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world-class set.of gates and a backdrop
<br />Qf Colorado high peaks. There's nothing
<br />lacking here. The flows are best in.tlie
<br />summer, of course, Class lll-ish, but the .
<br />Arkansas is corisistent enoug}i that:the
<br />hacd?coce boys and girls can run it pr-et-
<br />.ty much year-round. If you own,a kayak,
<br />get here today..
<br />Gore Creek, Vail.. -
<br />- In Vail, city planners were overheard
<br />saying, "Let's see; we"ve•got one?of the
<br />rriost bea'utiful towns in the wocld, ski-
<br />able.terra:in the:size of mainland:China,
<br />incr.edible summer mountain biking.-P_nd
<br />a., elientele w6}i a combined .income
<br />larger than the GDP of,Tajikistan.; Hmm,
<br />wtiat" el'se could we possibly°'`do_ to
<br />' improve our. littCe :village? 1-know! • LeY's
<br />call that dude, Gary Lacy, and build one
<br />of ttie.best.y;whitewate.e parks in the.uni-
<br />verse!" And they d'td. . .
<br />- For a•quarter of a mile, Vail's.litfle
<br />stretch: of Class IlI-1'V: whitewater, para-
<br />dise wi11 deti'ver flawless waves, ;a `fauit-
<br />less hydraulic feature and undoubtedly
<br />the . most aesthetically pleasing. "'city
<br />runs" on earth. It's so well designed, in
<br />fact, that even the most"disceming .eye
<br />wilJ find it unbelievable that man; not
<br />force oE nature, constructed it.
<br />Planners`are working with Lacy on a
<br />pioposed phase,2 upgrade atong with an
<br />innovative inflatable "bladd.eF' system
<br />tfiat woutd allow the town. to chang? a
<br />feature with the water level; CociG stuff.
<br />Yampa River,., . : .; .
<br />- Steamboat Springs :
<br />- Sometimes the'.?.. planets ? are
<br />- aligned,: karma is good and. every day
<br />seems like 'a "State Fair Kind'of Day." ?f
<br />. xou ve been to Steainboat .to 'paddle;
<br />you know the feeling. '
<br />Here.again; you ean thank Fether
<br />=Nature, a,k.a: Gary Lacy; for:' inakjng
<br />-someth.ing goad. even "good-er,"
<br />Thcough town, the Yampa generally
<br />runs arotAnd Clas5 II+: From start to
<br />finish; this two?m'ile_stretch: of'rivei is
<br />littered with grEat play opportunities
<br />in. a' plethorsk,:of boat-suckingholes
<br />and surfable waves. .There are two
<br />words you must remember.when pad-
<br />.dling Steamboat...Charlie's Hole. _Find
<br />, it and you've found heaven. You'll also
<br />find the town's slalom course_ about,
<br />halfway through"the course. at,-. Rick
<br />Weiss Park. There's probably a really
<br />good iEason Paddler magazine set up
<br />shop in Steamboat, but come Check it
<br />out for yourself. ?
<br />Blue River Whitewater
<br />Park, Breckenridge
<br />City planners in Breck recognized
<br />that development along the Blue River
<br />had taken its toll over the years, but
<br />fortunately saw the opportunity to do
<br />something special for their tow.n,and
<br />river. They teamed up with you know
<br />who, Gary Lacy, and turned a severely
<br />stressed waterway 6ack into a beau-
<br />tiful; natural_ flowing river. Not only
<br />did they build a prime whitewater
<br />park right in the heart of town,
<br />they also made river - access
<br />absu.rdly easy by incorporating it w'?th,
<br />the park and trail system.
<br />Blue River Park is a freestyle para-
<br />dise and was designed with every pad-
<br />dler in mind. A number of quality holes,
<br />small wayes and hydraulics will keep you
<br />and your friends busy all day. If you're
<br />new to the river or if you happen to run
<br />in the same circles with.the likes of Tao
<br />Berman, you'll find some qu.ality stuff
<br />going on here. C'mon, it"s in the heart of
<br />Summit County. How can you gQ wrong?
<br />•0•
<br />These are oniy a few o€ the whitewa-
<br />ter parks around the Rockies. Other
<br />towns in the region with whitewater
<br />parks include, or soon will include,
<br />Boulder, Lyons, Grand lunction, Estes
<br />Park, . Denver, Durango, Pueblo,
<br />Farmington; N.M. and Green River; WY,
<br />and this is just the beginning.
<br />While you're out enjoying these
<br />great facilities, keep in mind that iYs not
<br />only the hard work and, financial
<br />resources of these river towns and their
<br />planners, iYs also.the input; hard work
<br />end responsible river use of the white-
<br />watei community as a whole that makes
<br />it all possible..
<br />For more information on these and
<br />other whitewater parks in the region,
<br />contact their local. Chambers of
<br />Commerce or your local whitewater
<br />shop. Additional information on white-
<br />watei parks and their events can .be. .:
<br />found at www:colorudowhitewater.org oi
<br />wu!w.ka yakingcolorado.com. .
<br />?
<br />Freelance writer and photographer Barry
<br />Reese spends kis paddling time in the Rockies,
<br />the Southwest, Mexico and Canada.
<br />60• Rocky. Mountai,n 5•ports..? Mag 2,0:0q
<br />
<br />Necky Chronic & AT2 Flex Carbon
<br />GE-AR ?:=}
<br />Before you head to the rivers and whitewater parks th.is'
<br />season, }iere.are a few bits of new gear you may want to '.
<br />add to your collection.
<br />The folks over at Necky have alwa.ys been on the cutting
<br />edge of technolbgy when it comes to whitewater kayaks But
<br />never satisfied to leave well enough alone, they ve designe.d
<br />Yet another. decisive leader in PlaYboat.technolo wifh the
<br />gI' . .
<br />introduction of the Chron7c ($1,100). Bounce it, throw. dow.n` `
<br />blunts, bust some big air, this boat will make it liappen. .'www.necky.com No paddle., no.go. To help you go, check out the flagShip of
<br />all paddles used on:any river, the AT2 Flex Carbon ($379); This.
<br />paddle is perfectly balanced and incredibly light, and features a.. ?
<br />true ergonomic grip. It was designed for the hefty
<br />needs of whitewater guru Dan Gavere, so you t
<br />can be assured this is no shoddy tool.
<br />www.atpaddle.com
<br />Getting .your gear
<br />safely transported to
<br />the river is essen- }
<br />tial...rubbing
<br />the crap out of
<br />that beautiful, !
<br />sun - faded ?
<br />paint on your. -Sherpak PowerSfrups, &: ,. ;
<br />rusted out '74 Subaru Brat is not. winde Kayak Blocks ..
<br />Seattle Sports heardthe moans from us all and introduced tfie-
<br />Sherpak Power Straps ($6-$12), which feature a felt-.lined
<br />"buckle protecting pad." The straps vary in lengths irom .6' to
<br />20' and are sold in pairs. Use these straps with the Wind_e
<br />Kayak Blocks ($50), designed for use with your existing'cross-
<br />bar system, and you've got4 cushy ;
<br />set-up for transporting your.boat.
<br />www.seattlesportsco.com .
<br />And finally; . Lotus Desigiis . ?
<br />Q? will keep you afloat, yet give you ;.
<br />?M a full range of motion while. paci-.
<br />dling, with its Rio Bravo. PFD
<br />;
<br />($129). The short fro.nt and i
<br />back panels give you free-
<br />. ?
<br />dom to move, and the
<br />lon.g shoulder pacls
<br />" make those long, ?
<br />long days on the.
<br />river a lot" mbre
<br />comfortable, Great
<br />fit, great product.,," `
<br />www.lotusdesigns.eom
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