The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“It’s real and every bit as magical as ocean waves”
[ by Than Acuff ]
Something special happened on the Gunnison River just west of the city of Gunnison. Through a combination of man, machine and Mother Nature, the second feature in the Gunnison Whitewater Park has transformed into an incredible river surfing wave and surfers have been enjoying the waves in the whitewater park, and the second wave specifically, for the past 13 years.
On Sunday, June 12 surfers will be out on that specific wave as part of Surf Jam, the closing event of the 20th annual Gunnison River Festival. Surf Jam is organized by Gunnison Waves co-founders Andy Sovick and Jason Lakey, an advocacy group for local river surfers. Surf Jam is intended as a showcase of river surfing, an introduction to the sport for the curious as well as a fundraiser for potential repairs to the whitewater park, and the second feature specifically.
“The second wave is a really special wave to us,” says Lakey. “It has a really amazing ocean feeling. It’s a dancey, flowy amazing wave.”
Lakey credits Bo Thomsen as the first person to start surfing in the whitewater park 13 years ago.
“Bo figured it out,” says Lakey. “He started bringing his kayak and his surfboard and slowly his kayak disappeared.”
Sean Turner grew up surfing at in the Los Angeles area, specifically at Lunada Bay. He has surfed all over the world, including “secret waves in Hawaii that nobody ever sees,” was the first one to surf Chiriqui Peninsula, Panama among numerous other known and not-so-known surf spots. He credits Thomsen for getting him into the Gunnison River and couldn’t be happier with the experience.
“I had moved back to California and was shaping boards and Bo commissioned me to shape a river board,” says Turner.
Once Turner moved back to Crested Butte, he jumped into the river on his surfboard and has been loving it ever since.
“It far exceeded my expectations in so many ways,” says Turner. “Some of the best memories I’ve had in my entire life surfing are on that wave in the whitewater park. In my opinion, it’s real and every bit as magical as ocean waves.”
While a river wave doesn’t reach the height of ocean waves, there is an aspect of it that exceeds ocean waves.
“The reason the wave is so special to me is that you can surf it for five minutes at a time with no one around. The longest ocean wave I ever had was maybe 30 seconds,” explains Turner. “You’re in the water, smelling the wax, paddling and looking up at snow-capped peaks with solitude. It’s a very unique and peaceful experience.”
While some contend that the wave should be left alone, others believe the feature is due for some repairs as the initial concrete and rock work appear to be failing. Something that Lakey has seen in the past and sees as a potential hazard in the coming years.
“The third wave broke up and started failing and created a dangerous suction so it was repaired,” says Lakey. “We’re at the point now where the second wave is going to have to repaired because it could become dangerous.”
Lakey invites anyone interested to hear the ideas for repairs or share their ideas on how to work with the second wave feature to the Gunnison Whitewater Park on Saturday, June 11. Gunnison Waves will be there during the river festival on Saturday to facilitate the discussion and keep the conversation going regarding the second wave.
“To repair the wave and keep the safety aspect and the shredability aspect, we need input,” says Lakey.
“I think their hearts are in the right place,” adds Turner. “Change and growth is inevitable and it’s important to get out ahead of it and steward change and growth in the right direction.”
Sunday, June 12 is all about fun though with the Surf Jam and fundraiser for whitewater park repairs. It kicks off with a women’s intro to surf by PJ Brown starting at 9:30 a.m. Immediately following that will be a paddling competition up the river and then from noon to 2 p.m. will be the Surf Jam with kids’ activities on the shores of the river, music and prizes.
“There will be different categories for different levels,” says Lakey. “You don’t have to be the best surfer to win a prize. We’re hoping to get folks from Montrose and Salida and who knows where who surf. If we get 50 surfers I’d be ecstatic and if we had 100 spectators that’d be amazing.”
Information and registration for Surf Jam can be found at gunnisonwaves.org or gunnisonriverfestival.com.
