Pool Toy Floatilla Declared a Success

(Note: Do not try this at home, we are trained professionals (and possibly slightly nuts))

The guides at Cascade Raft Company (CRC) experimented with some new pool toys this year on their annual Main Payette Pool Toy Floatilla. The tradition has been a part of the CRC community for the past five years, and this year found its largest following.  Most pool toys were able to make it down the entire Main Payette successfully, but there were a few sour apples, most notably the lobsters and alligator pool which did not even last through the first rapid.

The float begins with a jump from the Highway 55 bridge over the South Fork, and then a float down the Main Payette to Cascade headquarters.  The speed award goes to the airplanes, always a strong choice in the pool toy department. They are fast, agile, and able to surf Bennett’s Rock and Mike’s Hole. Style points go to Shamu the Killer Whale, however, she’s slow and can be slightly awkward to ride. Nemo was a disappointment, he had the looks of a fast surfer, but had to be de-finned and ridden sideways in order to be stable. The dragon scored high in both style points and stability points, but tends to be a bit slower than the airplane. The longest surf award went to a new addition to the floatilla population this year, the sea-saw.  Although extremely slow and difficult to maneuver, it was a surfing dream in both Bennett’s Rock and Mike’s Hole, lasting over 8 seconds in both.  Its surf in Mike’s Hole involved some impressive flat-spins and side-surfing, but canoe paddles are recommended for maneuvering in the flat water.

Guides take extreme lines on the Main to test the durability and craftsmanship of these water vessels. Punching the Guide Kicker in GLOYF, boofing Bennett’s Rock, surfing in Mike’s Hole, and going deep in AMF are mandatory lines. The airplanes and Shamu have endured several floatillas and tend to be all-around favorites. Toys that make it down successfully are stored away for next year’s outing. Dead toys are discarded in the dumpster and added to the do-not-buy list for future floatillas.

There is no set date for the floatilla, but tends to be in late July when the water is warm and the days are still long. Be on the look-out for next year’s floatilla including veteran crafts and virgin debuts.