Epic snowpack in the Colorado mountains is slowly melting and creating a whitewater rapid thrill ride for kayakers at Clear Creek Whitewater Park in Golden.
For 10-year-old Henry Hyde of Littleton, that means a long season and more time on the river working on his moves. Henry started kayaking at the age of 3. His father, Mike Hyde, taught Henry in a pool in Durango, where they lived at the time.
His father cut a $200 paddle in half, modifying it so his son’s little arms could hold it.
“I love it, I am out here every day,” Henry said. “My two favorite things to do are kayaking and playing Xbox, but kayaking is No. 1.”
By the time Henry was 6, he began exploring competitive kayaking. Since then, he has competed in 56 events.
In 2009 and 2010, he amassed the most points of any cadet, or youth class, kayaker in the United States per season and was the highest-ranking cadet for both years.
