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Regatta a boatload of fun for participants and spectators
Monday, June 14, 2010
By Jeff Corcino Staff Writer
Hundreds of spectators came to downtown Clearfield to witness some never-before-seen watercraft race down the West Branch of the Susquehanna River for the inaugural "Anything That Floats" Boat Regatta Saturday afternoon at the Clearfield Riverfront Festival.
Teams raced from Upper Witmer Park to Lower Witmer Park in human-powered homemade boats.
Zalno's Jewelers with its team of recent Clearfield High School graduates, Janell Zalno, Jayme Ryan, Lori Zalno and Brook Mohney, who were all clad bright pink T-shirts in their wooden pink and black boat, managed to cross the finish line first.
But the competition wasn't just about speed, but creativity as well. The S&T Riverbank Boat team from DuBois took home the prize for most creative with its tropical island theme with team members Steve Orcutt, Mike Straub, Dan Baronick and Jamie Straub wearing grass skirts and Hawaiian leis.
Their riverboat was also equipped with a grass skirt and tiki torches and was propelled by two paddlewheels powered by a team member on a stationary bicycle.
The "Red in the Necks" team crossed the finish line second with its craft constructed out of scrap wood, old swimming pool rafts and stadium seats with its riders paddling the craft using plastic snow shovels while wearing classic redneck garb such as camouflage, cutoff jeans and a helmet with deer antlers. The Red in the Necks team members were John Bush, Jacob Casher, Ethan Tkacik, and Josh Rhine.
The Spanky's Courthouse Café team equipped its homemade pontoon boat with a small plastic waterslide and a stereo system that blasted 80s heavy metal music while team members lounged on lawn chairs with a drink cooler while wearing Hawaiian leis. The team, which consisted of Brandon Ruiz, Jason Peters, Gary Shaffner and Preston Rauch, all of Clearfield, took home the surprise "Titanic" award for not reaching the finish line.
The Mullet Madness team of Robbie Reams and Rob Swales wore large mullet wigs on a pontoon boat floated by empty beer kegs that towed a long train of inflatable pink flamingos, which from time to time would break off and require rescuing by the Clearfield Fire Department's rescue boat that was on hand as a precaution.
The Clearfield Revitalization Corp. organized the event, and Main Street Manager Kellie Truman said she was extremely pleased with the result.
"It couldn't have gone any better," Truman said. "We had a boatload of fun."
Winners took home trophies and $100 worth of Certifichecks.
Dr. Keely Casteel, president of the CRC, also said she was pleased with the event and how well it promoted downtown Clearfield.
"I am so proud of our Promotions Subcommittee of the CRC and our Main Street Manager Kellie Truman," Casteel said. "They have all worked together with positive attitudes for months to make the events happen this weekend.
"These events brought attention to our downtown businesses and also the river," she added. "We love that all ages and backgrounds of the community are coming together to celebrate the All-American people, places and spirit of downtown Clearfield. This is what the CRC's Main Street program and revitalization are all about."
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