Summit up

Good morning and welcome to Summit Up, the world’s only daily column yearning whole-heartedly for the beach. We love the mountains, but we’ve realized that living here can sometimes be like an endurance race: Only the strong survive the nine-month winters and almost nonexistent summers.

The longer we live out here, the more we love it. Who wouldn’t fall in love with constant natural beauty and living in the ultimate winter playground.

But ... we also ache for real summer weather that wraps its balmy warmth around us like a blanket. Nothing is better than sporting a bikini without even a hint of goose bumps emerging from a sandy ocean tumble after falling off our foamy, beginner’s surf board and liking it.

So for anyone planning a vacation before winter sets in, head to the beach. There’s nothing like coming home to Summit County, still wiping sand from your ears.
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And if you can’t get to the beach, we suggest you try “river surfing,” an off-shoot of paddling upright in the ocean on a surfboard. We can’t surf on any level to be truthful, so we’re definitely game to try this new summer-weather endeavor in our home state.

According to a recent press release that made it to our desk, paddlers new to the sport can practice their maneuvers at the brand-new Glenwood Whitewater Park on the Colorado River just upstream from the Midland Avenue bridge in West Glenwood Springs. The whitewater park, which debuted in April, is designed for the varying levels of river flow that occur naturally throughout the year. A ‘standing wave’ will occur during low, medium and high river flows due to artificial boulders located at different places in the park. Learning pools and multiple eddies allow river surfers to enter the standing waves over and over again. More information is at glenwoodwhitewaterpark.org. Charlie MacArthur of Aspen Kayak Academy is offering paddle-surfing lessons on the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers this summer. No experience is necessary, however, any kayaking or surfing background can be helpful. He starts novices on flat water first, and once a few basic skills are mastered, MacArthur introduces them to some gentle waves. Private or semi-private lessons are on request. For more information, call (970) 925-4433 or check out www.aspenkayak
academy.com.

We’re intrigued, to say the least. If you try this, e-mail summitup@summitdaily.com and let us know how it went.

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There’s also a recently reported SCUM ALERT!! SCUM ALERT!!:

“Breckenridge Resort Chamber Central Reservations is missing their office mascot and has reason to believe he was kidnapped. He was scheduled to appear in the Breck Fourth of July Parade riding in the Red, White and Blue fire truck, (but) he never arrived. His name is Stan. He is 4- feet-tall and is a steel giraffe, wearing a “G” that makes him appear he is a Packers fan, but in actuality he is really an Ohio State fan! The “G”is for Giraffe. (Or “Go Buckeyes.”) We have received anonymous pictures of him gallivanting around the county, pictured on Loveland Pass, on boats with people on Lake Dillon, riding on the slide in the Dillon Marina Park, on the Summit Stage in Summit Cove, at Sapphire Point, and trying to cross (like the rest of us) the Dam Road. The morale in our office has plummeted. We are worried about his safety and desperate for his return. Anyone with information should contact the BRC at 453-5032.”

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We’re out on this fine Saturday, standing in the sand we brought home in a bag, pretending we’re back on the beach. Fantasy is fabulous.