If it were not for Ben Nielsen and the McLaughlin Whitewater Group, there would be absolutely no river surfing scene in Metro Denver. Ben did so by expanding from decades of efforts of the likes of Rick McLaughlin who transformed the deadly lowhead dams at Union with boat-chutes into some of the earliest waves on the S. Platte. Rick also was part of creating one of the first whitewater parks in the nation with the confluence whitewater park near REI in Denver.
Ben fought long and hard and after many years of advocating for an outlandish idea of a river surf park, pushing for funding, and governmental approvals at all levels; RRP was built. People don’t understand the significants of RRP and how it has created one of the largest and fastest growing river surfing scenes in the US that the Metro Denver surfing scene has become.
Support river surfing by being some sort of advocate. Could be individual advocating by being helpful to those learning to surf. Could be volunteering to help the waveshapers as their eyes when shaping Sixx or Benni’s. Could be just picking up a couple of pieces of trash every time you surf. Or you could be “a loud one” and demand our rights to surf.
Click on this link to see more about RRP, the before photo is of note! https://mclaughlinwhitewater.com/projects/river-run-park/
LBK
The Denver Surf Report 