Tulsa Whitewater Rodeo

Big Time Surfing in the Dustbowl

Bob McDougal surfs "Big Nasty"

      Tulsa's Dustbowl Chapter of the Arkansas Canoe Club held a whitewater rodeo for three years on the Arkansas River in Tulsa. The rodeo was held on Labor Day during what was the annual Labor Day Raft Race. There was a guaranteed release of 12,000 cfs from Keystone Dam for the Raft Race so we were guaranteed water. Just as the rodeo was building a reputation, starting to get big name paddlers and sponsors, and gaining steam the sponsors of the Raft Race decided to cancel the annual traditition. We whitewater paddlers didn't have enought dough or political clout to convince the Southwest Power Administration to release water for our whitewater rodeo so the rodeo died with the raft race. Such is life. Here are some photos from the last rodeo.


The Dagger open boat showed a lot of gusto. Whoaa ... an endo out of Big Nasty!!! Tooughh!


Even Chris Spelius had a big time. Look Mom I'm surf'n Big Nasty without a paddle.


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Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998 Harrison Sutcliffe
Most recent revision Jan 19, 1998

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