I appreciate the recent letters from folks speaking up for the Animas River, and I’d like to share my perspective on the idea of a river surf-specific wave. I share a deep appreciation and respect for our local river – its beauty, vitality and the role it plays in our community. I’ve come to know the river over decades, first as a kayaker and also as someone who has commuted along it by bike thousands of times. It has brought me great joy on my rides to and from work.
In recent years, I have been captivated by river surfing. There is something magical about being able to play on the river in this way. We are fortunate to have a good wave during spring runoff and a welcoming, inclusive surf community.
That said, the season can be short, and at higher flows the swims can be intimidating. This has led many of us to imagine a surf-specific wave that could extend the season and make the sport more accessible, especially for our youths.
In advocating for such a feature, I support locating it in an area already shaped by human use – such as the existing whitewater park. I hope we can explore whether a previously installed feature could be redesigned and design it to blend into the river as thoughtfully as possible. At this stage, we are advocating for a feasibility study. My hope is that a carefully considered surf wave can respect the river, consider all stakeholders and add to the recreation we already value.
Dominic Schiavone
Durango
