This Saturday, August 7th, is the first (annual?) Race for the River, an event launched by the Deschutes River Conservancy:

GRAB YOUR FLOATIES, KAYAKS, CANOES AND PADDLE BOARDS TO RACE FOR THE RIVER!
We are launching a brand new event this year that is sure to be a community favorite. Starting at Riverbend Park, racers will vie for the number one position in several different heats ending in the Les Schwab Amphitheater. Food, beverages, live music and fun will follow at a community wide celebration in the heart of the Old Mill District in the Central Plaza.

Cost:
$15 per person
$20 with your dog
(All participants racing with their dog will receive a Ruff Wear Float Coat as part of their entry fee.)
$50 per corporate team (5-6 people)

Race Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Old Mill Celebration: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

There is also an “Open Swim” option on the event poster, as well as note of a beer garden.

No indication of how this will work with regular folks who just want to float the River (from Riverbend Park) on Saturday; presumably the race participants will be wearing numbers of some sort. But couldn’t there be a conflict if regular floaters get in the way of racers and vice-versa?