The Wright, an outdoor-inspired industry summit and award program, has recognized Alpacka Rafts in Mancos as one of the Rocky Mountain region’s top innovators.

Beginning on May 1, The Wright will hold a three-day event for industry leaders in Golden, Colorado.

“The Wright is recognizing that unique breed of leader ... the kind to bet on instinct over conventional wisdom,” Chuck Sullivan, co-founder of Something Independent, the team that handcrafts and produces The Wright, said in a news release.

“They’re just out to do good work. Their work. They can be a little tough to corral, but for three days in May, we’ll gather and celebrate their companies and their communities.”

On May 3, the event will end in an awards night.

Alpacka Rafts is one of twelve contenders selected from more than 125 nominations.

Founded in 2010, The Wright has recognized nearly 100 companies in its eight years.

“So often outdoor-inspired businesses are hatched from ideas shared around the campfire, on the river or over a whiskey,” Sullivan said in a news release. “These companies are set apart by their grit and determination. We, at Something Independent, were simply drawn to their work and desired to delve deeper into their stories, bring them together and celebrate their wins.”

The Wright contenders

Alpacka Rafts, Mancos

Green Guru Gear, Boulder

The Hot Tomato, Fruita

Mountain States Snowcats, Torrington, Wyo.

Powderhorn Resort, Mesa

Rocky Mountain Underground, Breckenridge

Sarabella Fishing, Denver,

Strafe Outerwear, Aspen

Western Rise, Telluride

Weston Snowboards, Minturn/Denver

Wood’s High Mountain Distillery, Salida

Yeti Cycles, Golden