Colorado river surfing 0
BOULDER, Colo. — The sight of kayakers playing on standing river waves is a familiar sight in Colorado, but surfers? Over the past few years, landlocked beach bros have discovered that river waves can be surfed almost like ocean waves.
And Colorado communities that have constructed whitewater play parks (manmade obstacles in the water that increase wave size) on large rivers with heavy flows — like the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs, the Arkansas River in Buena Vista and Salida, and the Animas River in Durango — are seeing increased surfer traffic.
Michelle McReynolds of the Glenwood Springs Chamber of Commerce confirms that the town’s whitewater park has “definitely increased commerce and tourism in town.”
Basalt-based photographer Pete McBride, 38, has surfed all over the world and often surfs the Colorado River at the Glenwood Whitewater Park.
“You can’t always hop on a plane to follow good surf. This wave is practically in my backyard,” he says.
A Basalt town councilman raised on a cattle ranch in Old Snowmass, McBride took up surfing six years ago and can’t get enough of it.
“I love it. I surfed yesterday, and we’re heading out this afternoon again,” he says.
The wave “goes off” when the Colorado flows at 10,000 to 20,000 cubic feet per second, typically around April to June. McBride prefers riding a more nimble short board, but he often stands on the riverbank waiting his turn for the wave with kayakers and stand-up paddle boarders.
The inaugural Stand Up Paddling Nationals were held at the Glenwood Whitewater Park on May 31. The winner, Dan Gavere, beat about 20 other “watermen” in three disciplines: down-stream racing through Class II–III whitewater, slalom and surfing.
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