Soggy Showdown Bottom

So… a cardboard boat race?

Yep. You and up to three friends build a boat out of corrugated cardboard, tape, and paint — then you climb in and race it on the water at Oahe Days.

Some boats glide. Some boats wallow. Some boats fold in half ten feet off the beach to thunderous applause. Either way, you're doing some good — your $20 entry goes straight to Sotera Youth & Family Services. Bring a crew, bring a theme, bring a sense of humor. Spectators welcome and encouraged to heckle responsibly. Give the rules below a quick read before you start building.

📋 Official Rules

The short version: it has to actually be cardboard, everybody wears a life jacket, and the race officials' word is final. The longer version:

Registration

• Entry is $20 per boat, and all of it goes to Sotera Youth & Family Services.
• Email bseveryn@iiasd.org to register your team. Earlier is better so we can get a good headcount.
• Crews can be 1 to 4 paddlers, and all ages are welcome. Anyone under 18 just needs a parent or guardian on site.
• Plan to arrive by 10:30 AM for setup. The race starts at 11:00 AM sharp.

Safety

• Everyone in the boat needs a U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket. No life jacket, no race. This one is not flexible, sorry!
• Keep your life jacket on and buckled from launch to finish — even if your boat goes down.
• Paddlers should be comfortable in the water, or stay in the shallow area race officials point out.
• No alcohol or anything else impairing before or during your run, please.
• Race officials and safety spotters have the final call. If they ask you to come out of the water, please do so right away.

What you can use

• Corrugated cardboard of any thickness — boxes and flat sheets only, please.
• Tape of any kind — duct tape, packing tape, masking tape, whatever you have on hand.
• Decorations — very much encouraged. Paint, markers, fabric, paper, costumes, signs, flags, all fair game.
• Rope or twine for handles or decoration — just not as part of the structure.
• Your own paddles — wood, plastic, or store-bought oars are all fine.

What's not allowed

• No cardboard tubes of any kind — sonotubes, concrete form tubes, carpet tubes, or any pre-formed cylindrical cardboard.
• No wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, foam, Styrofoam, or inflatables used as structural material.
• No waterproof coatings beyond standard tape — that rules out fiberglass resin, marine sealants, polyurethane, wax, paint used as a sealant, and pre-treated waterproof cardboard.
• No pre-made boat hulls, kayaks, canoes, or boat-shaped molds hidden inside the cardboard. We do check!
• No motors — paddle power only.
• Decorative paint is great, but it can't be the thing holding your boat together.

How the race works

• Stop by the registration table to check in. A race official will give your boat a quick look over.
• Boats line up at the starting point, and a race official signals the start.
• Paddle out to the turnaround marker, loop around it, and head back to the finish line.
• First boat across the finish line with the whole crew still aboard takes the win.
• If your boat sinks, get to shore safely with your life jacket on — and please don't leave any pieces behind in the water.

Good sportsmanship

• Whatever cardboard you bring to the water, take back off the water — floating or sunken.
• Race officials can disqualify any boat that breaks the rules or looks unsafe.

Have fun out there — it's for a great cause. Questions? Email bseveryn@iiasd.org anytime.

💰 Cash Prizes

Four ways to cash in. Three of them reward speed; one rewards showmanship.

📦 Ready to Race?

• Email bseveryn@iiasd.org with your boat/team name and how many paddlers you're bringing. The sooner the better for our headcount.
• $20 per boat, paid the day of — every dollar goes to Sotera Youth & Family Services.
• Build your boat ahead of time and bring it; do final decorating and patch jobs at setup. Arrive by 10:30 AM, ready to launch at 11:00 AM sharp.
• Bring: your crew, your paddles, life jackets if you've got them, sunscreen, dry clothes, and a towel. You will be using the towel.

Email to Register