Exciting FIBArk 2026 Recap: Ultimate Winners & Event Guide! 🌊⛰️

• Jun 22 — 2026
• Adventure, Rainbow Rentals, River Adventures, Short Term Rentals

What an absolute whirlwind of a weekend! The 78th Annual FIBArk 2026 Whitewater Festival just wrapped up here in beautiful Salida, Colorado, and the energy in town was nothing short of electric. Running from June 18 to June 21, 2026, this year’s festival brought thousands of outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, and families to the Arkansas River Valley to celebrate America’s longest-standing whitewater tradition.

A massive congratulations to this year’s incredible joint Commodores, Terry & Chuck Deveney, for leading the festivities with true community spirit! As your local short-term rental experts at Rainbow Rentals, managed proudly by Lisa Runkel and Summer Anderson, we had front-row seats to all the action. We loved welcoming visitors to our spectacular valley and watching our vibrant mountain town come alive.

⛰️ A Massive Rainbow Rentals Family Shout-Out!

Before we dive into the official results, we have to start with a celebration close to home. The legendary and beloved Tenderfoot Hill Climb kicked off the festival on Thursday night. It’s a grueling, one-of-a-kind race where participants run and scramble straight up Tenderfoot (“S” Mountain) and back down.

We want to give a massive, roaring shout-out to Summer & Lisa’s kiddos for successfully completing the Tenderfoot Hill Climb! Watching them conquer that steep mountain trail alongside world-class athletes was a true highlight of the weekend. You’ve officially earned ultimate bragging rights around the office!

🏆 FIBArk 2026: The Complete Events & Winners Lineup

From prestigious national endurance tests to the pure, unadulterated chaos of the water events, athletes pushed every limit this year. Here is the complete breakdown of the 2026 events, top champions, and highlights that ruled the river and the trails: CHECK HERE FOR ALL FIBARK 2026 RESULTS

• Winners & Times
  • Tenderfoot Hill Climb: Won by Salida’s own Garrett Lundberg with an incredible time of 10:43!
  • Road 5K Race: Won by Salida’s own Kieran McCarthy in a blazing 16:49!
  • Road 10K Race: Won by Bean Minor from Howard, CO, clocking in at an incredible 32:37!
  • 10K Trail Run: Won by Mason Stover from Silver Cliff, CO, dominating with a time of 45:21!
  • Classic Downriver Race: Handled by elite wildwater paddlers braving the peak spring runoff on the Arkansas River.
  • Hooligan Race: Won by the most creative, costume-clad crowd-pleasers who managed to stay afloat!
  • Raft Rodeo: Captured by the local teams pulling off the absolute silliest freestyle maneuvers at the Scout Wave.
  • Raft Sprint: Dominated by the speediest head-to-head whitewater raft teams racing through downtown.
  • SUP Sprint: Claimed by the river stand-up paddleboard elites showing supreme speed and balance.
  • Slalom Races: Navigated flawlessly by the precision gate-passing champions at the Salida Whitewater Park.
  • Surf Competition: Won by the standout river wave surfers shredding the local playholes.
  • Crazy River Dog: Awarded to our most fearless, water-loving retrieval pooches.
  • SUP Boxing: Claimed by the last standing paddleboard boxers equipped with oversized gloves.
  • Head-to-Head Boater Slalom: Won by the ultimate tactical knockout boaters surviving the intense 4-boat pods.
  • Duckie Cross (New for 2026!): Awarded to the first sprinter to successfully navigate the chaos to the F Street Bridge!
  • Body Board Surf Comp (New for 2026!): Celebrated by standout performers of all ages supporting the youth paddling program.
  • FIBike Mountain Bike Race: Cancelled for 2026 (The committee plans to restructure the bike race to return stronger for 2027).

  🎸 Soundtracks on the River: The 2026 Live Music Lineup

  Riverside Park was absolutely rocking this year! We enjoyed four full days of incredible live music right next to the water. A huge shout-out to the phenomenal musical talents who provided the soundtrack to our weekend. Here is the complete official lineup of bands that took the stage:

  • Sweet Jessup and the Dirty Buckets (Kicking things off Thursday evening with high-energy tunes)

  • Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (Thursday’s brilliant funk/soul headliner)

  • Horizon Line (Bringing the perfect Friday afternoon vibes)

  • Earl Nelson & The Company (Keeping the Friday energy soaring)

  • The Other Brothers (Friday night’s stellar rock headliner)

  • Sun Jr. (Rocking the stage on Saturday afternoon)

  • Gora Gora Orkestar LLC (Bringing their signature brass sounds to Saturday evening)

  • The Polish Ambassador (Saturday night’s ultimate electronic party headliner)

  • Float Like a Buffalo (Starting the Sunday funk-rock party strong)

  • Amelia Day (Closing out the entire festival Sunday afternoon with a stunning headline set)

  🛍️ Browsing the New Vendor Village

  If you were a fan of the festival’s long-loved “Vendor Alley” in years past, you undoubtedly fell in love with the newly reimagined Vendor Village this year! Perfectly curated to match the authentic FIBArk vibe, the village completely filled Riverside Park to capacity. Crowds got to explore dozens of incredible booths showcasing local and regional artisans, unique mountain crafts, delicious food trucks, and top-tier outdoor whitewater gear companies. It was the perfect spot to grab a bite and pick up some custom Southwest gear between river events.

  🏡 Streamlined Vacation Stays with Rainbow Rentals

  FIBArk brings upwards of 30,000 people to our charming town, making premier accommodations an absolute must. At Rainbow Rentals, we specialize in top-tier short-term rental property management right here in Salida, Colorado.

  To make your vacation seamless, we use cutting-edge property management software like Guesty, along with the Guesty Pricing Optimizer, ensuring our guests always receive perfectly competitive, dynamic rates for their mountain getaways. We’ve also partnered with Stripe to securely process all VRBO payments and direct bookings seamlessly. When you book a home with us, you can rest easy knowing every logistical detail is handled with professional care.

  📅 Lock In Your Stay For Next Year Now!

  Don’t wait until the snow starts melting next spring to think about your summer travel plans! FIBArk is Salida’s signature weekend, and the best vacation rentals fill up months in advance. To guarantee the perfect home base for next year’s whitewater action, head over to rainbowrentals.net and book your direct stay right now. Lock in your favorite property today, beat the crowds, and get ready to experience the magic of the Arkansas River all over again next June!