Walker Creek Private Archive
Walker Creek Private Archive
The Lake Denton Kayak Race takes place at Lake Denton on July 16. 45 participants from around Walker Creek County form into 15 teams to participate in 3 challenges: Across the Lake, 3 Laps, and Buoy Gathering. 15 unique participants are selected for each race, one from each team. Hundreds of people gather to watch each year to enjoy races, celebrate, and bet.
It was founded in 1954 by "Team Speed" after informal races had been going on for years. Team Speed was the first formed team for the Lake Denton Kayak Race. They broke apart in 1996 due to an unwillingness for anyone to carry on the mantle.
In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an online celebration held alongside the in-person event. It can be viewed here.
Below is a list of current teams.
Speed Demons: The "Speed Demons" are one of the newest teams to enter the races. Thought by some to be successors to the first ever formed team, "Team Speed", they are a unique entity. "Speed Demons" was formed in 2018 by Ryan Walford and several friends with light kayaking experience and a competitive spirit.
The Lake Dwellers: "The Lake Dwellers" are one of the classic teams! Formed in 1956 for the 3rd ever Lake Denton Kayak Race event, they are a revolving group of moderately skilled fishermen and kayakers. Since 1956, they've operated as one of the less serious teams, with plenty of room for fun and no intense competition for slots on the team. Each year, they switch out most of their lineup to give as many people a chance to participate as possible!
The Trailblazers: "The Trailblazers" have been a staple of the Lake Denton Kayak Race since 1967. The team was started by Harry Lorraine and his wife, Florence. Since then, the Lorraine family has sponsored and at times placed family members on the team! Over the years, their constant influence has shaped the races. They've helped set rules, organize the event, set standards for conduct, and much more! They've truly earned their title as trailblazers.
The Fishermen: One of the only classic teams to remain constant since 1961. Beginning with three high school seniors, Edgar Cannes, Micheal Hampton, and Richard George, they dominated the early days of the Lake Denton Kayak Race. To this day, they have never missed a race!
Play/Destroy: The successor to "The Destroyers" (1981-1994) and "The Players" (1990-1994). In 1995, "The Destroyers" lost two members and "The Players" lost one member. They made the decision to form one singular team rather than recruit new members for each team. As such, their new name was a combination of the two: "Play/Destroy". Since then, the team lineup has changed with only one of the original members remaining. However, their name holds true - they have fun, but they destroy their competition!
Smooth Sailors: Smooth Sailors (originally "The Smooth Sailors") are a group of casual, easygoing Ramsey residents who enjoy leisurely trips out on Lake Denton. They also enjoy competing to the death in the Lake Denton Kayak Race! "Smooth Sailors" started out as a singular friend group living in Ramsey. However, it has grown since then to be a thriving community of its own in Ramsey, with that becoming more exaggerated since the collapse of "Team Ramsey" (1954-2005). There is a rotating group of 12 members that swap out each year. All members have extensive kayaking experience, though not all of it is in racing. They have a very low win record. However, what they lack in skill, they make up for in style, with their well-decorated kayaks and well-dressed team members!
WC Farmers: In 1955, the many farmers of Walker Creek began an agreement to rotate which farm gets to join the race each year. They wanted the farmers of Walker Creek County to have a place in the Lake Denton Kayak Race, and they wanted the tradition to stay around forever. The "WC Farmers" are a largely symbolic team with a rotating team line-up and a low win record. The Jones Farm line-up is typically their strongest, with Mayor Jones sometimes even joining when it's their turn!
Depth Crawlers: "Depth Crawlers" was formed in 2008 by Conner Ainsley, the descendant of Shaun Ainsley (founder of Denton).
WCHS Kayak Team: The WCHS Kayak Team is made up of the top 3 kayak racers from Grade 9-12 at the Walker Creek Public School. During the school year, students who sign-up for the WCHS Kayak Team go through tryouts, training, and eventually trial races with unofficial Walker Creek teams! These trial races are a large source of entertainment and fun throughout June and July, giving a chance for other residents to race as well as helping the Walker Creek Public School figure out which students are the best of the best!
KFL (Kayaks For Life): "KFL" (a.k.a. "Kayaks For Life") is made up of a rotating group of kayak enthusiasts from Walker Creek County and it's surrounding area. It's one of the only teams with members from outside of WC County. While they don't switch the lineup every year, they do change it every 3-4 years to bring in new blood. KFL exists outside of the Lake Denton Kayak Race and Walker Creek itself as a simple kayak hobbyist club.
The WC Walkers: "The WC Walkers" (full name: "The Walker Creek Walkers") are a joke team that keeps getting revived. They have had multiple instances started by different individuals with teams from 1958-1962, 1968-1969, 1975-1991, 1999-2003, 2007-2007, and finally 2019-2021. This group is typically devoid of serious competition or skill, except in the 1999-2003 instance, in which they were serious competition. However, they currently are a similar joke group. They play pranks, ignore objectives, and try to mess with other racers, among other things.
The Pirates: "The Pirates" were formed in 1956 and are considered one of the classic teams. There have been 3 major shifts in the team lineup, with a new group replacing the previous in 1971, 1994, and 2011. They have skill and drive to win, with brutish tactics such as bumping into other kayaks, trying to distract racers, etc.
Team Invincible: "Team Invincible" is the successor to "Team Unstoppable" (1987-2009). While "Team Unstoppable" was founded by Jeffery Ramborne, "Team Invincible" was founded by his daughter, Amber Ramborne in 2013 after his passing.
The Carter Company Team: The Carter Company Team is a staple of the Lake Denton Kayak Race, as well as a stipulation of their sponsorship. Each year since 1972, when the town bankruptcy threatened the LDKR, the Carter Company has sponsored the race to make sure that it goes on no matter what! They provide funding, equipment, and even catering on rare occasion! The team itself is made up of lucky Carter Company employees that win their spot, along with Tim Carter III himself participating at times!
Denton Natives: The "Denton Natives" are a team made up of only Denton residents with extensive kayaking skills. Each member has, at minimum, had 7 years of kayak experience according to the team requirements. With Lake Denton in their backyard, each member of this team dominates their competition every year. The residents of Denton hold a council meeting multiple times per year to decide on strategies, team members, and many other important decisions. They take the Lake Denton Kayak Race more seriously than anyone and they are a force to be reckoned with.