CASCADE, Idaho - It can take a lot of commitment and dedication to host the world's largest stand-up paddle board competition.
But this weekend, Kelly's Whitewater Park in Cascade is doing just that.
Philanthropists Mark and Kristina Pickard have been organizing the Payette River Games for years now, but this year they said goodbye to kayaks and hello to something new.
"We have some of the world's best stand-up paddlers from 11 different countries competing," Mark said. "There are only five major races for stand-up paddle in the world, and we're one of them, and so that naturally will attract all the national paddlers who are trying to get their world ranking higher."
Mark and Kristina saw the attention and opportunity in stand-up paddle boarding. They say there is more interest in this sport than kayaking.
"Everyone tries it, you have incredibly athletes doing it, you know celebrities are doing it," Kristina said. "So on the river it just adds an extra challenge, and it's super technical."
They say It's a chance for world-class men and women to try something new.
And winners make some serious cash.
"Of the $50,000, $25,000 is for women, $25,000 is for men," Mark said. "As you can see from the course, they all do the same course. We don't change anything. We provide for equal gender pay. We are some of the only ones in the country that does it, and we hope that others follow us.
The Payette River Games are happening all weekend. There are also food vendors and live music.
And there are some other new events happening this year, like ax throwing and log rolling - events that keep Cascade's logging heritage alive.
For more information about the games, click here.
