Grab your surf board and your paddle and prepare for an epic Colorado surf trip! This week-long SUP’ing (Stand Up Paddle Boarding) and duckying adventure is a perfect program for beginner and shredder alike. We will spend our first day together with the Academy’s boating director on the shores of a local lake for some basic instruction and terminology before spending a quality paddle session getting familiar with strokes and techniques for both flat and moving water. The next day we’ll load up our boards and our overnight gear and head for the Ruby Horsethief section of the Colorado River. Once here, we’ll pack our dry bags and our support boat before we paddle into the rugged beauty of the wild canyon walls. Here is where we will find our FLOW. Our surf tribe will spend three days navigating the slow twists and turns of the canyon as we perfect our techniques, work on our core strength and play “board games” down the canyon. We’ll have a Rocky Mountain Luau during our final overnight on one of the remote beaches of this magical high desert wilderness and wake in the morning for a sunshine filled paddle to the take-out. Surfs Up Colorado!
Students will be on the river for most of this program. Though PFDs will be worn on the water, students should be confident swimmers and feel comfortable around moving water.
Sample Schedule:
Monday – Friday. Triple overnight begins on Tuesday.
Monday: Getting to know you! River safety and paddling technique workshop. Meal planning and packing 101.
Tuesday: Pack up the van and hit the road. Group shop in Montrose before launching the river and paddling to our first overnight campsite on the shores of the Colorado!
Wednesday: Paddle, paddle, paddle! Float 10 miles to second campsite. Enjoy stunning scenery of towering canyon walls and massive cottonwood trees.
Thursday: Layover day! Hike through the side canyons and play “board games” by the water.
Friday: Last morning on the river. Big breakfast before loading the boats and paddling to the take-out. De-rig, pizza party and home! Hugs and high fives.
*Schedule is subject to change*
2023 CAMP DATES:
- July 24 – 28
