Raft the Rio 2011 is coming!

What do you get when you take a slew of recycled materials, bind them together somehow and see if your contraption will float? You get Raft the Rio: Raft Race and River Festival, of course! The 14th annual Raft the Rio will take place on June 11th this year and the clock is ticking to get your river fare in gear. Check out this year's Raft the Rio flyer here.

Get a head start on this year's registration by printing and filling out your liability release forms here. (Remember, all sailors must have a liability release form to enter the water. Children 17 years and younger must have a guardian sign one for them).

Last year's 13th Annual Raft the Rio was a resounding success. More than 160 boats and several hundred sailors braved a fierce headwind to float the 3-mile course down the Rio Grande from the Picacho to Mesilla Bridge.

Here is a list of last year’s winners:

  • First to finish: Gila Trout (kids) and Titanic (open)
  • Least likely to finish (must be floating at start of race): Father Daughter Bottle Bobber (kids) and Free Tibet (open)
  • Best use of recycled materials: Tie between Milk and It's Not Gar-Bage/Lady Gar-Gar (kids) and Twin Swords (open)
  • Most spirited (most enthusiastic crew): Too Fast For You (kids) and Castaway (open)
  • Best theme (most thorough application of a theme to vessel and crew): Rio Princess (kids) and Breakfast Club (open)
  • Champion of the River (promotes appreciation for the Rio Grande): Patriot (kids) and La Llorona (open)

And congratulations as well to Laura Loos for winning the whitewater rafting trip from Far Flung Adventures. As veteran of two Raft the Rios we’re sure she’ll have a good time and might even be able to offer up some raft design suggestions. Don’t forget to become a member of the Center so that you can be entered in this year’s drawing.

  • Thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers who made last year's event possible. Raft the Rio is a success every year because of your hard work and dedication. Our gratitude for all of your help and please don't wait until next year for us to see you again!
  • Thanks to our event sponsors: Positive Energy, Inc., GeoInsight, Blue Moon Bar, Sunspot Solar Energy Systems, LLC, Rethink Real Estate, LLC, Mott's Pots, Operation Free, Boldt Family Trust, Stefan Schaefer, La Posta de Mesilla, Malooly's Flooring, Life in Balance Pilates Studio, Schwalm, Martos and Co., Trigo and Trigo Dentists, Far Flung Adventures, Aggie Recreational Equipment, and Mountainview Medical.
  • Thanks to all the businesses and individuals who contributed prizes and supplies.
  • Thanks to the musicians: Mick Harris, Drunk Armstrong, Robin Rivas and the BGR Band, New World Drummers. Thanks to our food vendors: Andele Restaurante, Kowgirl Kettlekorn, Milagro Coffee, The Rib Cage, and Tasty Roasters.
  • Thanks to the Mesilla Town Marshal, Mesilla Fire Department, Dona Ana County Emergency Responders, NM State Police, Las Cruces Police Department and International Boundary and Water Commission for their assistance with this year's event.
  • Thanks to Tom McFarland for designing our Restore the Rio t-shirt. As of this posting we only have a few left, so get yours before their gone!

If you have any comments about last year’s event or suggestions for this year, join the planning committee which meets for the first time on Tuesday, February 15th at 5:30 pm at SWEC, or please email us at RTRfeedback@wildmesquite.org or call us at 575-522-5552.

Photos by Ken Stinnett Raft the Rio 2009

Sponsors needed for fun-filled event!

Do you own a green-minded business or are you a green-minded individual?  Consider sponsoring this event and supporting our conservation work. Contact Lauren at 575 522-5552 to request a sponsor information packet.