shipping pallets, to empty beer kegs. Teams will be competing for best time and best in show, so we can all expect a wildly entertaining day on the river. The day kicks off with a boat parade down Main Street, Delta. The parade culminates at Confluence Park, where the race will begin in a mass start. Following the race, the good people at Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Cider, and High Country Beverage are sponsoring an after party feature games, boat viewing, an awards ceremony, and tasty beverages.

Delta, Colorado raft parade circa 1985

legendary raft race

The history of the Crazy Raft Race begins in 1980, when a group of friends known as the Gunnison River Yacht Club came up with the build-your-own-raft race idea. The “Yacht Club” would parade their home-made creations down Main Street Delta, before heading to the Gunnison River. Through the 80’s and 90’s the race began at Pleasure Park, and ended 8 miles downstream in Austin. Over the years the race grew annually. Eventually operations were handed over by the local chapter of the ELKS, who ran the event on a grand scale, with a budget of thousands of dollars a year, all of which went into prizes, making the race great, and legendary after parties. The Crazy Raft Race was run for the last time in 1999.

Overhead view a Crazy Raft Race mass start at Pleasure Park

the tradition continues

This year we are continuing as many traditions as possible. The main change to the event is the race course itself. The course has move downstream, closer to its host city. The starting line is now at the Gunnison River boat ramp at Confluence Park. The finish line will be 4 miles downstream where the Gunnison River crosses G50 Road. Both locations will be great for spectators.

Let’s bring this awesome 1980’s style to the race this year!

sign up today!

This summer YOU have the opportunity to be a part of this great Delta County tradition. To learn more, and sign up to compete, visit the Crazy Raft Race page of the Delta County website:

We hope to see you there!