Thursday Night Meetups!

It’s that time of year again! The rivers are (slowly) coming up, and kayakers of all levels are coming out of hibernation itching to hit the river. Many newer kayakers are just finishing up a series of beginning pool sessions or their first time on moving water. Many of the more experienced kayakers are scraping down the play park to dust off the cobwebs while checking flows daily, in anticipation of more runs opening up. This time of year can be tough, the ski slopes are less than ideal and runoff season is not quite in sight.

There is no sign-up required as it is not an official club event, just a place to join other people after work. Most people aim to arrive at 5:30pm and meet people before hopping in their boats. If you're a beginner, let people know. If you're not a beginner, please reach out to new people and invite them to join you! The expectation is to make a safe environment for everyone to play and practice, and maybe make a new friend to go boating with again. If you just want to play on your own play wave by yourself, this probably isn't the group to join.

Disclaimer: These are not official club sanctioned events. They just are place and time to meet other boaters in the area. Colorado Whitewater and any members or volunteers are not responsible for you or your safety. Boat at your own risk.

Locations

River Run Park in Englewood

Meet at the Broken Tee Golf Course Parking lot close to the pavilion. Extremely beginner friendly at most water levels. Good for first timers. 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month.

Golden Whitewater Park in Golden

Meet at the Lions Park parking lot in Golden. Not first timer friendly but beginner friendly below 150cfs. Above 300cfs (yellow flag) this is a solid intermediate run and kayakers should have a roll. 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month.

Dates

1. 04/04/2024 @ River Run Park
2. 04/11/2024 @ Golden Whitewater Park
3. 04/18/2024 @ River Run Park
4. 04/25/2024 @ Golden Whitewater Park
5. 05/02/2024 @ River Run Park
6. 05/09/2024 @ Golden Whitewater Park
7. 05/16/2024 @ River Run Park

For the beginner paddler, this is an amazing place to come connect with other members of the whitewater community, experience the basics of river running and get more comfortable for the upcoming season. Many newer paddlers assume that to join in on river activities they will need a bomb proof roll. This is definitely not the case here! The goal of these meetups is to provide a supportive environment for all levels to improve. Remember, the only way to get better at kayaking is to get out there and practice. This means getting a little outside of your comfort level, but remember everyone started somewhere and there will always be friends around to help with swims or any other situations that may arise here. There is always a mixed ability level present so don’t be surprised if you walk away from the meetups with a new mentor or two to help you along your kayaking journey.

For the more experienced paddler, this is a great place to come warm back up for the season, meet new paddling friends and have a chance to help out newer paddlers. Have a friend or significant other that you’ve always wanted to introduce to the sport but didn’t feel comfortable attempting it alone? This may be the place to help and be helped! Anything from chasing boats to sharing tips and tricks are always welcome and appreciated here. We will always try to meet at a location that provides surf waves and opportunity for eddy catching, ferries, etc as well. Remember, there is opportunity to improve on every stretch of river!