Like most sports, river surfing is tough to learn for beginners. Things get tougher – and far more dangerous – if you’re not using the right gear. This primer gives you an outline of what river surfing gear you need to get started and stay safe.
The Board
A proper sized board is crucial to learning and enjoying the sport. Unfortunately for your wallet, what that means varies by wave, flow level (CFS), and ability level.
For a modern man-made wave (think Denver River Run Park, Scout Wave in Salida, or Pueblo Waterworks), most beginners find success with a ~5′ soft board (aka foamie) with a 3 fin (thruster) setup. The Catch Surf Stump is probably the most accessible option, though the Badfish Bomb Drop or Softech Flash 5′ are just as capable. Any of those three in your favorite color will serve you well.
River surfing has evolved quite rapidly in the last decade. While stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) or inflatable boards were very common for beginners 5-10 years ago, many surfers tend to quickly outgrow these types of boards at high performance waves. Used ocean surfboards may also look appealing, but those longer than ~6ft’ will be difficult for a beginner to find the pocket of the wave on.
Quick disclaimer: I strongly encourage supporting local (and national) hardboard shapers, but the reality is your first few weeks learning will bang up whatever board you pick for most beginners. Also, until you learn how to properly “fall” and navigate the wave’s secondary area (smaller wave behind the wave), there’s a likelihood of your board hitting you. Foam is much safer in this instance.
The Helmet
Wearing a helmet is mandatory, or should be, at most waves in Colorado. The rocks are close, and all it takes is one bad fall to brain yourself on either the rocks forming the feature or the rocks under it. Though you’ll occasionally see surfers out there with bike helmets or climbing helmets, you’re better off with something designed for whitewater. It’s not a huge investment, and it’s way cheaper than lost wages or attendant care. WRSI helmets stay low over your forehead — one of the biggest dangers is a helmet slipping back and exposing the front of your noggin — and they’re reasonably priced to too.
The Leash
If you’re coming to river surfing from ocean surfing, your first instinct is probably to want to wear an ankle leash. Wearing an ankle leash is the easiest way to kill yourself while river surfing. When ocean surfing, the force of the waves and the water comes in sets, with breaks in between. If you get an ankle leash hung up river surfing, the relentless force of the water shoves you downstream without any respite, and if your ankle leash is hung up on a rock, you won’t be able to reach your leash in anything but the gentlest of currents. If nobody can reach you in a manner of minutes, you’re dead.
That’s why many river surfers won’t wear a leash, or if they do, it’s on a quick release around their waists. If you’re wearing a PFD, a rescue vest is the best way to go, since it comes with a releasable hard-point built in. The Astral Green Jacket is a popular choice, but there are a lot of good rescue PFDs out there.
PFDs
A PFD is a good idea, particularly in any high-volume waves where currents will try to hold you down for a while. If you’re interested in wearing a leash, you’ll want a rescue vest like the Green Jacket or something similar, like the Kokatat Ronin. But if you want to ditch the leash and go low profile, a wakeboarding vest like the Hyperlite Indy can work well.
Booties
Many whitewater rivers in Colorado are creatures of blast rock, thanks to either roadway or railway development. Urban rivers like the South Platte have broken glass and other trash to deal with. So some foot protection is probably a good idea. Thinner booties like the NRS Frestyle give you a better feel for the board but give less protection than something thicker like the NRS Paddle Wetshoes.
Insulation
Unless you’re restricting your surfing to low elevation summertime surfing, board shorts aren’t going to cut it for very long. A shortie or a 3:2 wetsuit (3mm chest, 2mm arms and legs) like the O’Neill Reactor or Epic work well for late spring and early fall. Later into the cold season brings time for a 4:3 wetsuit. If you want to ride year-round somewhere like Colorado, do yourself a favor and invest in a drysuit for when things turn bitter; Kokatat’s GMER is the gold standard.