Hey Paddlers,
Thanks so much for the responses and the feedback. Without sounding like a cheesy politician, I'd say almost every single suggestion is valid and I certainly wish I could accommodate all of them while maintaining the original vision for the event. Unfortunately, I can’t. You know what they say: You can please some of the people all of the time. All of the people some of the time. But you can’t please all of the people all of the time.
However, I will say that circumstances and feedback will continue to influence the final format for the race, which I hope to announce by July 1, one month prior to the race.

The broad vision for this race is two-fold:
1.) To have a race/festival designed for the everyday paddler, the guy or gal who might want to try a whitewater race out, but who doesn’t want to try it out on Canyon Creek. The paddler whoo doesn’t necessarily have a quiver of boats in which to race. The paddler who might not be trained-up for a 30-minute cardio-punishment through whitewater. The paddler who is thirsty for some kind, any kind of local whitewater excitement.

2.) To experiment with a simple, easy-to-execute—but legitimate model— that won't burnout volunteers (including me) and organizers. Hopefully, this will lead to a more sustainable annual event.
Those two principles are what guide the planning for the event. We are hoping the relay race will be our title event, garnering the biggest class and widest diversity of paddlers. We are hoping that class will attract paddlers who aren’t trained for 35 minutes of heavy cardio or who might not want to race through Boulder Drop. We also want the relay to be legitimately competitive. That’s the reason for the 8-foot-8 restriction. Some of the responses assert that the course is too boring and too flat at that level for creekboats. And unless you are in a racing mind-frame, I’d have to agree. But after competing in several races—both sea kayaking and whitewater—I’d have to say what really makes racing fun is the fellow competition. What spoils a race is when a few competitors have unfair advantages, such as longer boats. This is the reason for the 8-foot-8 length restriction in the relay race. My assumption is that 90 percent of local paddlers own or can get access to an 8-foot-8 kayak. But only 10- to 20-percent can get access to a 9-foot boat. Would it be effective then, to design a race that gives 10- to 20-percent of the field a significant head start? This conclusion might be based on a faulty assumption and if this proves true, if we receive a significant number of requests to include 9-foot boats (RPMs, Axioms, etc) then we will consider modifying it.
The 8-foot-8 restriction applies only to the relay race however.
For those people who have 11-, 12- and 13-foot boats and the desire to race the entire course, we created the Ironman category. I’m hoping that category will attract 15-25 racers or more.
I will try to answer every question here:
Start times: Yet to be determined, however, the events will need a full day or could likely span the entire weekend. I’d prefer to do all the events on the same day, but my sole reason is participation. If more people will participate in a one-day event, then we’d do all three races on one day. If more people will participate in events covering two days, then that’s what we’ll do. Feedback regarding this would be appreciated.
If it’s a two-day event: We’ll probably hold the Eddy Attainment Race and the Boulder Drop Sprint on Saturday and the Downriver Race Sunday morning. Based on my experience from other events, on-site registration would close by 8:30 a.m. and the first race would start by 10 or so.
Length restrictions: Length-restrictions for the relay portion are 8-foot-8. For Ironman 12-foot-9. Those lengths are very unlikely to change. If we have five or more wildwater competitors and five or more slalom competitors, then we’ll have classes for them too.
Male/female classes: I love the idea. But I’m skeptical that we’d get enough womens’ only relay teams to justify a category. If we can sign up three or more womens’ only teams, then we’ll have a womens’ only category. If not, you’ll be mixed in with the rest of the relay class, which will consist of all types of teams.
Start on the South Fork above Cable Drop or below Sunset: This was my ultimate hope. It would lengthen the course and give the Relay racers (our main event) longer legs. I have three concerns: 1.) access 2.) that log just before the Confluence. I will not host a race that sends kayakers under that log. However, if there is enough water to paddle down the right channel (I think there is) then I’d love to start the race on the South Fork. 3.) Parking. The Outdoor Adventure Center has tentatively agreed to use their bus for a shuttle. This would solve a parking issue on the South Fork.
Future Divorcees Division: This race is intended to encourage a few groups of people who might not race under any other format. 1.) Those who have significant others who’d like to race, but are a bit too scared or unskilled to race solo. 2.) Those who just want to try racing tandem because it seems like fun and 3.) Those who’d like to race, but don’t and never do because they are worried about how a disappointing outcome will affect their egos. (I used to be one of you). Having a partner gives these people someone to blame ☺. Defining the parameters of this division is especially tough because a.) I don’t want to lure women away from a potential “womens’-only” relay class. And b.) I don’t want to give some teams an unfair advantage—two men vs. two women would not be fair in most circumstances. Initially, we mandated that the race be between romantic couples, but I am thinking about altering the parameters of this event: 1.) To be eligible to race in a lent Jackson Kayak Dynamic Duo, you must be romantically involved or 2.) The rest of the teams must include at least one woman.
The other option is to say each team must include at least one woman: that woman could be your mom, grandma, sister, friend, enemy, whatever.
Playboat division: Won’t exist under the current format; however, demand will ultimately dictate whether this and any other division exists.
JP: I definitely want you there and to show you how much I want you there, I’m working with Confluence to lend us an additional five Green Boats for racers.
Anything that floats: Hey, I’d love to participate in a race like that but I’m not organizing it. If you want to organize an anything that floats race, you can count me in as a competitor. Once we receive those boats or confirmation of those boats, I’ll let you all know.
In summary: My goal is to create an event that brings together a wide cross-section of paddlers into a single event when, let’s be honest, not much else is running and when the weather is predictably wonderful. I am not opposed to including sea kayaks, wildwater boats, slalom kayaks, long whitewater boats, 8-foot-8 and under boats, 9-foot boats, mixed tandem kayaks, male tandem kayaks, female tandem kayaks, womens’ only relay race teams into a single race. In fact, I think that would be really cool. If I see enough demand for this, then I will certainly consider rethinking the entire event. If we do, however, paddlers need to understand the more classes we have, the less organized the event will be. We won’t be able to give out prizes (we might not anyway). And the results sheet will be just a list of paddlers’ names, times and kayaks. I won’t do this if I don’t see enough demand.

Sounds good, Christian!  Thanks for putting this event together.  I think it sounds great.