Organizers said the number of participants reached nearly 100 in the 2024 Slaughterfest kayak and raft race held Saturday — possibly the largest turnout in the event’s history. Now being organized by Riff Raft Racing, the event is looking to grow.

Riff Raft Racing — made up of captain Conrad Nevin, Tyler Aikens, Curtis Berklund, Trevor Frederickson and Taylor Norman — took 10th in the whitewater raft racing world championships. Both Riff Raft and Rapid Fire Racing are headed back to the world championships next year after winning national titles in June.

Last summer, a group of Roaring Fork Valley-based rafters won the opportunity to represent the U.S. at the upcoming International Rafting Federation World Championships in Bosnia. And with that competition fast approaching, the team wanted to remind the community that it’s been hard at work and is ready to race.

Photo of Gore Rapid by Rapid Image Photography

Team Riff Raft, a quartet of Roaring Fork Valley-based rafters will now represent the U.S. in the International Rafting Federation World Championships next year after taking home the national championship this past weekend in Cañon City.

Four Aspen-based rafting guides — Tyler Aikens, Trevor Fredrickson and Conrad Niven of Blazing Adventures and Curtis Berklund of Elk Mountain Expeditions — secured the national title in the United States Rafting Association’s men’s whitewater open division.