JACKSON, Wyo. — The Snake River surged this spring, and so did the guesses in Dave Hansen Whitewater’s annual High Water Heyday Contest. After weeks of fluctuating flows, bated breath and hundreds of predictions, the results are in! One lucky local has paddled away with the grand prize: a brand-new NRS STAR Outlaw 142 self-bailing raft.
Shane Darnell of Jackson took home the Heyday accolades, glory and fame (and of course, the raft) with his winning guess of 17,530 cfs (cubic feet per second). A former Snake River guide, it’s clear Darnell still has his whitewater wisdom, as his guess was only 36 cfs off of the Bureau of Reclamation’s official peak flow of 17,563. “I never win anything!” Darnell said in an interview with Dave Hansen. “I just feel like the biggest winner on the planet right now.”
Darnell has entered the Heyday contest every year. “I almost didn’t enter this year, but my wife made me! So I have to dedicate this raft to her,” he said. Check out the full interview on their Instagram here.
With a guess of 17,450 cfs, Brett Roeder of Arizona was the Heyday “out of towner” winner. He won a free trip with Dave Hansen for himself and 7 other friends.
New to the Heyday contest this year was the prize for the under 18 division: a Tributary Spud 7’2” inflatable kayak. This year’s winner is Bechler Bryan, a 12 year old local. Bechler’s winning guess was 17,422 cf. To reach his guess this year, Bechler said he used a combination of research and luck, by combining the peak high water number from last year with the last three digits of his dad’s phone number. “It’s always fun being on the water,” Bechler said. “Being able to paddle and go as fast as you want or as slow as you want and ride the waves.”
Now in its 7th year, the Highwater Heyday contest has certainly hit its stride. The best part? The community excitement and being able to give a little something back, says Chatham. “We are so lucky to live here and work with the people we do in the community. It’s fun to see how excited everyone gets with the contest and to give a raft to a former guide of the Snake and his family is especially cool!”
The highwater season might be done, but the summer rafting season is in full swing. The team at Dave Hansen hopes everyone keeps their river activities fun and safe, whether you’re a seasoned river vet or a first time paddler. Always remember to wear a PFD and respect the current.
