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March 27, 2006 <br />Dear Mr. Jack Rogers, <br />Concerning the whitewater park at Smelter rapid: <br />I first started coming to Durango in 1990 for the Champion Whitewater International <br />Race Series. That was when I was competing as a member of the US team. The US team <br />and many kayak slalom teams from around the world would come to Durango to compete <br />in the event. <br />It wasn't until I had retired from competition and was working as Head Coach to the US <br />kayak slalom team (1993) that I moved to Durango. I moved to Durango because it was <br />designated as a Center of Excellence by USA Canoe and Kayak -the US governing body <br />to the United States Olympic Committee and the International Canoe Federation, and <br />there were athletes training here using the year -round training facilities. The whitewater <br />park, year -round training opportunities, and an active core of competitive slalom athletes <br />provided Durango with a base of operations for training Olympic caliber athletes and <br />hosting world class competitive events. <br />Since 1993, I have both coached and kayaked at Smelter Rapid all year- round. I have <br />coached up to 20 athletes every month of the year, from dawn 'til dusk, 12 -20 days a <br />month. The beauty of Durango weather is that it rarely gets too cold for a prepared <br />kayaker to paddle at Smelter. The river is always free of ice at Smelter rapid and as long <br />as the temperatures are above 20F, then it is warm enough to train on the water (below <br />20F and ice begins to form on the paddle blades). <br />The proposed Whitewater Park at Smelter will be a great addition and improvement to <br />the existing facilities. It will draw more world -class boaters to the community to <br />complement some of the home -grown talent, including current Junior National Champion <br />John Gerstenberger (4th in the world). The Whitewater Park will be of great benefit to the <br />Center of Excellence and there will be more funds available for training camps and <br />coaching. Durango will be able to attract even more high caliber events as a result of <br />these improvements. However, if Smelter becomes only a seasonal training site due to <br />inadequate flows in the winter, then Durango will lose its Center of Excellence <br />designation, and the racing community and event hosting will wither and die on the vine. <br />There is a direct link between year -round water for training, Center of Excellence <br />designation, and hosting of National and International level slalom kayak events. <br />Brian Brown <br />