Endless summer?
Local group explores feasibility of (nearly) year-round surf wave

Once a fringe river sport relegated to natural anomalies like the Snake River’s Lunch Counter wave, there’s no doubt river surfing has gone mainstream. Thanks to advances in whitewater park engineering, human-made surf waves have popped up across the West, from Cascade, Idaho, to Salida’s celebrated Scout 2.0 wave on the Arkansas River, which is surfable even at low flows.

Now a group of local river surfers is hoping to bring a wave like that to the Animas River in Durango.  

“We’re trying to raise funds for a feasibility study to see if a modern surf wave could be created on the Animas in or around Durango,” Amanda Kiessel, founder of the newly formed Animas River Surfers, said.

Although there are existing surfable waves in the Whitewater Park at Santa Rita, notably Corner Pocket and Ponderosa, Kiessel said conditions are not always ideal. These waves peter out for board surfing at lower flows, become extra spicy for surfers at higher flows and are not exactly kid-friendly. In addition to contending with an aftermath of potentially nasty holes downriver from the wave, the eddies can be difficult for surfers to navigate as well.

“At high flows, the entry and exit from Corner Pocket is pretty intense,” said Kiessel, who has lived in Durango for 20 years and surfed just as long. “When Corner Pocket is above 3,000 cfs, it’s a pretty meaty swim.”

She said engineered waves, such as the Scout 2.0, function at lower flows down to around 300 cfs, with easier entrance eddies and fewer hazards downstream. They are also friendlier to a wider variety of surfers, including beginners and kids. “If we could have a wave that’s not as scary and not just surfable for only six weeks, it would be incredible,” she said.

And that’s where the Animas River Surfers group comes in. Made up loosely of 200-250 members, the group is rallying to raise money for a feasibility study to see if and/or where a “high performance” surf wave could be built on the Animas.

She estimates the cost of the study will be about $30,000 with funds coming from donations to the nonprofit group (which would be tax-deductible.)

Kiessel said she was further encouraged to do the study by the creators of the Salida wave, Recreational Engineering and Planning, or REP. Those who’ve been around the block may remember the Boulder-based firm, founded by Gary Lacy, doing design work on the Durango Whitewater Park in the 2000-10s. Today, the company is mostly run by Lacy’s sons, Mason and Spencer. Salida’s Mike Harvey, who was also instrumental in building the Scout wave and is co-owner of Badfish surf store and company, is also a member of the REP Team. 

Kiessel said the study will be done by REP, with help from local consultant Shane Sigle. An experienced boater, he formerly worked for REP and now owns his own Durango whitewater design company, Riverwise Engineering. 

“Basically, they all said ‘Yes, there are numerous options that make this a possibility’ and are of the opinion that it’s worth consideration,” said Kiessel.

But not to burst any bubbles, one common idea floated in river circles – that, with a little tinkering and a couple thousand dollars, the 29th Street play hole could be magically turned into the perfect surf wave – is not realistic. “This is going to be a million-dollar, multi-year project,” Kiessel said.

But before folks get their wetsuits in a bunch over cost and location, Kiessel wants to stress this is just the first, small, baby step in the kiddie pool. “Right now, we’re just putting one foot in front of the other,” she said.

More than likely, given the difficulties of permitting through the Army Corps of Engineers, any wave will arise from some sort of existing structure in the river, she said. She also envisions a wave that will not diminish current or downstream uses. For example, the Scout 2.0 wave consists of two channels: the main surf wave as well as a “sneak route” for kayaks, tubers and rafts.

Originally built in 2009, the first Scout wave was eventually deemed “irrelevant” and was updated to Scout 2.0 in 2022 at a cost of $257,000 to the City of Salida, according to the Chaffee County Times. Another $267,000 was set aside in the winter of 2024 to fix unforeseen high-water dangers at the wave, which was flipping rafts and virtually unsurfable at higher flows.

However, it is estimated the economic benefits of Scout 2.0 (technically now Scout 3.0) go far beyond the price tag, with surfers from far and wide flocking to Salida for a chance to surf the glassy, green wave. On any given day, surfers are stacked 10-20 deep in the Scout eddy. This summer, as of July 25, some 20,000 cell phone pings were tallied at the Salida Whitewater Park, according to the Colorado Sun. Beyond that, surfers are staying in local hotels, eating at local restaurants and buying from local shops.

“In terms of benefit to the economy, it’s great,” Stacy Falk, owner of Salida skate shop Ramps and Alleys and also a boater, said. “It is pretty cool to have in this little mountain town – to be able to go down any time of the year and be able to surf.”

Of course, before Durango can get to the stage of an “endless summer,” there are many river miles to go. Animas River Surfers has been in contact with the City of Durango’s Parks and Rec Department, which was receptive to the idea. However, the group was advised to do more homework and build consensus among river users and the community (pickleball, anyone?) before coming back with a formal proposal of any kind.

To that end, the group has had or plans to have discussions with everyone from the San Juan Citizens Alliance and American Whitewater to local kayakers, anglers and rafting companies.

“This is something that should have happened decades ago in our town,” well-known local kayaker John Brennan said. Over the years, Brennan was a slalom coach for Durango Whitewater and was also involved with the design of the Whitewater Park. “The economic boost will be massive. We need to be leaders of positive river recreation, not reactionary to the process. Every town that has built one of these has said, ‘Why didn’t we do this sooner?’”

The group is hopeful of reaching its $30,000 goal by the end of the year. This would enable the feasibility study – which requires a year of flow data – to kick off as soon as this winter.

And from there, Kiessel is hoping the momentum for the wave will only swell, not only for the economic boost it will bring, particularly in the off season, but for enhancing Durango’s livability.

“I have a 4-year-old kid. I want him to fall in love with the river like I did,” said Kiessel. “We’re not boaters, and we don’t own a raft. This is another way for people to use and enjoy the river.”

Proceeds from beer sales at the Valkyrie Race this Sat., Sept. 14, at Santa Rita Park, will go to Animas River Surfers. For more info. on the group or to donate, go to: www.animasriversurfers.org.