The main reservoir release gate will be increased from 500 to 600 cfs, and the fish hatchery will remain at 5 cfs today, Saturday, June 29, 2024.
RRP: Sixx is/was in the excellent range but will start to get blown out the day goes on. Benni’s will be fun even after the flow change. And Chiclets is probably ok for bodyboarding and bigger volume boards. Keep an eye on the cam to see when Sixx blows out… https://www.senserasystems.com/public/embed/3M7824646H83
Scout Wave (Salida): Scout is big, burley, and not for the newbies or those who don’t have confidence in fast moving water. Scout Wave from vids lately is looking good.
Natural hold downs are happening on the regular-foot side by the corner of the wave. Reports are that surfers, along with their boards, are getting sucked down for an underwater drag that will not release the surfer for a few seconds something like 40 feet down river. Surfers are also getting recycled in that eddy multiple times after their exit off the wave. Scope Scout Wave out before attempting to surf it and if in doubt, don’t go out.
There also was another leash hold down yesterday when a surfer’s board landed on top of the wave got stuck on the top of the wave wall. The surfer got immediately pulled under and was submerged for possibly as long as five seconds. The surfer was able to deploy their unconventional “kiteboarding quick release system” (this is NOT a snap shackle QR or calf pin QR). Luckily the surfer is accustom to the system being an avid kiteboarder who kitesurfs some of the best/strongest wind areas in the country.
Scout is probably the best river wave in the country right now. Show it respect, the locals respect, and expect respect (including respect for your own abilities if you should surf Scout or not).
Pueblo: Yesterday at 2,000cfs, we surfed Levee Waves 3 and 4. Both are fun and challenging as they require a popup or in my case, a surfmat and fins. We then surfed P-Towns new wave.
The P-Towns new wave is NOT officially open and not a newbies wave. The wave is a challenge to get to, the eddy service at 2k flow is basically non-existent. Entry is a paddle to the top of the wave but this sketch and is a pin-on-the-top dance thing to then pull your self quickly up on the wall rocks. Don’t do this with a leash attached or you are courting problems. Some locals have the entry dialed in so they are using QR calf leashes. I went through the wave 3 times on the regular-foot side (no leash), gave up, and then switched to the goofy-foot side before figuring it out. I strongly suggest waiting for the new wave to drop in cfs and use the eddy service when it comes back in from below the wave….
Interestingly enough the P-town wave surfed like between a big/wide Sixx Wave and a bagged Scout Wave, though surfer’s left side of the wave currently goes flat and you will flush out. Looking forward to seeing the P-town new wave fully tuned in and officially opened to the public with the Waterworks Park “commissioning” (keys to the park given to the city by the builders as a completed project) sometime hopefully this fall….
Here is the official word on the Waterworks Park… https://pueblowater.org/higher-flows-on-arkansas-river-pose-potential-hazards/ But I have penned a letter for all of you to listen to about the P-town new wave as read by our friend Wilbur K…. wait for it till the end…. https://youtu.be/YxUZqfF0iTQ?si=x0GGG9vQFX5WxZ49
River Surfer Tip: An anonymous submission…. “Don’t eat up a whole bunch of asparagus the night before you go on a long surf session with a wetsuit.”… I would say, rinse out your wetsuit or place it in a trash bag for the drive home.. Then again, some people don’t mind asparagus pee-smell.. hahaha…
Find safe surf and know your abilities and limits.
LBK
The Denver Surf Report 