Pueblo Boating Beta

Wild Wild West Fest Rodeo a SUCCESS!

2009-05-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

The first Wild, Wild West Fest Whitewater Rodeo is in the books and it was a great success! Paddlers from Colorado and New Mexico took part in the event that was organized as part of a Pro Bullriders event.

(Lauren Burress shows her skills in the foam pile during one of her rides in the advanced class.)

The main event was the Cowboy Challenge. This event was designed to get PBR athletes into the river. Bullrider, Zack Brown was the only cowboy to take the challenge. He donned a Palm drysuit right on top of his jeans, got geared up and jumped into a WaveSport Habitat to do some surfing in the Pueblo Whitewater Park. Brown aggressively attacked the wave and got several good front surfs in before swimming out of the boat. Brown was awarded a buckle for his efforts. Way to go Zack! We aren't sure if he is a Bullrider who paddles or a paddler that rides bulls. Either way Zack rocks!

(Zack Brown paddles the PWP)

(Pueblo Paddler President Bob Walker presents Brown with the winner's buckle)

The Pueblo Paddlers put on a class event with all competitors and even some paddlers who didn't compete going home with some very cool boater schwag! Burgers and dogs were available under the tent and there were more spectators than boaters! Kudos to all who helped make it happen!

(Barry Kelsen puts on his game-face as well as the coolest boater helmet ever!)
Beginner winners!
Winners in the intermediate class!
Winners in the advanced class!

Boaters AND water show up at PWP!

2009-05-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

(Lauren Burress)
Lauren Burress is in town at the Pueblo Whitewater Park preparing for the Wild Wild West Fest Rodeo. Lauren who is no stranger to Pueblo is back with her parents to start the kayaking season off by paddling in the PWP in Saturday's rodeo.

The water has topped the 2,000 cfs mark as of Thursday and may yet top 2,500! Warm weather, and warm water are expected to be the order of the day through the weekend. Bring your boats, your family and your smile because we are going to have an amazing time in the PWP Saturday.

(Zach Otte)

And new boater, Zach Otte, took to the Park Thursday after returning to Canon City for the Summer from the Peruvian jungles where he studies jungle medicine of the natives.

It is that time of year!

2009-05-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

Let the paddling begin!The Colorado College kayak club made an early season trip to the Pueblo Whitewater Park. The air was warm, the water was up, but it was still reminding paddlers like Michele Yates (above) that it was not too long ago that it was snow.

Nothing like coming up from a roll with a numb face! Ah, the joys of spring paddling. David Spiegel (below) took the opportunity to squeeze a bit of surf and play into breaks in his instruction of new paddlers in the club during their trip to the park.

Bridge construction continues but the water has been at good levels and there is much more to come.

The Pueblo Paddlers are hosting a rodeo at the PWP on Saturday May 16th as part of the Wild Wild West Fest There will be prizes, fun, and food for paddlers and spectators alike!

The top pro will be taking home a $250 cash purse! The event is part of a festival put on by the Pro Bull Riders (PBR) who now make their home in Pueblo just up the street from the PWP. Come enjoy great entertainment and the opportunity to play in Colorado's best whitewater park!

For additional information contact Bob Walker at The Edge Ski, Paddle, and Pack 719 583-2021. See you there!

LOG GONE!!!!

2008-06-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-06-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-06-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-04-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-01-01T14:32:00.000-08:00

(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

Pueblo Whitewater Park 2008 Calendar

2007-12-19T07:13:00.000-08:00

The Pueblo Whitewater Park 2008 wall calendar is now available. The calendar shows a group of boaters doing a levee slide at the Pueblo Whitewater Park across the face of Bob Marley now known as Bob Gnarly.

The calendars are available for $10 at The Edge in Pueblo 719 583-2021 or email me (bryankelsen@msn.com) and I will send you as many as you like adding only the cheapest shipping I can find.

All proceeds from the sale of the calendars will go to the Pueblo Paddlers Kayak Club and to fund events in the park during the 2008 season. So get your Gnarly on and help fund the fun in the park!

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

-Bryan

Low flows

2007-10-31T12:14:00.000-07:00

The water gods giveth and the water gods taketh away. For a while there we had some water and it has since dropped about 100cfs.

I was in the P-Wave at about 293cfs and it was an okay surf, but I only live 5 blocks from the park. I am not sure I would travel much farther than that right now to get in the park. Keep an eye on the gauges though. If it gets close to 400cfs it is "Game On". At least for me. No looping going on, but not a bad level just to get the boat wet.

I will post from time to time and if things change I will do my best to get the word out.

SYOTR

Whatever floats your boat.

2007-10-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

There hasn't been a lot of water in the Pueblo Whitewater Park as of late. The last couple of days there has been just below 400 cfs running through the park. It isn't much, but if you are dying to get your boat on the water, it works. As my friends say, "Whatever floats your boat."Mike Griffin of the Pikes Peak Whitewater Club surfs in number 7 earlier this week.

The mornings have been a bit on the cold side, but if you can get to the park in the early to mid afternoon temps have been in the 70s. We paddled the park into November last year, I have my fingers crossed we can do it again this year.

SYOTR

Bob Gnarly in Kayak Session!

2007-10-16T14:28:00.000-07:00

A photograph of a five-boater levee slide across a mural of the face of reggae legend Bob Marley in the Pueblo Whitewater Park was featured in the latest (fall 2007) issue of Kayak Sesskon.The group of boaters took to the levee during the Arkansas River Festival in May.

The photo sits at the top of the magazine's editorial page entitled "Edito". The accompanying editorial calls for more action worldwide to save rivers. Here in the states we have American Whitewater but the rest of the world doesn't have such an organization. And as countries hungry for electricity dam rivers for hydro-power the need for such a group continues to grow.

Glad the PWP could be of service!

Chile Fest Paddlin' "AWESOME!"

2007-09-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

Another Pueblo Chile & Frijole Festival is in the books. The weather was amazing, the food was terrific and the water in the Pueblo Whitewater Park was at a warm 700cfs!

Paddlers from all over the region made the trip to Pueblo to take part in rodeo events and also to just enjoy the late season water provided by several generous shareholders of Arkansas River water. (See comment on previous post.)

Pueblo Whitewater Park designer, Gary Lacy, brought a crew of boaters to the park from the Boulder area to take advantage of the late season water and the festival. Lacy was also able to return to Boulder as the top finisher in the novice category of the freestyle rodeo. Way to go Gary!

Gary Lacy shows his winning form!

Colorado Springs student, Ben Shev, moves in the hole to score enough to clain the top intermediate spot.

Matt Ogburn sets up for a loop to claim top honors in the advanced cateogory of the freetsyle rodeo.

The judges take full advantage of the Wavesport judges' couch atop Wavesport, Dagger, Wilderness Systems and all-around Confluence Water Sports rep Ryan Hastreiter's truck. Maybe next year he will show up with Laz-e-boys for the judges!

Raft Masters of Canon City provided free raft rides through the PWP once again at the Pueblo Chile & Frijole Festival. They are a major supporter of the PWP and The Pueblo Paddlers. Raft Masters ROCKS!

A great big thanks goes out to Bob Walker, The Edge Ski Paddle & Pack, The Pueblo Paddlers, Ryan Hastreiter & Confluence Watersports, Raft Masters, Juls Bayci (for providing sound equipment), and the Pueblo Board of Water Works & Alan Ward for making the second annual freestyle rodeo at the Pueblo Chile & Frijole Festival a splashing success!

Paddling at the Pueblo Chile & Frijole Fest

2007-08-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars for the Pueblo Chile & Frijole Festival September 21-23rd.

This is the second year that the Pueblo Paddlers have organized a paddling event at the Pueblo Whitewater Park in conjunction with Pueblo's second biggest event (after the state fair of course). The Chile & Frijole Festival is a great reason to visit Pueblo all by itself, as local farms line the streets with chile roasters and tents selling their Anaheim and Pueblo Chiles (the Pueblos are the hot ones).

There is also a lot of music to listen to, food to eat along with activities for the kids. The water levels may have dropped to end-of-summer levels (with the exception of some rain flows) but there is still enough water in the PWP to make it enjoyable.

Organized events are scheduled for Sunday leaving Saturday open to boaters and boogie boarders to enjoy the park on their own. Sunday will mark the second annual Pepper Plunge raft race where contestants build their own rafts and race them over the first drop in the PWP for top honors and carnage! Each raft should have a pepper theme to it and be made of just about anything other than an actual raft!

Contact Bob Walker at the Edge (719) 583-2021 for additional info. (Click on the image at the left to see the raft race info!)

There will be a laid-back low-water rodeo with divisions for all levels of boaters. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in each class.

This year the "Extreme" rubber ducky race through the PWP returns. Buying a duck supports the Pueblo Paddlers and gives you a chance to win the jackpot.

And last, but certainly not least, there will once again be free raft rides through the PWP for anyone who is interested. It is a great way to get non-boater family members to get a taste of being on the river without having to get in a kayak.

So set a day or two aside to make the drive to Pueblo to enjoy some great food, friendly people and one of the best whitewater parks in the state. SYOTR!

Pueblo Whitewater Park is still runnin'!

2007-08-07T20:50:00.000-07:00

It may be August, but there is still good playboating in the Pueblo Whitewater Park.

Flows have recently fluctuated between 900 and 1,400 cfs through the park. Due to recent rains upstream and the movement of leased water from Lake Pueblo we have been treated to some great play water for boating and boarding.

Several of the features are producing some amazing play. The big news is that drop number seven is in!

The above photo shows Pueblo Paddler, Charlie Vial, surfing drop seven. The wave that was once a sticky and feared drop has become a double play feature. The inital drop provides some steep surfing allowing spins and tricks from atop a foam pile that is approximately 4ft tall. Then there is the steep secondary wave that has a great potential for air loops and other aerial moves!

I don't know how much longer these levels will hold, but for now there are no complaints from boaters and surfers in the Pueblo Whitewater Park.

A successful paddle-a-thon

2007-07-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

The Pueblo Whitewater Park hosted the first Pueblo Paddle-A-Thon this past Saturday July, 7th. The Pueblo Paddlers event was designed to raise money for First Descents a kayak camp for young adults with cancer. (see www.firstdescents.org)

Seventeen paddlers (the majority being Pueblo Paddlers Kayak Club members) took to the water and raised approximately $4,100 for the camp which gives young adults with cancer an opportunity to learn to paddle and enjoy the outdoors. It costs $1,000 for each camper to attend the camp so this event made it possible for four young adults with cancer to go to camp.

Paddlers in the Pueblo Paddle-A-Thon were treated to free Gatorade and cookies. Each paddler who raised $50 or more qualified to win a portion of the $2,000 worth of donated paddle accessories (ie paddles, helmets, a sprayskirt, and even a drysuit).Corporate supporters were, Palm/MTI, AT Paddles, Seven-2 Paddles, Voz Sports, Shred Ready Helmets, Keen Footwear, The Edge, Smitty's Greenlight Tavern, The Pueblo Firefighter's union, The Summit Company, WRSI helmets, and Snapdragon Sprayskirts. A HUGE 'Thank You' for your support!

The Summit Company provided a very cool shuttle.A John Deere-esque trailer pulled by a hefty pickup truck saved the feet, legs and shoulders of the paddlers. Thanks Summit!

A portion of the proceeds will be earmarked to send a Pueblo-area young adult with cancer to the 2008 camp.

All in all a very good event and we look forward to being able to make use of the PWP to make a difference in the lives of young adults with cancer again next summer.

PWP GETS MORE NATIONAL ATTENTION

2007-07-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

Local Pueblo Whitewater Park surfer, Logan Gogarty, appeared in the July/August issue of Paddler Magazine. Gogarty, 18, has spent countless hours on a surfboard (and an old knee board) in the Pueblo Whitewater Park this spring and summer. His efforts have not gone unnoticed by others who came to surf the park.

Pueblo Whitewater Park desinger, and avid river surfer, Mike Harvey, of Salida, commented that young Gogarty was really tearing it up in the park.

The photo of Gogarty shows him attmepting a handstand on his surfboard while riding the wave in drop number three in front of the "River Reaper". The reaper proved to be a popular background with editors as it also was in the background of a photo of Pueblo Paddler Jeff Mara which appeared in the Canoe & Kayak Magazine annual whitewater publication.The magazine is produced annually by Canoe & Kayak and is not part of the regular subscription. You need to get this issue either online or at a newsstand that carries Canoe & Kayak. Unfortunately I was not able to find it sold locally so I got mine online.
Not only has the reaper proved popular, but the background of the levee itself has also gotten some attention. As chronicled in an earlier post, Jeff mara paddled past the mural of Bob Marley in a photo that appeared in the Canadian publication "Rapid".
New murals are being added to the levee from time to time so there is an ever-changing landscape of art to paddle in front of at the Pueblo Whitewater Park. Maybe you have an idea for a new mural? If so, I can point you in the right direction to make it happen...just let me know.

EJ PADDLES THE PWP!

2007-06-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

Four-time world champion freestyle kayaker, Eric Jackson, sits in his boat next to drop number 7 in the Pueblo Whitewater Park this past Sunday afernoon.

Jackson, who comes to Colorado each June to compete in several whitewater events made a stop at the Pueblo Whitewater Park as part of an instructional clinic sponsored and organized by the Pikes Peak Whitewater Club as well as American Whitewater.

PPWC vice president, Greg Horton, said that the group was originally going to hold the event in Salida, but when they ran into obstacles in usiing the Salida feature the idea to come to Pueblo came up. Now the group hopes to hold more events of a similar nature in the PWP. Horton also said he looks forward to organizing events in the park in conjunction with the Pueblo Paddlers.

The flows were running between 2,300 and 2,900 cfs during the event and Jackson had nothing but good things to say about the Pueblo Whitewater Park. The Pueblo Paddlers treated paddlers to pizza, Gatorade, and water during the event.

The Pueblo Chieftain was on hand to do a story on the visit by Jackson. The story and accompanying photo ran on the front of the sports section in the paper Monday morning.

EJ is truly the number one ambassador of the sport.

(Jackson and participants in the clinic surf in hole number 6.)

A big "Thank you" to EJ and Jackson Kayaks for taking part in the AW and PPWC clinic and helping get the word out about the PWP!

Pueblo Paddle-A-Thon July 7th!

2007-06-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

Click on the poster to get all the info you need to help us out with the Pueblo Paddle-A-Thon to benefit First Descents.

I would be happy to send you the pledge sheets if you want to come take part or I can take you pledges if you can't be there and still want to do something. Just remember if you raise money you are eligible for the awesome giveaways! You can see some of it at http://pueblopaddleathon.blogspot.com

Help us make a difference in the lives of young adults with cancer. Come paddle with a purpose.

GI-NORMOUS WATER!

2007-05-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

The flows in the Pueblo Whitewater Park have been "Hooooooge" of late.

A combination of warm weather and rainfall upstream has made for some major water days in the Pueblo Whitewater park. The flows have been growing since late Monday and early Wednesday. Monday's 850 cfs peaked at approximately 3,500 cfs! This some pretty amazing stuff to the park.

The features are transformed into waves and offer a very good opportunity for aerial maneuvers should a boater have the strength, skill and cahones to even get into the feature. There is little or no eddy service at this level, yet there is a great deal to chose from should you be able to climb aboard any of the 8 features.

I was at the park this morning prior to going to work. I photographed local paddler and fire fighter, Mike Hammond, as he paddled the park. I have to admit I would have like to been able to spend some time in the park as well, but I just didn't have the time. Mike attempted to paddle into several of the features with limited success.

Drop number three and drop number 6 offered the best chance to do some surfing. I have to tell you that if I had the skill to loop this would be the time to get in the water as the foam piles grew and the water in the drops got deeper and faster. Perfect conditions to loop. That is, if I knew how.

As of this post the flows are beginning to subside and the water has already dropped into 2,800 cfs range. I am sure that we will have surges like this again due to increased snowmelt and rains upstream. Keep your fingers crossed.

Now if we could just get the city to finish placing rocks and do some more grouting on the bank river right to help fight the erosion that occurs at this level.

ARKANSAS RIVER FEST A SUCCESS!

2007-05-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

A huge "Thank you" to everyone who joined us at the Pueblo Paddler's Arkansas River Fest Saturday (May 12th) in the Pueblo Whitewater Park.

Michael Palmer (looping here) took the top honors in the expert category of the rescheduled Ice Breaker Rodeo while Jeb Stogdell was the intermediate winner, and Bryan Kelsen squeaked by the tough competition in the beginner category to take the top spot. The rodeo was held in drop number 6 which has a friendly foam pile at 1000 cfs however it is a bit shallow making it a struggle to throw loops or other aerial manuvers.

This year's event got a real boost as name sponsor, UBS Financial came on board as a name sponsor.Several local sponsors also played a big part in the success of the event. Thank you to everyone who stepped up to make this happen.

Greg Smith, owner of The Green Light Tavern, teamed up with Red Bull to provide fish tacos and energy drink during the afternoon's festivities. The tacos were a big hit and Greg's culinary creations are welcome at future Pueblo Paddlers events!

The Pueblo Paddler's kicker was, (at least in the beginning), the most popular attraction of the day.The structure was a first for the event. There were a few grumbles that it lacked the excitement that boaters had hoped for, but most realized that it was a feature that will improve over time as the builders will learn from this and strive to give the kicker a bit more "kick".

Kicker, the sequel is scheduled to make an appearance at the July 7th Pueblo Paddle-A-Thon. So mark that date on your calendar if you'd like to come to the PWP and "Fly Pueblo" on the "New & Improved Kicker.

Another big "thank you" goes out to Alan Ward and the Pueblo Board of Water Works for coming through with the 1000 cfs of water during the Saturday event. The river above the Pueblo Dam was flowing in the 700 cfs range and the board was able to suppliment the flows by moving some of their water starting Saturday morning. The gesture was greatly appreciated!

As mentioned above, the next event on the calendar for the Pueblo Whitewater Park is the Pueblo Paddle-A-Thon to benefit First Descents. Check out this link for all the latest information.(http://pueblopaddleathon.blogspot.com)

A KICKER IN THE PWP!

2007-05-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

Pueblo Paddler, Mike Hammond, takes to the sky as the first to take a trip down the newest drop in the Pueblo Whitewater Park Friday. (The kicker has been placed between drop number 2 and 3. You will need to sign a waiver to get your chance to get some Arkansas Air!)

Members of the club spent several evenings and afternoons sawing, hammering and assembling the kicker to be used as part of Saturday's Arkansas River Festival and Ice Breaker Rodeo. Using lumber donated by Rush's Lumber and lattice purchased from a local big box store the kicker was completed today just in time for Mike to get some air.

After a couple tests with an empty boat, Mike decided to pilot his Jackson down the kicker. The first run was a bit on the tentative side, but after that first run Mike was all about the speed and the flight.

I am really looking forward to Saturday to see boaters go bigger and then land like Mike did today. Not only did his entire boat submerge, but so did he. Mike, his boat, and paddle were completely under the surface upon landing. Very cool!

I hope you can come out and take part in the fun.

I could just kick myself!

2007-05-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

Today I got up and looked at the gauge to check the flows in the park. They were just under 800cfs and I thought it might be a good opportunity to get in some morning paddling. Then I looked out doors and it was overcast and a bit on the chilly side. So I figured I'd just ride my spinning bike and go another time.

Then about 10 minutes into my ride the worst thing that could've happened, happened. The sun came out. Ugh! I stayed with my ride, showered and headed off to work and all I could do is shake my head.

Later I got to drive past the park and saw that my worst fears had been confirmed. The sun was out, the water was up and I was stuck at work while others got to paddle the water I should have been in. The only thing that could have been worse would have been if the water levels were to go up again.

They did. Ugh #2.

As I write this the levels in the park are just over 900cfs! Now if only this would hold out. I am not sure if it will, but I can guarantee that I will be watching both the gauge and the weather when I climb out of bed in the morning. I sure don't want this to happen twice!

Drop number 7 is turning into a feature with a decent foampile. Now if I can just get off my butt and get down to the river.

The scoop on what happened with the April 21st Ice Breaker Rodeo.

2007-04-26T05:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you can’t win for losing. Or at least that is how it seems to the Pueblo Paddlers upon the postponement of the Ice Breaker Rodeo & Boat Demo that was scheduled for Saturday April 21st in the Pueblo Whitewater Park.

First a little background.

Just after the beginning of the year the Pueblo Paddlers submit a list of event dates to the city and the city’s board of water works. This is done so that if there is a way to get any additional water moved through the park the board knows when it would be most beneficial to paddlers for recreational use.

Originally the board said that the dates should be outside the dates of normally high river flows because at those times there would be no need to supplement river flows. The board also claimed, through the city attorney, that flows could be as high as 1000cfs for events at the park through this procedure.

Unfortunately with such a large number of players in the mix and with water rights being at a premium in the Arkansas River Valley, it has never quite worked out that way.

Last year’s additional flows at event times were at the low end of what was hoped for, but each time the board of water works said that it was the best that they could do and the events would just have to go on with the water that was available. The promised 1000cfs flows have never materialized during any of the events outside the Memorial Day to Labor Day window other than when mother nature has added water to the river.

This brings us to recent events. The Monday prior to this year’s Ice Breaker & Rodeo the Pueblo Paddlers were notified that there wouldn’t be any additional water available and that the 250cfs that was in the river was about the extent of what could be expected for the event.

Upon hearing this the Pueblo Paddlers postponed the rodeo not wanting to be in the position of having boaters travel to Pueblo to compete only to find minimal flows. The group wanted to make sure that when they held an event that boaters didn’t go away from it shaking their heads because of a lack of water.

In the meantime a storm upstream spiked the flows that were coming in to the Lake Pueblo. According to the water board the gatekeeper at the Pueblo Dam was on vacation and the person taking his place was unfamiliar Colorado water law which mandates that flood waters not be stored. This surge of water remained in the reservoir until someone discovered the mistake and began releasing the flows into the river Friday.

The flows quickly rose to 529cfs and continued at that level until Sunday when the gates were dialed back and flows were once again reduced to what was naturally in the river upstream of the dam.

Through this cruel turn of events there was enough water in the river on the date of the event however it had already been rescheduled, and will now be piggybacked on the May 12th Arkansas River Festival.

The Pueblo Paddlers were also informed that it would be difficult to provide any additional water for recreational use outside of the Memorial Day to Labor Day time frame. Unfortunately this message comes AFTER three of four events put on by the paddlers have been scheduled outside that window. It would have been helpful if this would have been brought up when the dates for events were submitted to the water board in February.

Hopefully this turn of events will lead to better communication between those who control the water and recreational users downstream for future events. Only time will tell.

ICE BREAKER RODEO & BOAT DEMO POSTPONED

2007-04-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

The Pueblo Paddlers have announced the postponement of their Ice Breaker Rodeo and Boat Demo which was scheduled for Saturday April 21st in the Pueblo Whitewater Park. A wet spring and lack of early season runoff have contributed to low flows (250cfs) in the Arkansas River below the Pueblo Dam and through the park.

Organizers have rescheduled the Ice Breaker for Saturday May 12th in the hopes that there would be a better chance of decent flows at that time. So save your gas money, keep an eye on the guages and we will see you in the park in May.

80 DEGREES IN PUEBLO, NO FOOLIN’!!

2007-04-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

It is the time of year when levels in the Pueblo Whitewater Park (PWP) can fluctuate a great deal depending on upstream river levels and downstream demand for water. Last week was a good example of that as levels were down, up and then dropped again.

The changes in water levels only mean that you will want to keep an eye on the gauge so that you can be ready to use the portion of the park that works best for you at the current level.

Personally I have been spending a lot of time in the “P-Wave” that is formed by the first drop at the top of the park. It is shallow, but even at 200cfs it moves through the drop at a speed that can give even the better boaters a decent workout.

On Monday temperatures climbed to 80 degrees and a couple of area paddlers, Trae Lowry, and Ben Shev couldn’t resist the temptation of the park. The pair spent the majority of their time in drop number six. Six has become a popular drop for those wanting to hone their playboating skills to hang out and try new things while brushing up on the old standbys.

The water had dropped from 350cfs that was flowing through the park over the weekend to about 260 as of Monday afternoon. However, that wasn’t enough to deter Ben and Trae from getting their “river fix”.

The PWP continues to be a place for beginner and intermediate level boaters (if you are an expert you may want to wait for bigger water) to come and spend time on the river improving their skills. In Pueblo, more often than not, you will find a group of paddlers happy to give you tips on the park and the town.

So grab your gear and get here...we’ll leave the water on for ya!

ANGELO'S PIZZA PARLOR

2007-03-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of blocks from the take-out of the Pueblo Whitewater Park (east across the Union Avenue bridge) you can find "Angelo's Pizza Parlor And-A-More'". Located at 223 S. Union Avenue Angelo's is home to New York style pizza, pasta and other Italian entrees as well as a good selection of domestic, imported or microbrew beers.

Owners, Richard and Debby Foresta (in the center of the above photo) welcome paddlers, their families and friends to Angelo's and have been very supportive of events in the Pueblo Whitewater Park. Their wood-floored and brick-walled dining room is a relaxed and comfortable environment for a post-paddling pizza.

Angelo's is open Monday through Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday & Saturday 11am-11pm, and 11am-10pm Sundays. This is one of the few businesses along Union Avenue to have Sunday hours. Angelo's doesn't take checks but they do take all major credit cards and of course cash.

Everything at Angelo's is made-to-order with the attention paid to detail that you would expect from a family that has been in the pizza business since 1956.

An Angelo's employee says, "Angelo's was named after our founders father who absolutely loved his pizza. He couldn't let a day go by without eating a slice and commenting on its taste, and I guess that is the secret of our success. We are always looking to please the Angelo's of this world."

Click here to view a menu
See you at Angelo's!

PWP IN RAPID MAGAZINE

2007-03-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

Pueblo kayaker, Jeff Mara, appears in Spring 2007 issue of Rapid Magazine. Rapid is a whitewater publication produced in Palmer Rapids, Ontario north of the border.

The image is displayed "full-page" on the last page of the magazine in a feature entitled "Flushed".
Jeff appears paddling his Jackson kayak through flat water in front of the Bob Marley mural on the levee river left in the Pueblo Whitewater Park.

The artwork on the levee has been declared world record in length by the Guiness Book. This, however, is only one of the many reasons that the Pueblo Whitewater Park is unique and will soon be getting even more attention from both boaters and members of the media.

Stay tuned!

HAPPY MARCH 15TH!!!

2007-03-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is that time of year again. The day the water is turned on through the Pueblo Whitewater Park. Overnight the level shot up from 191 cfs to 471 cfs! There certainly is much bigger water to come, but this sure is a good start. Before today levels hadn't topped 300 cfs.

This should be a good weekend to come out to the park and get in some early season boating/surfing in the park. Temperatures are forcast to be in the 70s by Sunday!

I will have updated photos of the park soon. So stay tuned!

THE EDGE SKI, PADDLE & PACK

2007-03-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

The Edge is Pueblo’s local paddle shop. Sure they also do snowboarding and skiing when there is snow in them thar hills, but when things start to thaw owner Bob Walker and his knowledgeable staff focus on boating.

Playboats, creekers, recreational boats, and yes, even sea kayaks are available at The Edge. Bob may not have a large selection in stock but he makes up for that by being very customer friendly and making sure that each customer has the boat and gear that best suits their needs. Plus, if Bob doesn’t have it, and you want it, he’ll get it for you. And it will be the size, color and boat manufacturer of YOUR choice.

I almost forgot, but The Edge also offers introduction to whitewater kayaking lessons. For those new to paddling it is a gret way to find out if this is the sport for you. Classes are taught in local swimming pools, tame stretches of the Arkasas River and of course in the Pueblo Whitewater Park.

The Edge is a small and friendly place where you can stop in to talk paddling while boating videos play on the tv overhead. The shop is located at 107 N. Union Avenue next to the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo and just 4 blocks from the Pueblo Whitewater Park.

The Edge doesn’t only have rental and demo boats, but also boogie boards and river boards are available for those who choose an alternative to paddling in the Pueblo Whitewater Park.

Shop hours are from 10am-6pm Mon-Fri and 10am-5pm on Saturdays. Closed on Sundays. The phone number for The Edge is 719 583-2021.

When you stop in, tell 'em that you saw this on "Paddle Pueblo". Thanks!

HOW TO GET TO THE PARK

2007-03-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

Pueblo, Colorado is known as the "Steel City" because it is home to Colorado's only steel mill and is located approximately 100 miles south of Denver on Interstate 25. That also makes Pueblo 38 miles south of Colorado Springs along the same interstate on what is commonly referred to as Colorado’s Front Range.

Pueblo is at an elevation of 4,695 feet above sea level. We aren’t in the mountains, but you CAN see them from here. Pueblo is typically 4-10 degrees warmer than Colorado Springs and Denver which can be a bonus or a curse.

In the case of the Pueblo Whitewater Park it is usually a blessing because it also means that the water in Lake Pueblo gets a chance to warm up before it is released into the park. It also gets a couple miles of flow under a warm sun from the dam to the park. Thus the Pueblo Whitewater Park is one of the warmest places to paddle in the state.

DIRECTIONS TO THE PARK

If you are traveling from the North along I-25 to Pueblo you want to look for the 6th Street Exit once you come to town. Take this exit and continue West on 6th Street which is a one way street. Move to the left lane and at the intersection with Elizabeth Street (which is where 6th becomes two-way) turn left (South) onto Elizabeth and immediately move to the far right lane. You want to turn right onto West Fourth Street. Once on Fourth Street continue West, cross the bridge which crosses the Arkansas River after it crosses a rail yard.

As soon as you cross the bridge you will see a Chinese restaurant on your left called the Tea Palace. Turn left at the first street past the restaurant, Chapa Street. The street bends to the left behind the restaurant. Continue on this road and then turn to the right on Pearl Street and the gravel parking lot for the top of the Pueblo Whitewater Park will be on your left.

From here you will have a bit of a hike to the water, but it is worth it.

If you are coming to town from the South, or if you missed the 6th Street exit keep your eyes peeled for the 1st Street exit from I-25. Once you exit I-25 you want to head West (toward the mountains) on 1st Street. Continue on 1st Street past the Marriott Hotel which will be on your left. Move to the left lane. Turn left onto Union Avenue (Quizno’s will be on your right).

As you travel along Union Avenue you will see City Hall on your left and when you see this it means that The Edge Ski, Paddle & Pack (719 583-2021) is located on your right directly across the street. Park behind city hall and stop in and say “Hi” to owner Bob Walker and crew. They can help you out if you forgot your nose plugs, any other items you may have left at home or give you the latest beta on the flows in the park.

Continue West along Union Avenue and as soon as you cross the Union Avenue bridge make a quick right onto Corona Street where you can park along the curb.

If you park here you are at the bottom of the park. There are steps down to the river right next to the bridge. Parking here is for those who would rather do their hike at the beginning of their session instead of at the end. Either way you will find yourself going about 1/2 mile along the park on a pea gravel trail which will is scheduled to be paved this summer (2007).

Corona is a one-way street so you won’t be able to go back the way you arrived. To get back to Union Avenue from here continue on Corona up the hill. Stay straight on Corona at the top of the hill and veer right when you come to a park. Then the next cross street will be Abriendo Avenue. You want to turn left on Abriendo which is actually a boulevard. If you continue on Abriendo this direction it will take you back to I-25 if that is what you want.

If you want to go back along Union and take advantage of the eateries or stop at The Edge you will want to turn left on Union Avenue from Abriendo just before the Library which will be the large building on your left.

I hope that my directions are helpful. You can click on the map and print it out if you like so that you can keep it with you.

See you in the park!

PWP 2007 EVENT SCHEDULE

2007-03-06T17:38:00.000-08:00

The Pueblo Paddlers have announced the schedule of events for the 2007 season in the Pueblo Whitewater Park. The schedule is as follows:

April 21st Ice Breaker Rodeo & Demo
A rodeo for every skill level of paddler will be held with prizes going to the top finishers in each category and additional prizes given to radom boaters just for showing up.

May 12th Arkansas River Festival
Another rodeo with more of a family flavor as the event is being held the Saturday before Mother's Day. Free raft rides through the park, a river dog competition, and a boater-x type race will be among the festivities.

July 7th First Descents Paddle-A-Thon
This is the event that will put the "Fun" back in the word fundraiser! The one-day event will be put together to help raise money for First Descents a kayak camp for young adult cancer survivors. It is a great cause, there should be plenty of water and a lot to do for the entire family.

Sept. 22nd & 23rd Pueblo Chile Fest
The Pueblo Chile Fest is the biggest thing in Pueblo next to the Colorado State Fair. Each year local farmers set up roasters and roast Pueblo and Anaheim chiles for paying customers. There are vendors of every shape and size providing food, music and assorted items for festival attendees. This will be the second year that the Pueblo Paddlers will be a part of the festival. There will be a rodeo, a rubber ducky race, a raft race (rafts are to be home made and built with a pepper theme) as well as other fun family and river activities.

Early Season Surfin'

2007-03-05T20:55:00.000-08:00

(Rick Dukes surfs the number one drop in the Pueblo Whitewater Park or the P-Wave as it is coming to to be known.)

The water is flowing through the park. Sure it is not even 300cfs yet (It was flowing at about 293cfs Monday), but that doesn't mean that there isn't fun to be had. Just ask Rick Dukes who make the trip down from Colorado Springs to get into the 38-degree water.

(Water that flows down the first drop from what was once a low-head dam forms the P-Wave a local favorite for surfing.)

Pogies, helmet liners and neoprene were the order of the day. There isn't big water yet, but as I tend to start out slow the water was a good beginning for this young paddling season.

The park looks to be in pretty good shape and there are plans for continued improvements as the spring and summer seasons begin. There are plans to improve the trail that runs the length of the park on river right. As part of the project replacing the W. 4th Street bridge there will be a cement path laid that will be substantially thick allowing heavy trucks to use it during the bridge construction.

More to come...soon.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARK CONTINUE

2007-03-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

Waitin’ on the water

It won’t be long before the water starts to flow through the park again. I have been ‘Jonesin’ to get my boat out and into the water. So far we have had a few days where the air temperature has been good, but there just hasn’t been any water yet.

(A small glassy green wave is forming in Drop 5 wetting the appetite of local paddlers.)

I got in on January 1st for a few figid surfs in the P-Wave but that was more because of it being the first day of the year than it was about the water. The flows were about 79cfs that day and that was only about enough to get the bottom of my boat wet.

Work Continues on the Pueblo Whitewater Park

I had a few spare minutes yesterday so I decided to walk the length of the of the park to get an up-close view of the work that has been done and the work that is still in the process of being completed.

Originally the city said that their was no money to make repairs on the park after last seasons high flows caused a great deal of erosion damage. However, this has since changed and crews have been working on the channel and the river right bank for more than a week now.

I am happy to see that things are getting repaired. I think that there are still some things that need to be done, but hey, this is a good start. Hopefully additional repairs and/or improvements will be made in the not-too-distant future. And don’t forget that there is going to be a fair amount of construction going on this coming summer as the work begins to replace the W. 4th Street bridge. (That is the bridge at the top of the course for those of you from out of town.)

THE DROPS
(clicking on the photo makes it bigger)

Drop 1 (The P-Wave) There hasn’t been much done to this feature so far. The erosion on river right has diverted some of the flow from the main channel and will continue to eat away a the bank until some large rock is grouted into place above the drop.
~~~~~~~

Drop 2 This feature hasn’t been affected by the high flows. It seems to be in good shape with the exception of the log in the channel which I am sure will be pulled out soon.
~~~~~~

Drop 3 Crews were working to mudjack the seive that appeared as water began flowing under the wing structure. This could have eventually become a very hazardous situation however the Army Corps identified the problem and is working to correct it.
~~~~~

Drop 4 There was considerable erosion damage to this drop. The contractors hauled rock and dirt in to fill the space left by materials that were washed down stream. I was glad to see this, but I think that it may take some more big rock and grouting to keep from having to do this work after each season.
~~~~~

Drop 5 More fill was replaced here but the damage to this wing was minimal and little more than a patch-job was necessary here. I did notice that the glassy green wave that makes this drop one of the favorites of locals to surf is showing up already even with the low flows.
~~~~~

Drop 6 This is one of the favorite playholes of the entire park. Depending on flows it forms a decent foampile and is a very forgiving hole for boaters who want to work on a new trick. The high water did a real numer on the bank of this one as well as just down stream in 7. It appears that some fill was added, but that it could use another truck load or two to finish the job.
~~~~~

Drop 7 The river right wing in this drop suffered the most pronounced damage of all the drops last season and was in desperate need of repair. The gaping trench has been filled and the runoff culvert has been re-situated. Hopefully this will do the trick. It certainly is an improvement over the erosion damage that caused it to be hazardous to anyone walking in the area.
~~~~~

Drop 8 A deeper channel was dredged out of the pool in this drop, some stucture was added just above the drop and the wings were extended from both sides. After the work done on 8 last spring number 7 became less sticky and a surf-able drop. 8 also had a fun little wavetrain below it depending on the flows. I look forward to seeing how this round of work affects the way this mini rapid reacts.
~~~~~

Take out. At the urging of John Zupancic (local boater and a driving force in the construction of the park along with Bob Walker) a boulder was placed near the take out to create an eddie making it easier to exit the park. I am personally very grateful to John for this as I scraped my hands up more than once trying to get my boat into a position where I could get out without losing my boat or paddle in the current. I truly had some less than graceful manuvers at the take out.

Thanks John!
~~~~~

My friend here, and I will keep an eye on how things progress in the park. I am also planning on presenting beta soon on things like directions, parking, and even local establisments in the area near the park.

So stay tuned this is about to get good (the water I mean)...

WORKING ON THE PARK

2007-02-22T11:17:00.000-08:00

Pueblo Park Receives Repairs(Workers repair the drop in the final feature of the Pueblo Whitewater Park recently.)

Heavy equipment has rolled into the Pueblo Whitewater park to effect repairs after last season’s high flows. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have their subcontractors in the river channel dredging out the pool below the number eight drop, repairing the drop itself and filling in the erosion damage on the river right bank.

The river is currently flowing through the park at 26 cfs which alows for the repairs and the winter storage of water in Lake Pueblo.

Last summer heavy rains upstream caused flows through the park to rise above 4000 cfs. Legally when a large amount of water flows into Lake Pueblo upstream of the park the same amount of water needs to be let out of the dam to satisfy secondary water rights down stream.

Unfortunately this law, while originally drafted with the best of intentions, can cause a great deal of damage downstream from the dam unnecessarily. If the operators of the dam could keep the flows at a bit of a lower level then these repairs wouldn’t be needed.

(Workers use heavy equipment to dredge out the drop below the eighth drop in the Pueblo Whitewater Park recently.)

Another solution for this would be to build up the bank along river right to prevent erosion behind the wings of each drop. Hopefully this will be considered as I doubt that anyone involved wants to keep having to make repairs each season.

I will continue to update this blog as to the progress of work in the park and give all the beta I can dig up about the park, flows, events and the surrounding area. I am looking forward to another awesome season in the park!

So stay tuned.

COMING SOON!

2007-02-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

(Jeff Mara paddles in the Pueblo Whitewater Park)

This is the place where you will be able to find all the information necessary to have an enjoyable trip to Pueblo to paddle in the Pueblo Whitewater Park. You will find directions, links to flows, restaurant reviews, and even suggestions on where to stay and shop while in the Steel City.

Check back often as the snow is melting and paddling is on everyone's mind.