Regional leaders hit the Tualatin River for friendly competition and bragging rights

By Geoff Pursinger

The Times, Jul 29, 2010

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Tigard Mayor Craig Dirksen may not want to quit his day job for the professional kayak circuit.

Dirksen took to the river for the fourth annual Mayor’s Challenge & Legislative Paddle Race, July 22, an annual kayak race down the Tualatin River which pits mayors and elected officials against each other.

The race, put on by the Tualatin Riverkeepers, was meant to bring attention to the Tualatin River Water Trail, the Riverkeepers effort to extend public access along 40 miles of the river, which has no boat ramps and river access points between Rock Creek and Sherwood.

“Folks in the paddling community don’t mention the Tualatin River in their guide books because it doesn’t have good access,” said Monica Smiley, executive director for the Tualatin Riverkeepers. “This is a resource for beyond our watershed, but most people experience the Tualatin by driving over it along I-5, they don’t see what an incredible resource it is.”

The racers were there to show their support for the Water Trail project, which is working to raise $20,000 to finalize its campaign strategy, and leverage private and public funding for four river access points between Hillsboro and Sherwood, including one at Farmington Bridge, west of Beaverton, and at Metro’s Natural Area on Southwest Munger Lane in the Scholls area.

Racers included mayors from all along the Tualatin River, including Hillsboro Mayor Jerry Wiley and Durham Mayor Gery Schirado, as well as Metro councilors, members of the Tualatin Valley Water District, state representatives and candidates running for county office.

In total, 16 boats took to the water in two divisions; single racers and tandem kayaks of two racers.

“My money was on (Metro councilor) Carl Hosticka,” said Smiley. Hostica raced in the two-man canoe competition with Metro President David Bragdon. “I was really surprised at the upset, they have won this in the past, I was willing to put a wager on it, for sure.”

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