The Kayaking Journal News

May 11, 2005 07:21 - Great News! New Kayak Park Opens In Pueblo, Colorado!

Paddlers here in Colorado have a new playground. On May 7th, after many years of planning and wrangling, a new kayak park opened in downtown Pueblo. Although the park hasn't been formally named, it gives kayakers in Southern Colorado a new place to practice their skills, and right in the heart of a growing city.

As part of Pueblo's downtown renovation, the whitewater park will be integrated into the city's riverfront project. The kayak park will consist of eight drops located over about a half mile of water terrain. There are several pools interspersed between the drops. Some of the holes have colorful names such as "Grim Reaper" and "Soul Keeper," although most experienced paddlers won't have too much difficulty negotiating the new park.

Needless to say, local canoe and kayaking shops are estatic about the park's opening. Work on the park finished in mid-March, and kayakers began testing it almost immediately. A wet spring only added to the water levels -- and the fun.

Water flows so far have averaged in the 200 CFS range, and the drops and other features are working as designed. Average flows are expected to be about 500 CFS during the summer months. The new park was designed by Boulder resident Gary Lacy, who's designed many of the other kayak parks in Colorado.

If you find yourself in Southern Colorado this summer, you need to check out this new park. It's located on the Arkansas River in downtown Pueblo. Go to www.pueblopaddlers.org for more info.

May 13, 2005 07:10 - SVI Womens adventure racing

Here's an article supplied by our friends at Backcountry.com. Enjoy.

SVI Women's Adventure Racing

When a triathlon just isn't enough

by Heidi Vandegrift

Triathlons, 10Ks, and marathons been there done that! Women came from all over the U.S. to be challenged and escape their comfort zones at Schneider & Vandegrift, Inc.’s camp in Lake Tahoe, California this past July. Why? They all wanted to learn about one of the fastest growing team sports adventure racing. World-class expedition-length racers led the camp: Terri Schneider and Louise Cooper. Both began adventure racing nearly 10 years ago and are internationally recognized as top multi-sport female athletes.

Adventure racing is known for its mental and physical challenges and is attracting an increasing number of teams worldwide. Navigating from one checkpoint to the next, with only a compass and map, teams use a variety of non-motorized transportation such as mountain bikes, climbing ropes, kayaks, and their own feet. Team members soon learn that communication and cooperation are the keys to success.

The women who attended this year’s camp were newbies to the sport. All were physically fit at various levels but had never experienced an adventure race. They came to learn, be challenged, build confidence, celebrate birthdays, and take a break from their kids all in a supportive, non-threatening environment. Ah, the beauty of a women-only camp.

The weekend was packed with classroom and hands-on instruction covering ropes, paddling, mountain biking, trekking, navigation, nutrition, team dynamics, and gear. SVI’s camp had an incredible demo gear program with the support of their sponsors. Campers tested packs, clothing, trekking poles, sunglasses, headlamps, shoes, and more in the field. "There are many nuances to gear including features, weight, appropriate fit, and specific uses, all of which are important considerations when deciding what is right for you. Our goal was to enable the campers to be able to shop with confidence," says Terri Schneider.

The weekend concluded with a 6-8 hour practice race in which teams applied what they had learned over the weekend including the reality of team dynamics. It was a good idea to mix skill levels of people to understand how this affects your success as a team. You start off with one opinion, and by the end of the race you look at those people in a completely different way, said one perceptive camper.

The camp was a life changing experience for several. This camp has given me a lot more confidence and taught me NOT to underestimate myself. Terri and Louise are such an inspiration. I had the time of my life!

May 15, 2005 20:56 - Confluence buys Watermark's Water Sports Division

It seems there's another shakeup brewing in the kayaking industry. On May 12, Confluence Holdings Corp acquired Watermark Paddlesports Inc, which includes such brands as Wilderness Systems, Wave Sport, Voyageur, and Mad River Canoes. The deal apparently is only for Watermark's water sports holdings, and doesn't include the company's land sports division.

These additions will turn Confluence into a paddle sports powerhouse, as they already own the companies Yakima, Camelbak, Dagger, Perception, and Harmony. This means there will be less competition between brands, so we'll have to see what this means as far as kayak and paddling accessory pricing goes. Hopefully they'll hold the line on prices, at least for the near future.

If you're thinking of upgrading your boat, or buying a new paddle, car carrier or other gear, you might want to do it now, before this new mega-company has a chance to flex its muscles.

May 23, 2005 15:27 - Swollen Rivers Deadly In Colorado

A heat wave here in Colorado has our local creeks and rivers swollen to flood stage levels, especially on the Western Slope. The high water makes for some exciting kayaking, but at least four people have died in the fast moving rivers in the past week, and another man was barely rescued in time when his kayak rolled and he was pinned under the water for almost five minutes. Fortunately he was paddling with a group, and his buddies were able to get him out of the water and get him breathing before rescue teams could arrive.

All this water is a strange sight to Coloradans used to several years of draught, and some may have underestimated the powerful currents inherent in swollen creeks and rivers. Three of the fatalties were members of separate rafting trips, while the fourth man died while attempting to rescue his sister's boyfriend. Anyone paddling in multiple boats should always have a group rescue plan. And never hit the water without a good PFD or life jacket.

This is not meant to scare people away from enjoying the water and the backcountry out here. Just make sure you take the steps necessary for a safe and enjoyable adventure.

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