City of Durango Prehearing Statement Appendices 1-4

Home Browse Search

APPENDIX 3 CITY OF DURANGO RICD PRESENTATION TO THE COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD Presented by Brian Brown, Animas River Task Force My name is Brian Brown. My background includes competing for the US on the National Slalom Kayak Team from 1984 though 1991. I coached at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona Spain, and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. I have coached athletes in Durango since moving here in 1992. From 1996 though 2002 I was a Sales Representative for prominent Canoe and Kayak manufacturers throughout the Rocky Mountain and the Southwest region. This entailed attending events that showcased competitive kayaking events and demonstrations, many held on whitewater parks in Colorado that now have recreational water rights to protect their investment. I first started coming to Durango in 1990 for the Champion Whitewater International Race Series. During the early 1990's, The US team and many kayak slalom teams from around the world would come to Durango to compete in the event. The Champion series not only drew athletes from around the world to compete here in Durango, but the televised event also brought Durango into living rooms across the US and around the world. Durango has also hosted numerous National competitions such as the National Wild Water Championships in 1989, Open Canoe Nationals in 1994, Jr. -Sr.- Masters National Championships in 2002, the Junior Team Selection Trials in 2001 and 2003, and in 2004, the US Senior Team Trials. These events bring scores of competitors from all over the country and world to compete here in Durango on Smelter Rapid. This is the type of marketing that money cannot buy. It wasn't until I had retired from competition and was working as Head Coach to the US slalom team that I moved to Durango. I moved to Durango because it was designated as a Center of Excellence by USA Canoe and Kayak, and there were athletes training here using the year -round training facilities. The Whitewater Park, year -round training opportunities, and an active core of competitive slalom athletes provided Durango with a base of operations for training Olympic caliber athletes and hosting world class competitive events. Durango is one of only 4 Centers of Excellence in the US, and the only one West of the Mississippi. A Center of Excellence training center must have year round training and host events to maintain that designation. These Centers of Excellence are considered talent incubators that provide training facilities and coaching for future World Champions and Olympians. Centers of Excellence receive funds from the USACK to further these objectives. I have both coached and kayaked at Smelter Rapid all year- round. I have coached up to 20 athletes every month of the year, 12 -20 days a month. The beauty of Durango weather is that it rarely gets. too cold for a prepared kayaker to paddle at Smelter. The river is always free of ice at Smelter rapid and as long as the temperatures are above 20F, then it is warm enough to train on the water (below 20F and ice begins to form on the paddle blades). Daytime temperatures in Durango are rarely too cold for training at Smelter.