Vail Kayak 'Hole' May Swallow More Money

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Summit Daily News for Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper and Frisco Colorado - News Page 1 of 1 Vail kayak 'hole' may swallow more money BY EDWARD STONER eagle county correspondent June 10, 2007 VAIL - Vail has sunk a quarter of a million dollars into its whitewater park since 2000. But kayaker Matt Solomon says the town is kidding itself if it even thinks it has such a park. Solomon and some other kayakers had to put plywood in the river to make sure water was flowing in the right places for events at the Teva Mountain Games. "Literally the second we took the wood and rocks out of the river, the hole disappeared," Solomon said. "There's a very, very small window of flow that makes that hole somewhat usable." Vail is proposing more work to make its "hole" - in Gore Creek below the International Bridge - more friendly for kayakers. The town has a plan to spend $376,000 on inflatable bladders that are supposed to improve the park. The hole is formed when the flowing water drops off a man -made ledge in the creels and then flows backward. Kayakers can paddle into the hole and do tricks like flips, cartwheels and uniquely named stunts like "space Godzillas" and "phonyx monkeys." The six inflatable bladders would better direct water over the hole. A computer would read the water levels and adjust the bladders to the right sizes. Gore Creek has less water than other places that have kayak parks, such as the Eagle River at Avon and the Arkansas River at Salida. Summit County parks similarly have struggled, with Breckenridge's park use being questioned in the past, and Frisco's proposal for a kayak park forcing a few locals to scratch their heads. The Vail council could consider approval of the park at its next meeting. If all goes according to plan, the bladders would be installed this fall and would be ready next spring. BACK http: / /www. summltdaily.com /apps /pbcs. dll /article ?AID= /200706101NEWS /106100060 &5... 6/14/2007