PORPA Sprints on the Priest River Draws More Youth and Paddlers than ever before!

The Pend Oreille Rowing & Paddling Association’s fourth PORPA Sprints on the Priest River brought more youth participants to this great day of human-powered racing and celebration than ever before. Twenty-three youth under 17 participated in paddling and rowing events; each receiving a free t-shirt courtesy of PORPA’s generous sponsors (Aerocet, Mary's Feed, Eagle's Nest Motel, Selkirk Ace Hardware, Priest River Ace Hardware, Synergy Design Studios inc.Mitches Foods, and Elsaesser Anderson) . Increased youth participation was a main goal for the 2025 Sprints, with Gayne Sears, President of the club saying “Seeing so many juniors and first-time paddlers out there in this safe and supportive atmosphere is exactly what we worked for this year!”

About 50 competitors from 7-70 years old, propelled stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, rowing shells, and a pink flamingo down the course, while friends and family cheered them on from the beautiful sandy shore. The highlight event was a 4-person relay race, where racers used at least 3 different non-motorized craft and tossed a baton (dog frisbee) to their team-mate before beginning their leg of the race. One team had a dad paddling his young daughter for their leg of the race, and his daughter was heard saying it was "the best”!

Four youth rowers affiliated with the Spokane River Rowing Association competed in the 1000 meter (0.6 miles) rowing race starting upriver from the Highway 2 bridge. These youngsters had only learned to row a couple weeks before, but they were game and finished the race with a new course record as the youngest rowers to complete the course! Adult rowers and paddlers went head to head in 250, 500, or 1000 meter races, challenging themselves and having fun at the spectacular and welcoming setting of the Corps of Engineers managed Priest River Recreation Area (aka The Mudhole). A free volunteer sponsored lunch of brisket sliders and watermelon proceeded the awards ceremony where medals were given for 1st- 3rd places. Some of the kids proudly sported 2 medals for racing in multiple events. Participants hailed from Priest River, Sagle, Sand Point, Spokane, and as far away as California and Mississippi.