NEW ULM - Two men with colorful nicknames were among the timed canoe and kayak obstacle course contestants Saturday at Riverblast 2010 in Riverside Park.
"Ranger" Rick Lucas of New Ulm maneuvered around several five-gallon buckets and was clocked in 3:10 on the rising Minnesota River.
"There was a lot of current to fight, but white-water canoeing is something I enjoy," said Lucas, who had the fastest time early Saturday afternoon.
Joe "El Guapo" (the good-looking one) Delory, of Janesville said he got his nickname from his daughters after posing for a photo with pro wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
"It was a bit tough to maneuver around the buckets with the river current, but it was fun," Delory added.
Wearing a large fanny pack, aviator goggles and a cap with a cloth covering his neck, Delory recently moved to Janesville from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
When the weather agrees, he paddles four or five days a week on the Blue Earth, Minnesota or Zumbro Rivers.
Some of his other favorite paddling locations are the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in the Minnesota arrowhead and near the Apostle Islands of Wisconsin.
An industrial electrician for 45 years and a paramedic for 25 years, Delory lived in California and served in the Navy for 11 years including five Vietnam tours.
"Some say five Vietnam tours was four too many. I just say it was enough," Delory said.
One of his Vietnam tours was on a riverboat on the Mekong River.
He is thinking about taking a canoe and kayak tour down the Mekong River again in 2012.
"I knew some guys who did a Hanoi to Saigon bicycle trip in 1998 and enjoyed it," added Delory. "It provides closure."
Having done multiple war tours himself, Delory said he appreciates what American soldiers go through with their multiple battle zone tours.
He stays fit and enjoys his retirement by paddling, cross country skiing and flying kites.
"I've been paddling for 30 years," added the 63-year-old Delory. "Maybe I'll do it for another 30 years."
Youthful canoeists on the river included 11-year-old Ethan Handeland of Fairfax and Nicholas Schultz, 10, of New Ulm.
Riverblast organizer Scott Sparlin of New Ulm said more than 100 campers set up in the park for the festival that continues to grow.
"I'm just so thankful for all the volunteers and local businesses that support this," Sparlin said. "It's a very grassroots event that is free only because of them."
The Regional River History and Information Center, open in the old schoolhouse in Riverside Park added more river basin artifacts including old photographs, newspaper articles and other exhibits.
Fritz Busch can be
e-mailed at
