Surfing the Colorado River-Fun Stuff

[river]

Been busy kayaking, working, and of course SUP surfing and touring when I can.  Here are a few of the B shots from yesterday.  The water temp was 48 degrees-dont fall...
Photo: Matt Salomon
Rider: Dan Gavere
Enjoy
STOKED






photo: Stephen Wright

photo: Stephen Wright

[Allan Cheateaux]

Hmmmmmmmm....




 I smell... Glenwood Springs?

[DavidJohn]

That third pic is a beauty..

DJ

[Weasels wake]

Who said you can't get airtime on these things?  Sa-weeeet

[stoneaxe]

Hehe...someone is stoked...

[Byronmaui]

River how do you get into the wave to ride it?

Aloha

Byron

[river]

I get on to the wave by using the eddy (upstream current near the bank) and getting a good burst of speed before crossing the eddyline then paddle my ass off across the current (about 40 feet) until I hit the wave.  The JL 10 ft board worked great and after tryin a bunch of fin combos I ended up just using two 3 inch Sufco Fins and no center fin.  I had about 90% success and felt good about it because all the kayakers and short boarders would have to hike upstream and jump in above the wave and float down into it backwards.  Most couldn't catch it unless they dropped into the pit of the foam and then jumped up.  I got some long long rides and then came off the wave back into the eddy with my hair dry.  Of course I ate it a bunch too.  I practiced for 2 days with my helmet, wetsuit and lifejacket until I figured it out.  The water is deep and free of any obstructions so I felt ok without the lifejacket and helmet, but I wasn't trying any helicopters or anything. Plus i had some of the best kayakers inthe world keeping an eye on me if anything happened.  Normally when I am just cruising downstream and running whitewater I always wear a PFD, drysuit, and Helmet...
I wish I had something like that near home to play on.  Its refreshing and extremely nice being on the river where everyone is super cool with no attitude...
STOKED

[photosettle]

Dan.

Are you running rappids on your SUB?

No rock dings? or times you drag the fins on a rock.  I have not had the courage to do much river paddling for that reason.

And holy smokes.  You must have some major skills to get into that standing wave and never prone paddle.  Very cool.  I used my long board a few years back to ride a standing wave on the Rogue and it was blast.  I'd like to try it on my SUB as well sometime.  But i want to have some experience river folks around when i do it.  My expertise is defanitely not in rivers.  If you your back through medford sometime this summer and want to give it a go, let me know.

Thanks for sharing those pics.  awesome

[river]

I ran a few rivers in Colorado.  The Yampa through Steamboat, The Arkansas through Salida (during the Hooligan race last weekend with about 3k people watching and cheering-awesome), and the Colorado near Glenwood (big water 13,000-20,000 cfs). I usually run the rio with the new 10ft ULI but I have been getting used to the 10ft Jimmy lewis board too.  The JL has taken some serious hits and is surviving well.  I only run 2 small fins with no center fin.  Starting to figure it out a little.  Downstream speed is needed at all times so it gets tiring quickly because you have to paddle the whole time to keep the hull speed up.  I am on my wat back to OR now and can't wait to get out in the Ocean its been too long.  I am having salt water withdrawls.  In SLC today back in the Hood tomorrow.
STOKED

[Paddle-Plappe]

This rodeo on the colorado, well done !

[river]

My buddy (Ken Hobie)riding the ULI 10 into the hole during the Hooligan Race in Salida last weekend. 
Photo:  Stephen Wright

[HaleiwaBill]

Hey Dan nice to see you again. Wow, that looks fun, amazing and HARD to master!

I have good friend moving to Jackson Hole Wyoming  next month. He has spent his entire on Oahu and just started getting into SUP. He asked if anyone was doing SUP on standing river waves and now I can him these pics to inspire him!

Does the area he is moving have good river waves like that?

[river]

Hey Bill  Howzit?

Your bro is going to be stoked on Jackson Hole because it has the Snake River through Alpine Canyon with 2 excellent standing waves only 30 minutes away.  Two killer waves that can be stand up surfed.  One is called Kahuna that is good at lower flows and the other is just downstream in a rapid called Lunch Counter.  Have him talk to Aaron Pruzan at Rendezvous River Sports he can introduce him to other sup dudes around JH.


Here is the only good shot I could find of the Lunch counter.  Enjoy