Hundreds of spectators and participants flocked to Magic Island on Saturday to partake in and witness SportsFest, Charleston's marquee annual outdoor sporting event.
This year's version, which featured about a dozen different activities, including Brazilian jiu-jitsu, volleyball, watercross sports and a CrossFit challenge, attracted people from all over the continent, ranging from West Virginia's neighboring states to as far as Canada.
Although SportsFest officially kicked off on Friday when 90 people participated in the inaugural Kanawha Valley Professional Disc Golf Association Regional tournament, the event reached its climax on Saturday as people flocked to the west end of Kanawha Boulevard, just past the Interstate 64 bridge.
The normally quiet Magic Island was transformed into a veritable hub of activity. Trailers hauling Jet Skis and recreational vehicles overtook the boulevard, which served as a staging area, as well as an impromptu basketball court for a 3-on-3 tournament.
Below street level, the landscape featured four volleyball courts, an area dedicated to cheerleading, a massive tent for jiu jitsu, food trucks and a host of tents overlooking the suddenly turbulent river, where Jet Skis deftly navigated around buoys.
As participants sat atop a wrestling mat underneath the large tent, Butch Hiles, who owns a local jiu jitsu and mixed martial arts training facility in Charleston, sat in the corner, overlooking the scene.
"It's the biggest one we've had," said Hiles, who organized this year's jiu jitsu event.
He estimated as many as 300 participants, ranging from 5- to 60-year-olds, had entered the competition. Overall, he believed the jiu jitsu event alone brought more than 1,000 people to Charleston.
Both men and women faced off in matches throughout the day, in hopes of capturing a trophy or an award, although not everyone was interested in that.
"I'm in it to win but we're also in it to support each other," said Chris Watson, who traveled along with his wife, Liz, and 14-year-old son, Caleb, from Stanton, Virginia, to participate in the competition.
Corey McWilliams, also of Stanton, joined the Watson family, who were all competing in the event.
McWilliams said he was in Charleston four years ago for the same event but this year's showing is different.
"Since then, it's blown up," he said.
Watson said being involved in jiu jitsu is like a brotherhood and not necessarily one that is simply driven by winning.
"There's a saying," Watson explained. "You win or you learn. You never really lose."
The aphorism was especially true for Taylor Yazza, 9, and Kayden Keys, 10, who were first-time jiu jitsu tournament participants, along with their father, Justin Yazza.
Admittedly still learning the sport, the trio came along with 12 others from Somerset, Kentucky. And the family will certainly return home with smiles.
As Kayden and Taylor clashed with their opponents on the mat, their father knelt nearby, yelling advice and encouragement over the booming noise from the audience. Despite the fact that both of Yazza's children had been doing jiu jitsu for less than a month, they each finished with awards.
Although the buzz of the jiu jitsu crowd lasted throughout the day, Dave Davidson was interested in a different event. He had once again come all the way from Ontario, Canada, to participate in the annual Charleston stop of the Pro Watercross Tour.
The SportsFest competition was the final stop of the national tour and the last major event before next month's World Championship, which will be held in Naples, Florida.
The Charleston course, Davidson said, is a bit different than others on the tour in that it is more elongated due to the shape of the river.
The course designer purposesly put in some sharper angles to ramp up the difficulty level.
Involved in competitive personal watercraft competitions since 1989, Davidson said he enjoys traveling around the country as part of the tour - and he especially likes Charleston.
"It's a nice city and a good event to come to," he said.
Although the rev of the Jet Skis was certainly the loudest and more noticeable aspect of SportsFest, among the lesser known but hardly less interesting activities was one being led by Charleston resident Arden Cogar Jr.
A professional lumberjack competitor, Cogar and his wife, Kristy, led demonstrations on their sport.
During the day Cogar is a lawyer at MacCorkle Lavender. But in his spare time, he's dedicated to his hobby. He's won four national championships in the past seven years.
Not only is he passionate about his sport, Cogar says its part of his bloodline, noting that he comes from a long line of competitive lumberjacks.
He takes the activity so seriously he is trying to bring a professional timber sports competition to Charleston.
"West Virginia has very deep roots in lumberjack sports," Cogar said.
Thanks in part to beautiful weather, crowds gathered throughout the day to watch Cogar and the participants in the various other outdoor activities - from skateboarding to running - all of which played a major role in making this year's SportsFest an undeniable success.
Contact writer Joel Ebert at 304-348-4843 or joel.ebert@dailymailwv.com. Follow him on twitter.com/joelebert29.