Surfing the Gunny

The surf has been up at the Gunnison Whitewater Park this summer. With modified boards designed for river use, and a high level of excitement, some local surfers have been taking full advantage of the generous water levels.
“It’s been the best season by a long shot,” said Bo Thomsen, one of the avid local surfers. “Usually the season is about two to three weeks. This year it’s been much longer, and it just keeps going.”
The waves at the Gunnison Whitewater Park were built with boaters in mind, but they also work well for surfers. At any given day the second and third waves at the park are enjoyed by kayakers, rafters, boogie boarders and surfers.
“It’s a win-win situation,” Thomsen said. “Kayak surf waves also happen to be great for surf boards too.”
One of Thomsen’s main surfing partners is Sean Turner, who recently moved back to Crested Butte with his family after living in southern California. There, Turner worked for Lost Surfboards as a production manager. He’s enjoying still being able to surf, despite being landlocked, and the process of figuring out the subtle differences of the ocean versus the river.
“I brought out 12 boards from California and none of them have worked well on the river,” Turner said. “However, Bo had some ideas and I was able to design a board for him that works well.”
Turner noted that a board that works well for the river has more volume than an ocean surfboard, and typically the center fin is removed.
“A river board requires as much volume that can possibly be fit into a stubby, curvy template,” Turner said. “Thickness is where a board truly becomes river-specific.”
River surfers also can enjoy more time actually in the wave because it is constantly flowing, provided they can have the technique to actually remain in the wave. Logs floating down river can be an additional danger not found in the ocean. Other essentials for surfing the Gunnison River include a wetsuit, leashes and cold water wax. A helmet is another essential for river surfing to protect one’s head from rocks.
Kevin Goring, a Gunnison resident who has been surfing at the Whitewater Park, noted the difference of buoyancy between the river and the ocean. “The salt content in the ocean keeps you afloat,” he said. “The river is dense and you sink like a rock.”
Goring grew up surfing in Hawaii, and being able to surf a river that is practically in his backyard is something he deeply appreciates, “It fills this need I have to get wet.”
Thomsen and Turner also grew up surfing. The two work together as carpenters in Crested Butte, and will often make the trek down to the Whitewater Park after a 10-hour day at work.
“We have been working indoors for most of the summer and by the time we get off work we can’t wait to get down there,” Turner said. “Down at the park the vibe is the same at a local skate park, success is measured in your ability to try. Everyone is on the same level, giving it their all.”
Turner and Thomsen especially enjoy the peripherals from being on the river, a unique perspective from a relatively new endeavor.
With the increased popularity of Whitewater Parks, river surfing has been growing in popularity all over Colorado. A Salida company, Bad Fish, has been designing boards specifically for river use. Gunnison surfer Pete Peacock has also shaped a few river-specific boards. In addition to Salida, other places where river surfing is popular include Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction, where the epic Big Sur wave is located on the Colorado River.
With the Gunnison River still running above 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), the extended surfing season still continues, much to the happiness of the dedicated locals. As the river season dies down and the off-season comes upon the Gunnison Valley, these surfers note that they will surely find their way to the ocean.
In the meantime, Kevin Goring noted the Gunnison Whitewater Park is just fine. “Ocean or river surfing, it’s all good.”

Luke Mehall is a freelance writer and publisher of The Climbing Zine. More of his writing can be found at lukemehall.blogspot.com