Midwest's Largest On-Water Paddling Event Set for July 7 & 8 in Cincinnati

5th Annual Ohio River Way Paddlefest to draw 1,500 from
14 states to Canoe and Kayak on the Ohio River this weekend
Proceeds help create Ohio River Water Trail for Paddlers and
Powerboaters alike

The 5th Annual Ohio River Way Paddlefest will take place in Cincinnati
this Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8, 2006. Recognized as the
Midwest's largest on-water canoe and kayak event, Paddlefest 2006 is
expected to attract 1,500 people ranging in age from 5 to 85 to
celebrate the beauty of the Ohio by paddling it. Over 800 paddlers
from 14 states are already registered to participate. Another 700 are
expected to register on site on Friday and Saturday at Four Seasons
Marina.

Presenting sponsors for this year's Paddlefest include Subaru, Duke
Energy, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of
Watercraft and the American Canoe Association.

Three Races Plus Easy Float Trip

Paddlers will have the option this year to participate in one of three
races sanctioned by the United States Canoe Association (USCA) or to
paddle six miles down the Ohio at a leisurely pace from Four Seasons
Marina in Cincinnati's East End to the Public Landing downtown. All
commercial and recreational powerboat traffic on the Ohio is stopped
during Paddlefest by order of the Coast Guard.

Races this year include the Duke Energy 14 Mile Pro Race ($3,500
purse), the ThermaCare 9 Mile Amateur Canoe and Kayak Race and the
Cincinnati Parks 6 Mile Adult/Youth Race. The Hamilton County Park
District is the sponsor of the "2,000 Paddles" 6 Mile Float Trip.

Special Free Program Just for Kids 10-2 on Friday

Festivities at the two-day festival will begin this Friday, July 7 at
10:00 a.m. at Four Seasons Marina (4609 Kellogg Ave.) with the start
of the Kids X-Stream Paddlefest EXPO (10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.)
designed to expose children and teens to canoeing and kayaking as well
as to promote awareness about boating safety and environmental
stewardship.

Children and teens will be able to take a raft ride, paddle a 14
person Voyager Canoe, fish, test their climbing skills on a climbing
wall, learn about the fish and wildlife of the Ohio, tour water rescue
boats, engage in "hands-on" interactive activities presented by over
20 organizations, and learn about the history of Native Americans and
the early settlers who first landed 218 years ago just 500 yards from
the Festival site on the shores of the Ohio.

The Kids X-Stream Paddlefest Expo has over 600 children and teens
registered to attend from day camps throughout the tri-state. It will
the largest one day environmental education program for children and
teens in SW Ohio and perhaps in the entire state.

Ohio River Music and Outdoor Festival Friday afternoon & evening

From 3:00 - midnight at the same location, the Ohio River Music and
Outdoor Festival will feature five live bands, food, environmental
education exhibits, vendors, canoe and kayak lessons, fishing, silent
auction, gear swap, wooden boat show, paddling film festival and
overnight camping. Paddlers can register for Saturday's events and
drop off their canoe or kayak in a secure storage area. Both events
are free and open to the general public.

Finish Line Festival Saturday at the Serpentine Wall

The next morning, nearly 1,500 registered paddlers will launch their
boats at Four Seasons Marina between 8:00 and 9:30 a.m. and end their
trip six miles downstream at the Cincinnati Public Landing where they
can relax at the Finish Line Festival (10:30 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.) with
the Firelytes Steel Drum Band, food, vendors and cold refreshments.
They can also watch the Corporate Challenge Raft Race (11 companies
entered this year) and the Ohio River Voyager Canoe Race (teams from
Louisville challenging Cincinnat in a 2 mile race). Paddlers will be
shuttled back to their vehicles at Four Seasons Marina and then return
to the Public Landing to pick up their boats. The Finish Line
Festival is free and open to the general public.

Registration Available On Site Friday & Saturday

On site registration is open on Friday, July 7 from 3:00 - 9:00 pm at
the Ohio River Music and Outdoor Festival at Four Seasons Marina (4609
Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati) and on Saturday from 7:00 - 9:00 am at the
same location. On site registration is $30 per adult and $10 for
children under 16.

All racers must register by 9:00 pm on Friday evening. There will be
no on site registration fopr racers on Saturday morning. Additional
details are available on line at www.OhioRiverWay.org or throug the
Paddlefest Hotline at 513-588-6936.

Rental Canoes and Kayaks Sold Out!

All canoes (120) and kayaks (50) that were available to paddlers
without their own boats have been rented.

Highlights

Rob Portman, former Congressman and now director of the Office of
Management and Budget for the Bush Administration, will be racing in a
kayak in the 9 Mile Amateur Race. This is Mr. Portman's fourth year
racing in Paddlefest. He is the most avid paddler among elected
officials and administrators in Washington, DC.

Twenty four women who are Breast Cancer survivors will be paddling
together in two 14 passenger Voyager Canoes as the "Paddlin' for the
Pink" team. They are raising funds for breast cancer awareness,
screening and treatment.

Eight University of Akron engineering majors are paddling four
CONCRETE CANOES they made for a school competition. They will be
racing in the 9 Mile Amateur Race.

The Paddlefest Commodore, Mike Fremont, 84, will be racing in the 9
Mile Amateur Race. Mike won the Masters Class in the Brookville
Canoefest race two weeks ago and was the oldest racer to complete the
Boston Marathon two years ago.


We are raffling off a Perception Pacificia 11 kayak donated by D&D
Outfitters. Great opportunity for someone new to paddling to get a
great boat for just $3 a ticket, 4 for $10. They will be on sale at the
Friday festival and at the Finish Line Festival at the
Serpentine Wall. The drawing will be held at 12:15 pm on Saturday.


Photo Opportunities...

Set-up and "goodie bag" stuffing at Four Seasons Marina (4609 Kellogg
Ave.) on Wednesday, July 5 from 6-8 pm.

Additional set up at Four Seasons Marina on Thursday, July 6 from 3-9 pm.

Children rafting, canoeing, fishing and kayaking (on the KIDS Kayak
Pool) on Friday, July 7 from 10-2 at Four Seasons Marina.

Outdoor festival with dozens and dozens of canoes and kayaks, live
music, food - the ultimate but unusual summer festival shot on Friday,
July 7 from 3-11:30 p.m.

Rob Portman racing, breast cancer survivors paddling 14 person PINK
canoes, engineering students racing 9 miles in their homemade CONCRETE
canoes, children and dogs as passengers in canoes, etc.

Friends and family members cheering racers from the parking lot of St.
Rose Church on Eastern Ave.

Rafts racing on the Ohio in front of the Serpentine Wall in the
Corporate Challenge Raft Race.

Four 14 passenger Voyager Canoes racing on a 2 mile course on the Ohio
between the Big Mac Bridge and the Suspension Bridge.

Ultimate shot... from the Ohio or KY shore - or from the Purple People
Bridge - of nearly 1,000 canoes and kayaks (rowing shells and
peddlewheel boats too) paddling down the Ohio to the Serpentine Wall.

Rain or Shine...

Paddlefest will take place rain or shine. Only unsafe water
conditions will postpone the paddling portion of the event until
Saturday, August 26. Lightening will also delay the start of our
paddling events.

Proceeds help create The Ohio River Water Trail

All proceeds will benefit the Ohio River Way's work to create and
promote the Ohio River Water Trail with a printed guide (out this
week), website and signage designed to enable paddlers and power
boaters alike to take day and overnight trips along the Ohio River.
This project is being implemented by the Ohio River Way, Inc. in
partnership with the Southern Ohio Marine Trade Association, the
American Canoe Association and the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources Division of Watercraft.