Red Green to judge this year’s river regatta

July 18, 2012

Marmian Grimes

Gretchen Gordon

907-474-1891
7/18/12
Comedian and duct-tape guru Red Green will judge his namesake event Sunday, July 22 in Fairbanks.

KUAC’s 16th annual Red Green Regatta will launch at 11 a.m. from the Graehl Park boat launch. The event will end at Pioneer Park with an awards ceremony. The public can view the regatta from Wendell and Cushman Street bridges, the pedestrian bridge near Pioneer Park and along the shores of the Chena River.

The regatta is a celebration of “The Red Green Show,” a comedy series that airs Saturday nights at 8 p.m. on KUAC-TV public broadcasting.

“Interior Alaska can really relate to Red Green and his duct-tape humor, and he loves our community, that’s why he’s back for the second time in less than two years,” says KUAC general manager Keith Martin. Steve Smith – a.k.a. Red Green – appears in the Golden Days Parade on Saturday. He performs his one-man “Wit & Wisdom” show at 7 p.m. at Hering Auditorium the evening of the regatta; tickets are available through www.alaskatix.com.

Celebrity judges will rate this year’s watercraft based on innovative use of the handyman’s secret weapon (duct tape), imagination and integration of the Red Green theme. Entrants vie for deluxe, water-worthy prizes supplied by Paddler’s Cove Outfitters & Compeau’s, as well as special awards, including “Best Viewed at a Distance,”  “Most Un ‘fathom’ able” and “Harold’s Debacle.” Winners will be announced at the finish line at approximately 1 p.m. at the Pioneer Park boat launch.

This year’s judges represent some event sponsors, including Bettisworth North, Glacier Point Pumping and Thawing, North Haven Communities, Alaska Cruise Association, Sportsmedicine Fairbanks, Dr. Dan Johnson Orthopedics, Wells Fargo, Pro Music, Graphic North, Paddler’s Cove Outfitters, Compeau’s, Dr. Phyllis Pendergrast, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Trademark, Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, the University of Alaska Fairbanks and members of the KUAC Leadership Council. Judges are transported along the route by boat captain Chuck Lemke.

Registrations for the regatta will be taken by phone until Friday, July 20 at noon by calling 907-474-2673. After that, register at the event between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Graehl Park boat launch. The registration fee is $30 per vessel, which includes an official T-shirt designed by local graphic design artist Sue Sprinkle. Additional T-shirts are available at the regatta for $20 each. Official rules, prize information, and liability and registration forms are available at www.kuac.org.

KUAC is a service of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Lisa Scerbak at 907-474-1890 or lisa@kuac.org.

ON THE WEB: http://kuac.org/about-us/events/2012registration.html

LS/7-18-12/016-13