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<br />'" ...., .4. .... V ... <br /> <br />00' '2.0 t... <br /> <br />IX. Local Participation is Greater than out of Town Participation <br /> <br />Out of 46 kayakers randomly interviewed during 21 different days, only 8 were not from <br />Steamboat Springs, and only two were not from Colorado, thirty-two of which live in <br />Steamboat Springs. <br /> <br />The majority ofkayakers were observed returning to the RICD structures on a regular <br />basis. Therefore, it is difficult to quantify the total number ofkayakers (local and non- <br />local) who utilized the boating park during the observation period. <br /> <br />Non-local kayakers interviewed shared comments on the quality of the structures and <br />rated the Steamboat Park Boating Park as being better than the Boating Park in Vail and <br />Durango. <br /> <br />There were an estimated 40 to 50 spectators watching the professional rodeo kayakers <br />compete at the Yampa River Festival on Saturday, June 11,2005. A few spectators were <br />also present the following day during the slalom events, however the weather during the <br />slalom events was poor and other festivities were occurring in town. <br /> <br />X. Commercial Kayaking Operators' Comments Reveal that Business Activity has <br />not Increased since Creation of the Boating Park <br /> <br />Pete Vandecarr, owner of Backdoor Sports, and Barry Smith, owner of Mountain Sports <br />Kayak School, both commented that their recent revenues from kayaking were lower than <br />during the 2000 and 2001 seasons (Vandecarr, 2005, and Smith, 2005). Both stated that <br />during these seasons, flows and weather were favorable, and new designs in kayaks lured <br />existing and new kayakers to playboating. Each individual agreed that since 2001, and <br />after the C-Hole and D-Hole were built, kayaking conditions have not been as favorable. <br />Mr. Vandecarr and Mr. Smith commented that during the current season of2005, flows <br />were more advantageous than in 2004; however, up to the time of interview (June 14, <br />2005) the weather had not been conducive to kayaking. Technology, in terms of <br />equipment design and function, seems to influence freestyle kayaking popularity. This <br />"trend" may decline as equipment loses its novelty. <br /> <br />10 <br /> <br />Yampa River Freestyle Kayaking Study - August 2005 <br />Vital Resources <br />