Thrill-seekers turn to surfing the Rio Grande
Posted at: 05/26/2011 8:26 PM
By: Gadi Schwartz, KOB Eyewitness News 4
It's nine in the morning and the folks at New Mexico River Adventures are loading up what look like surf boards ready to hit the "racecourse," one of New Mexico's favorite white water stretches along the Rio Grande.
On top of a trailer, stacked up on a raft, sit a couple brand new SUP boards- or stand up paddle boards.
Ever since moving up to Santa Fe, I've been a river junkie and this is my first glimpse of SUP boards, which could prove to be the answer for those looking for adventure during a year of dismal runoff.
SUPing is a sport that doesn't require raging high water, and New Mexico River Adventures owner Matthew Gontram is gearing up to give me a crash course in stand up paddling.
Gontram and his wife Wendy are new business owners taking a chance on the SUPing sport.
Wendy tells me she came to work as a raft guide back in 2001 when she met Gontram working at the company they now own.
This winter, while planning for their first season and upcoming spring runoff, the Gontram's decided SUPing was something they had to start offering.
"This sport is really going viral, I mean it's amazing how popular it's getting in such a short time," says Gontram as he tops off one of the inflatable SUP boards with pump.
"I can't think of another sport that has grown so quickly since snowboarding."
With the board now feeling as ridged as hard plastic, Gontram explains that the key to SUPing is balance.
"For each individual it's different," he says as he assumes a wide stance on the board. "Some people might feel more stable parallel," he says. "Depends on the person."
I step on and push off shore and immediately it feel my knees start wobbling as I assume some sort of awkward, snowboardish stance.
I start paddling out of the eddy and as soon as I hit the current, I lose all balance and face plant into the cold water.
Atom Crawford, a well known kayaker and river guide starts laughing from shore and someone calls out, "Stand wider."
I get back on— this time feet side-by-side in the middle of the board, and find my stability had improved drastically, but still not enough to prevent me from falling anytime I tried to surf small breaks in the water.
Heading down rapids proves slightly easier, as standing five to six feet above the water affords river reading opportunities that you don't get when strapped into a kayak or sitting in a raft.
Meanwhile, the NM River Adventure crew is making SUPing look like an easy, almost leisurely way to move around the river.
Crawford says taking it slow on calm waters is a majority of what SUPing is all about and why it's such a good fit for New Mexico.
"You have all these long stretches of scenic river like the Chama that are beautiful and perfect for long day trips or even two day trips on the boards," says Crawford.
"The majority of stand up paddle boarding is though is mellow water moving water and lakes."
But less than a mile down from where we are paddling around is Souse Hole- the grand finale of the "racecourse," and a pretty decent sized rapid.
I start asking if the boards can take, and hear back that the boards will be fine, but no one promises to still be standing at the end of the run.
About a half our later- I've got my camera trained on the hole as the crew takes turns charging the rapid and taking swims.
We head back to the new headquarters of New Mexico River Adventures off of NM 68, where a half dozen rafts are stacked in the back.
Gontram says despite this years dry conditions and low runoff, he is still holding out hope that higher water could still be in store for his first year in business.
But if not, rafts and inflatable kayaks will still float down many of the state's rivers, and if the Gontram's have their way, more and more SUP boards will be among them.
If you do want to try SUPing- a few words of advice- start in calm water. Don't take rapids on your first day. If you can, wear protection like knee, elbow pads and a helmet because its a long fall and rocks hurt.
SUP boards run about $1,000 and up.
Lessons start at about $90 for half a day, including all the gear you'll need.
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