Whether you want to polish up your surfing skills for an ocean trip, or you’re curious to try a new-to-you sport, there are plenty of places to river surf in Colorado. And there seem to be more places to try it out than ever.
River surfing is just that: riding a surfboard on a wave in a river. One big difference between ocean surfing and river surfing is that on the river, the surfer rides up and down the same (usually manmade) wave, unlike in the ocean where new sets are constantly rolling in and taking the surfer closer to the beach.
“Many people who have participated in board sports take to it naturally, but those who have no experience at all have a lot of fun learning,” said Brian DeFouw, general manager of Confluence Kayak & Ski in Denver. “Once you have the correct gear and safety equipment, you can pretty much just jump into learning. There are almost always other river surfers in the designated parks who you can watch, and the community is very friendly and willing to give advice and instruction.”
While river surfers don’t have to paddle out to catch a wave like ocean surfers do, they do have to learn how to stand on the board as it moves unpredictably on top of the water, and then get safely back out of the river on the banks.
“Unlike ocean surfing, you don’t need to fight the current to get to the break. Once you are there, you take turns so there is no competition for the wave,” said DeFouw. “River waves change with the amount of water in the river, but are very consistent and never-ending, so there is enough wave for everyone.”
For river surfing, you’ll want a helmet and a wetsuit (even if you see some very experienced and hardy river surfers who might forgo this equipment). A PFD (personal flotation device) is also necessary when practicing. A release leash should also come with a surfboard.
“The cost to enter the sport is relatively low compared to the cost of entering other sports like biking or kayaking,” DeFouw said. “The gear requirements are low and the learning curve is fairly rapid.”
Since there is a difference between ocean and river surfboards, it’s not recommended that you try a paddleboard or ocean surfboard on the river. Instead, you’ll need a thicker board designed to handle banging into river rocks.
Beginner river surfers should aim for a spot with rentals and possibly a lesson before jumping into the first whitewater park they can find. Here are several places in Colorado to try this summer (free other than the rental and lesson costs), and you may not need to leave the city to go river surfing:
- Buena Vista River Park is on the Arkansas River and below the aptly-named Surf Hotel. The Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center has half-day and deluxe surf lessons that include all of the equipment needed. CKS River Supply in Buena Vista rents the whole package of board, wetsuit, PFD and helmet, but they don’t have lessons. Plan to come over Memorial Day weekend in May one year during CKS Paddlefest, when you can see experts compete in kayaking and river surfing.
- Salida Whitewater Park on the Arkansas River, several miles downstream from Buena Vista, is home to what many consider the state’s best river waves. There are four engineered whitewater features for kayakers, paddle boarders, surfers and even body boards. River surfers compete here during the annual FIBArk Festival each June. The Badfish Surf Shop in Salida, about a block from the Scout Wave, is known for its river surf boards and you can demo one here (bring your own wetsuit and helmet) and talk to experts. Totally Tubular also has river surfboards (and the helmets and wetsuits) to rent.
- Montrose Water Sports Park makes use of the Uncompahgre River that flows alongside River Bottom Park and is considered one of the largest of its type in the state. There are six drop points that give river surfers a variety of waves to try out. Montrose Surf + Cycle offers a river surf rental package or a river surf one-on-one lesson that includes all the gear.
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Ryder Jay, 16, navigates the man-made waves on the South Platte on a very hot day at River Run Park in Englewood, Colorado Thursday, June 13, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post) In Denver, you can rent the gear from Confluence Kayaks (this includes the board, helmet, PFD, and leash) and it will provide in-store instruction, but not on the water. The staff doesn’t recommend the waves in nearby Confluence Park, but instead suggests River Run Park, which is upstream on the South Platte River near the Broken Tee Golf Course. There are four wave options, and beginners can start at “Chiclets.”
- Glenwood Springs Whitewater Activity Area on the Colorado River offers a manmade “G-wave” or standing wave that will change with the latest flow, giving recreationists a variety of wave experiences. This area is also popular with kayakers, stand-up paddle boarders and other boaters, and there are often spectators gathered on the rocks to watch the action on the water. Glenwoodrec.com has a live webcam on the wave, too. Adventure Outdoors has river surfboards for rent here. After a day on the wave, surfers can soak at either Iron Mountain Hot Springs where pools overlook the Colorado River or the Glenwood Hot Springs Resort pool.
- Poudre River Whitewater Park is in Fort Collins and provides a place to play for tubers, kayakers, stand-up paddle boarding and river surfing, depending on the current flow. On the Edge Tuning has river surfboards, helmets, and PFDs for rent, but you’ll need to bring your wetsuit.
- Downtown Pueblo is home to the Pueblo Whitewater Park on the Arkansas River, which has more than one feature to surf, depending on the current river flow. The Edge Ski Paddle and Pack has surfboards and other gear for rental here, but not lessons.
For more information on all of these locations, go to endlesswaves.net, where you can find detailed descriptions of the waves and links to live camera feeds on the wave parks.
Other resources:
- The Facebook group Colorado River Surfers is open to the public to join, and is updated regularly with river surfing tips.
- Colorado Surf Supply offers a Colorado Surf Map with more than two dozen surf spots on its website, as well as locally made surfboards for sale.
“Although it is challenging and thrilling to surf a standing wave, there is a low risk factor compared to other sports,” DeFouw said. “The addition of manmade standing waves has increased the opportunity for people to get in the water without traveling long distances, and since you start and stop in the same place, you don’t need a shuttle like other river activities. Plus, it’s a great way to beat the summer heat!”
Nonstop flights to surprising surf locales
Maybe you’ve perfected your surf stance on the river and are ready for the ocean? Although Hawaii and California are the predictable places to go to from Denver for a surf trip, there are a few other surprising locales that also have nonstop flights and options for surfing.
Costa Rica: Denver businessman Rich Naha is the co-founder of Surf Synergy, an all-inclusive surf camp in Jaco (fly direct to San Jose on United or Southwest Airlines, then it’s about a 90-minute drive from the airport). Guests receive one-on-one surf instruction in the water throughout the week, along with yoga and breathwork classes at the resort. They’ve partnered with Vail Health to host “longevity and wellness” retreats. This will be warm-water surfing in a bathing suit and light rash guard.
Ireland: Yes, it’s an island! There are direct flights on Aer Lingus from Denver to Dublin, and from there you’ll need transportation to one of many surf spots, which can be selected based on your experience. Beginners might like Long Line Surf School in the gentle waves at Benone Beach in Northern Ireland, whereas surfers ready for the big waves can go to County Sligo in the Republic of Ireland, where bigger waves are found, along with inclusive retreats. Either way, you’ll be wearing a wetsuit!
Wisconsin: Direct flights on Southwest or United will get travelers to Milwaukee, then it’s about a one-hour drive to Sheboygan to try freshwater surfing on Lake Michigan. Sheboygan calls itself the “freshwater surfing capital of the world.” EOS Surf & Outdoor has rentals and equipment for surfers, which includes wetsuits for the chilly water. Winter is considered a better time for this sport here as the waves are bigger during this season.