Astros In Colorado with Huge Experiences

Currently I'm in Salida, CO sitting in an internet cafe by the downtown play spot. Riot southeast regional team paddler and NOC instructor, Jason Aytes, and myself are leading the Huge Experiences teen kayaking group on a boating tour for the month of June. We left the Huge Experiences headquarters in Fayetteville, WV five days ago with a couple of the students and all our gear. Along with the kids, Jason and I were very excited to try our Astros out in all the awesome play features Colorado has to offer. The drive out was long as always but we took in all the finer, cultural experiences the midwest has to offer.

Beautiful sunsets...


And all the other regular attractions like Roscoe the 36 inch Donkey...

Pictured here are Brynne Weeks, Jason Aytes, Alex Mohn, Chris Miller and Kevin Mooney. All of them awe struck by the concept of miniature donkeys.

We rolled into Evergreen, CO 24 hours after leaving WV and crashed at the very welcoming Zach Mitchell, Huge Experiences student, and his family's home.

Here is Zach being himself. He's an awesome kid if you ever get to meet him and a sick boater.


Zach showed us to Clear Creek, specifically the Lawson hole (his home hole) the last two days. This is one of the best play holes any of us have been to. Pretty much every hole move is possible here. The hole gives up most moves pretty easily.

Here's Jason looping


And myself doing the same...


We're out here coaching these kids but they've taught us a thing or two in the first two days. Alex Mohn and Zach are doing some of the largest loops I've seen and they're pulling a move they call the "Switch" where they initiate a cartwheel then turn the boat back upstream and go into a loop. It's kind of like a McNasty, but different. Then they've been doing the "Whopper" which is something else similar. It's kind of like a Phonics Monkey but also different. You can look at the Huge Experiences Blog to see more about the kids and our trip.

All Photographs by Chris Miller - ©Huge Experiences 2006

watch the video of Jason and I at the Lawson hole on Clear Creek - CLICK HERE

I'll try to keep the updates coming as we move through the state.

Spencer Cooke, Team Riot