Hunter Cooper and Christina Passafaro will have something to tell their grandchildren.

They survived the 20th annual Millrace Massacre and Iceman Championships.

Cooper won the men’s division and Passafaro the women’s division, advanced class.

Alex Butler and Karen Jackson won the novice class.

The completion attracted a few dozen kayakers to the rapids of the Saluda River near Riverbanks Zoo Saturday.

Even more showed up to watch.

“It was a beautiful day on the river,” said Michael Mayo of Palmetto Outdoor. “It’s January, but you needed sunscreen. The boardwalk by the river was filled up with spectators.”

Erin Smith who manages the event said the Saluda River water level had been dropped Saturday. “It’s perfect for the race,” she said.

The Millrace Massacre is a race against the clock, one kayaker after another. In the 1st event of the day, Kayakers had to navigate a course of rapids.

All kayakers began the Iceman Championships at the same time. When they got to the bridge, the competitors got out of the river and carried their kayaks back to the top of the rapids to race again.

But this time they jumped from their watercraft, dragging them along, while swimming to the river bank in the icy water.