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<br />~ <br /> <br />The Steamboat Pilot: New recreation sites on Yampa attract kayakers <br /> <br />00 Q 21 0 Page 2 of 2 <br /> <br />Subscriptions <br />Contact <br /> <br />Advertising <br /> <br />About the Pilot & <br />Today <br /> <br />sid~, <br /> <br />There's more to the D-Hole than meets the casual eye. <br /> <br />"It's a retentive wave," said kayaker Chuck Simms. "It will keep you in there. <br />It's real friendly. What they call sticky. I'm optimistic it's going to keep on <br />getting better." <br /> <br />That's one of the intriguing aspects of the D-Hole -- the drought of 2002 meant <br />that during its inaugural season no one saw its true character. <br /> <br />The D-Hole was fun at 500 cubic feet per second, most kayakers agreed. The <br />stream flow has to rise above 700 cfs to exhibit a true standing wave. Paddler <br />Kevin Thompson says it's enjoyable at levels below 400 cfs. <br /> <br />"It's pretty decent right down to 200 to 300 cfs," he said. <br /> <br />The real character of the hole will become apparent at about 2,200 cfs, veteran <br />kayakers agree. <br /> <br />One of the best design aspects of the D-Hole is the strong back flow. The wave <br />was constructed to pump water back in on itself, actually using the same water <br />more than once. <br /> <br />Eugene Buchanan, editor of Paddler Magazine, said it's no surprise Lacey and <br />his crew are designing premium whitewater parks. They've designed similar <br />features in Denver, Golden, Durango and other cities. Everything they learned <br />along the way went into the D-Hole. <br /> <br />"This is one of the better holes these guys have designed," Buchanan said. <br /> <br />The improved urban kayaking in downtown Steamboat has enhanced Northwest <br />Colorado's position as a national paddling destination. <br /> <br />More in Summec\li:LcatiOJl..Lan.o. <br /> <br />Copyright @ 2004 The Steamboat Pilot & Today. All rights reserved. <br /> <br />Today's e\ <br />SSBE ses~ <br />(iata thg <br />$l,Ibmit aJ <br /> <br />There's always more available in our print version. Subscribe to The Steamboat Pilot & Toda <br /> <br />If you have a question or comment, visit our feedback page. <br /> <br />Interested in promoting your business on our site? <br /> <br />i\ \VOHLDW'CST \'%h.; <br /> <br />diel, fo.. "'''I,lllwHL'trt ,md <br /> <br />Please acquaint yourself with our IJrjy'~~y~oli(;y: and Igrms otU~~Agreement. <br /> <br />http://www.steamboatpilot.comlsection! summer_vacation _land/story /17440 <br /> <br />4/512004 <br />