After years of underachieving performance, the Vail Whitewater Park at the Gore Creek Promenade is undergoing an inflatable augmentation this fall in an effort to enhance a flat reputation in the whitewater community.
Work began last week on the installation of six inflatable bladders along an existing concrete slab on the streambed designed to manipulate the water flow as it passes over the feature originally built in 2000. The feature uses strategically placed rocks to create a standing wave as the river passes over them. Kayakers perform freestyle maneuvers on the wave, which serves as a marquee attraction for the popular Teva Mountain Games held annually in June.
Due to modest river flows throughout the majority of the year, the current feature has never lived up to its billing. At last year’s Mountain Games, plywood was used to constrict the river so enough water flowed over the feature to create a wave.
The new computer-controlled system approved by the Town of Vail in June at a cost of $376,000 is state of the art. According to Town of Vail landscape architect Gregg Barrie, the automated system has been used successfully in man-made whitewater parks in the East, but Vail is the first to attempt the enhancement in a natural river.
“We’re on the cutting edge by using this technology in a natural setting,” Barrie said. “We’re excited to move forward with the project and expect to see an increase in use of the park next spring.”
With the ability to automatically read water levels in the creek and optimize flows over the feature, the touch-screen computer system can be adjusted for expert and amateur boaters. According to Barrie, it is expected to be easy to maintain and contains an override system that deflates the bladders in flood conditions. Two additional bladders can be added.
The idea behind the enhancement is to create a better feature for a longer period of time, attracting kayakers well after the estimated 33,000 spectators have left the Teva Mountain Games. TMG creator Joel Heath of Untraditional Marketing likens the river enhancement to the snowmaking system on Vail’s nearby ski slopes due to its alleged ability to allow boaters to dial in the river feature regardless of water flows.
Work will continue in the creek through the end of the month, and the feature is expected to be ready for next spring.
Downstream in Avon, the whitewater park that debuted to similarly lackluster reviews last spring is also undergoing improvements. The park, located on the Eagle River at Bob the Bridge (Avon Road), will see $100,000 worth of improvements to expand spectator viewing and increase the performance on its three river features: Baby Bob, Bob Jr. and Bob Sr.
“This year we did not see the water features perform as we had hoped,” town engineer Justin Hildreth said. “Most whitewater parks need some adjustments to find the optimal boulder arrangement.”
RUNNING
Boettcher wins in record time
Bernie Boettcher of Silt won the Imogene Pass Run on Saturday on his 45th birthday, setting a masters record on the course. Boettcher covered the 17.1-mile course from Ouray to Telluride in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 37 seconds. Ryan Padilla of Boulder, 29, was second in 2:25:14.
Lisa Goldsmith of Nederland was the first female finisher in 2:41:24, also a masters course record.
Speak
Analysis paralysis
A condition of not being able to decide on a matter when there is no clear-cut best option. Often occurring at the top of an intimidating whitewater rapid, a large bicycle jump or a particularly gnarly skiing line. It leads to an ever- longer paùse in the hope that more information will guide the decision maker to an option that is clearly better – such as walking away.
