LOG GONE!!!!

Pueblo Paddlers president, Bob Walker, uses a chainsaw to cut up the tree that lodged itself in the channel of drop number 8 in the PWP as Pueblo Paddler, Jason Hochevar looks on.

The tree created a strainer in the channel of the final drop in the park and was a real hazard. The Pueblo Paddlers have a history of helping to maintain the park over the years instead of chasing after local officials to do things. The club is willing to step up when needed to help provide the safest boating experience possible at any level.

The PWP is one of the premier parks in the country for boaters, surfers and boogie boarders and as a club the paddlers hope to keep things flowing by applying a little elbow grease when the need arises.

Canon City Riverwalk games date moved!

Riverwalk Games & ByOB (Saturday, July 19, 2008)



Due to high river levels we have been advised to move the event to July 19th and have agreed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but it couldn't be avoided. If you have any questions contact Kyle Horne at the Recreation District, 275-1578.



The games this year are a little different, but it should be a great time starting in Centennial Park and finishing at the post-race ByOB Party at the District Offices. There are many sponsors this year including:



The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

Canon Rental

Canon City Shopper

Sonny's Ace Home Center

New Belgium Brewing

Bristol Brewing



The proceeds from the Closing Ceremony BBQ & Beer Garden at 7pm at the District Office will go towards the WKRP (Whitewater Kayak Recreation Park) and the Fremont Center For the Arts.



The cost of the Riverwalk Games is $125 for all six events or $40 per event.


If you have any questions feel free to contact Kyle Horne at the Rec. District, 275-1578.

LOG ALERT!

I want to give everyone a heads-up about a tree in the channel of the number 8 drop of the PWP. We are planning on cutting it out of there as soon as possible, but until we can get in there with some chainsaws you need to be aware of it.

The top part of the tree is a pretty serious strainer in the channel of the drop. And river right is a nasty pour-over that has the ability to give you a major beat-down if you get sucked back into it after trying to paddle through it.

I would suggest if you question your skills at all that you avoid the final drop, but if you have to do it stay as close to the rock in the channel as possible and paddle your butt off after passing it before getting caught by the tree.

-Bryan

The PWP makes the front page!

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs sociology professor, Rick Dukes, landed on the front page of The Pueblo Chieftain today.

Professor Dukes was surfing the P-wave on Monday in approximately 800 cfs of Arkansas River flows. Flows in the park are on their way up and it looks as if this will be an epic spring and summer for the PWP due to the snowpack up stream.

There is construction going on to build a new bridge across the river up stream of the PWP but that shouldn't affect the flows in the park. The access is a bit different, but not much.

There has also been some erosion control work done above number one with the placement of several additional rows of boulders. Right now they are in sand and loose dirt, but hopefully they will eventually be grouted in.

For now the park is open, and has the beginnings of what may very well be start of an amazing paddling season. So grab your gear and get out there!

Happy 2008!

(Photo © Zachary Kelsen 2008)

I managed to drag myself, my boat, and my son to the park this morning to get my first surf of 2008. There is very little water running through the park right now (less than 70cfs) as Lake Pueblo is being filled with winter water, there is a good amount of ice forming in the eddies and the water temperature is really close to 32 degrees. But it was just good to get back in my Wavesport EZG50.

I paddled for about 15 minutes attempting to surf the P-Wave which is more like the P-ripple at this level. I managed to get in and spit out about half a dozen times before rolling once and getting a huge brain-freeze which ended my session abruptly.

The sun was shining and I was smiling, so it couldn't have been all that bad.

I also wanted to report that there has been some movement on the proposed replacement of the 4th Street bridge which is just upstream from the PWP. Work crews have started to build the road that leads down to the park from above in order to allow access for the heavy equipment that will be necessary to build the new bridge. This is a very good thing.

I will have more information and photos of the work as it progresses and how it is affecting access to the PWP, so stay tuned.

Happy New Year and I'll see you at the park!

-Bryan