Originally shared by The Summit Daily, on October 30, 2019.

Rafting Company

Performance Tours has been a staple not only of Summit County but all of Colorado’s High Country for more than three decades. Started in 1986 by Kevin and MaryJo Foley, Performance Tours operates rafting trips out of its Frisco and Breckenridge outposts down to Buena Vista, one of the country’s most popular rafting areas. Whether rafting The Numbers or Brown’s Canyon or another waterway down south, families and groups have their choice of Buena Vista rafting adventures out of Performance Tours’ Frisco outpost. But if you’re looking to stick within Summit County, Performance Tours also offers shorter day trips down a several-mile stretch of the Blue River north of Silverthorne. This summer was an especially fun season for rafting on the Blue, as all of last winter and spring’s snowmelt combined with colder-than-usual temperatures and copious rainfall to peak water flows on the Blue higher than they’d been in years.

Through all of those years — from down years like 2018 to this summer’s thrilling, raging conditions — Performance Tours has been the rafting constant here in Summit County. Despite more than a quarter century of experience and success, Kevin and MaryJo still bring a down-to-earth, homey feel to Performance Tours, as they still run the day-to-day operations along with their daughter, Kathryn, who works in the office, and son, Dan, who guides trips.

The Foleys’ backstory is true Summit County. Kevin and MaryJo met at Breckenridge Ski Resort in the ’80s, when Kevin was a ski instructor and MJ worked ski patrol. Since then, the Foley family has always lived in Breckenridge and remained active in the community. With family life based here, the Foley’s operate four Performance Tours offices — the Buena Vista and Cañon City hubs along with their Breckenridge and Frisco outposts. Wherever you’re rafting with Performance Tours, you’ll be guided by a yearly Best of Summit award winner with the most experienced guides on the river, with many senior guides and staff members who have been with the company since the beginning.

“We are grateful to live in a wonderful community that supports local businesses and recognizes high-quality customer service. Thank you to everyone who voted for Performance Tours. It’s been a pleasure to paddle with you for the last 33 years.”