Latest News

2019 Season Kick-Off Party

Details

Posted: April 17, 2019

Season Kick-off Party: Sunday, April 28, 5:00 p.m.

The annual club boating season kick-off party will be Sunday, April 28, 5:00 p.m. at
N3 Taphouse
(817 W. Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80905).

It is across the street from the Dunkin’ Donuts at Colorado and 8th. The Taphouse is a refurbished fire station – very cool – and is the new place of Southside Johnny’s. Many, many beers on tap and much, much better food than Southside’s (the Reuben rocks!). Please join your fellow club members, boaters, and significant others for a great time! Kayak porn on the big screen tv’s with the 2nd floor reserved exclusively for the club! Mark your calendars now!

Please come! Send an RSVP to , or call Aimee at (309) 642-2593 so we know how many members to expect! Spouses, kids, potential friends who want to learn more about kayaking and joining our club are ALL welcome.

Thank you,
Aimee St Andre
PPWC President

Organized by:
Kurt Schroeder
PPWC Treasurer

2019 Kayak Beginner Class starts April 14

Details

Posted: March 18, 2019

2019 Kayak Beginner Class: April 14th, 20th and 27th!

Sign up today to reserve your spot!

To sign up: Please message Aimee St Andre at , or by phone at (309) 642-2593.

The kayak beginner class will include one pool session and two river sessions:

April 14th (Sunday): 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Location: Indoor Pool Session at Cheyenne Mountain High School Aquatic Center

️We will go over paddle strokes, general safety, gear education and roll practice with instructors. Bring your kayak, paddle, helmet, PFD, sprayskirt and be ready to LEARN!

April 20th (Saturday): 8 a.m.

Location: First session on Class I to II whitewater on the Arkansas River near Canon City. Meet up time 800am to set up car pool at King Soopers off of HWY 115.

We will be learning down river techniques, reading water, ferrying, Eddies, rolls if desired, etc.

April 27th (Saturday): 8 a.m.

Location: Second session on Class I to II whitewater on the Arkansas River near Canon City. Meet up time 800am to set up car pool at King Soopers off of HWY 115.

Refinement of river day 1 techniques with more progression. Opportunity to try a class III rapid during the class.

Cost of beginner class is $125 per person. Make checks payable to PPWC. Early registration (now) is preferred so we know how many support boaters need to join us so sign up now and message Aimee so she can send you the waivers to sign for the class!

Participants should have their own gear for the class but if anyone is in need of a specific item then please reach out to us and we will try and accommodate what you need for the class.

Items needed:

1. Whitewater helmet
2. Kayak
3. Paddle
4. PFD
5. Wetsuit or drysuit as water will be cold!

If you are interested in taking our kayak beginner class please reach out to Aimee at: , or by phone at (309) 642-2593.

2019 Kayak Beginner Class offered this April

Details

Posted: February 13, 2019

2019 Kayak Beginner Class offered this April

PPWC is offering a beginner to kayak class this April. If you have any family members, friends or co-workers that have been interested in learning how to kayak NOW is a great time to start!

The kayak beginner class will include 1 pool session and 2 river sessions as detailed below:

April 14th from 4-6pm pool session that will go over paddle strokes, general safety, gear education and roll practice with instructors.

April 20th (Saturday) - First session on Class I to II whitewater on the Arkansas River near Canon City. Meet up time 845am to set up car pool at King Soopers off of HWY 115.

April 27th (Saturday) - Second session on Class I to II whitewater on the Arkansas River near Canon City. Meet up time 845am to set up car pool at King Soopers off of HWY 115.

Cost of beginner class is $125 per person. Checks made out to PPWC.

Participants should have their own gear for the class but if anyone is in need of a specific item then please reach out to us and we will try and accommodate what you need for the class.

Items needed:

1. Whitewater helmet
2. Kayak
3. Paddle
4. PFD
5. Wetsuit or drysuit as water will be cold!

Join the Club Now

Hiring and training River Guides, Kayakers and Customer Service Reps

Details

Posted: December 28, 2018

Royal Gorge Rafting & Zip Line Tours in Colorado is hiring and training River Guides, Kayakers and Customer Service Reps in 2019!

Find out more: https://www.royalgorgerafting.net/jobs or contact James Whiteside at (719) 275-7238

Permit Party - January 11, 2019

Details

Posted: December 6, 2018

Calling all kayakers. Come to permit party on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 6pmat Underwater Connection: 4940 Rusina Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80907.

Map

Permit submissions tend to be $10-25 depending on the trip selection. We'll discuss dates for the trips and rivers people would like to apply for, along with answering questions people have about the process and adventures of multi-day trips.

Download the worksheet, or the PDF, to see the list of possible trips.

End of Season Party 2018

Details

Posted: November 2, 2018

Calling all dirtbag kayakers...and rafter trash! We are having our end of season party/get together at Trails End Taproom on Saturday November 10th at 6pm!

The Taproom has a great selection of beers, wine, kombucha that you can choose from and pour as much or as little as you’d like! It offers some foods such as pizza, savory pies and a few other bar food type items to soak up the booze! There is no reserve seating so get there early to save a table or two and get a jump start on the socializing. Also that weekend is Trails End Taproom’s one year anniversary so there will be some good specials I hear but may be busy as well! If you are able to come out we would love to have you join and share some river stories or get to know more of the members you might see on the river next season!

Huge thanks to Amy for setting this up!

Trails End Taproom

Map

2018 Permit Party

Details

Posted: January 10, 2018

Time to get the ball rolling this year on another round of multi-day trips! Come to Underwater Connection on Saturday, Jan 20th at 6 p.m.

If this is something you're interested in bring your tablet/laptop/beer and we'll get things going. Permit submissions tend to be $10-25 depending on the trip selection. We'll discuss dates for the trips and rivers people would like to apply for, along with answering questions people have about the process and adventures of multi-day trips.

Club Officers for 2018

Details

Posted: January 10, 2018

Our club officers for 2018 are now in place. Please feel free to reach out to these folks for support.

Chase Patenaude - President - (805) 205-5603

Kurt Schroeder - Treasurer - (719) 761-1572

Tara Smith - Secretary - (719) 440-1257

Club Officers for 2017

Details

Posted: January 15, 2017

Our club officers for 2017 are now in place. Please feel free to reach out to these folks for support.

Scott Holmberg - President - (719) 332-4055

Chase Patenaude - Vice President - (805) 205-5603

Kurt Schroeder - Treasurer - (719) 761-1572

Tara Smith - Co-Secretary - (719) 440-1257

Ben Schmitt - Training Coordinator - (719) 351-4359

Club Officers for 2015

Details

Posted: March 8, 2015

Our club officers for 2015 are now in place. Please feel free to reach out to these folks for support.

Sharlene Yabe - President - (719) 210-2160

"I’m a late bloomer and didn’t start kayaking until I was 46. But it was a sport I knew I could do and the PPWC was the place for me to learn. I took the Beginner’s class and it prepared me well for the paddling season. I’ve met so many fun people and now some of my closest friends are my fellow paddlers.

I’m really proud to give back to the club that has given me the chance to change my life. No matter your age, it’s never too late to learn this sport. I highly recommend new paddlers take our Beginner’s class and take every opportunity to meet members of our club."

Kurt Schroeder - Treasurer - (719) 761-1572

"Forging great friendships, going beautiful places and sharing exciting experiences with those friends is what kayaking means to me. I have been on the river for over 20 years and been a member of the club for that long as well. I love sharing my knowledge of the sport almost as much as I love the sport itself! Bringing beginners along and seeing their ear to ear grin once they have finished their first blind drop at Tincup Rapid puts the same smile on my face.  It was finding the club 21 years ago that has probably been the biggest reason I am still on the river today, and plan to be there for another 20 years from now!"

Dan Dyer - Secretary - (719) 440-1257

"Years ago, a friend tried talking me into whitewater kayaking and I remember telling him, "You'll never see me in a kayak" due to my fear of the water. Years later, and now starting my eighth season (2015), I'm so grateful to be running the rivers!  The action as well as the serenity of the river has such an amazing effect on the soul.  The initial nervousness of being a beginner in the club was quickly overcome by the willingness of the experienced paddlers teaching me as well as so many others how to roll and navigate the rivers.  See you on the river!"

End of Season Celebration, October 5th, 2014

Details

Posted: September 16, 2014

Come meet up with your fellow club members at Southside Johnny's on Sunday, October 5th, from 5:30 to 8:00.

Celebration Highlights include:

• A feature a montage of pics and film from people's 2014 season adventures
• Find someone to take Drake's place as Vice President
• Vote on Beginner Of the Year
• Vote on Most Improved
• Vote on Worst Swim

Lynn Koester takes oldest title in downriver race at FIBArk

Details

Posted: June 15, 2014

The Pikes Peak Whitewater Club is proud to say that Lynn Koester is one of our members. At 77 years old, Lynn took home the title of oldest competitor in the 26-mile trek from Salida to Cotopaxi at this year's FIBArk Whitewater Festival. He said kayaking keeps him young and has raced for more than 10 years. Koester plans to race until he is 80.

See the news coverage that was featured on KRDO. 

FIBArk Beginner Trip June 14

Details

Posted: June 7, 2014

The annual FIBArk beginner trip is this coming Saturday, June 14! Led by Kurt Schroeder and Jim McGee, we will meet at the Rincon put-in (a few miles downriver from Salida) at 9:30 AM and go down to Valley Bridge. It has two, maybe three, class III rapids that are very straight forward. If you have been on the river four or so times and have been doing solid class II's you are good to go!

Experienced boaters welcome (matter of fact we need you)! Respond to Sharlene or Kurt and let us know you will be coming. This has become a club tradition not to be missed!

Arkansas River Clean Up - May 17, 2014

Details

Posted: April 28, 2014

Volunteers can sign up at either Buena Vista or Salida, or group sign-ups can be done by contacting:

Rose Bayless, Program Assistant
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
307 W. Sackett Ave.
Salida, CO 81201
(719) 539-7289, Ext 4402

Rose will have trash bags and River Cleanup Buttons, which is also the ticket for the picnic at Riverside Park in Salida. The trash receptacle will be in front the Colorado Parks and Wildlife office in Salida (near the boat ramp), and the picnic is just a block away.

Gear Opportunities

Details

Posted: March 6, 2014

Hi everyone.  Please note the upcoming opportunities on whitewater gear:

March 8-9: CKS Yard Sale (Colorado Kayak Supply)

March 23rd: Members gear swap. Have gear you no longer use? Bring it to the pool session to sell or swap with other members. (More details to follow.)

March 30th: Gearonimo used boat demo

April 6th: CKS new boat and paddle demo

– Sharlene Yabe

Old Man Winter Calls On All Beginner Kayakers

Details

Posted: February 18, 2014

Through the window I see Old Man Winter is further accommodating our hopes for a better paddling season this spring!

Speaking of which, it's time for those Beginners who want to participate in the Beginner's Class to start submitting registrations. Below is the PDF of the information and registration form. Interested parties may bring the forms and payment to any pool session before March 16th or they can mail them to Kurt Schroeder's address which is on the form.

– Sharlene Yabe

Download Registration Form

Swift Water Rescue Class - April 26 & 27

Details

Posted: February 18, 2014

For those paddlers (beginners and experienced) who want to participate in the Swift Water Rescue classes being held on April 26th & 27th, below is the Registration and Waiver. Forms and payment can be dropped off at any pool session or mailed to Kurt. Submission deadline is March 30.

– Sharlene Yabe

Download Registration and Waiver

Club Officers for 2014

Details

Posted: January 31, 2014

Our club officers for 2014 are now in place. Please feel free to reach out to these folks for support.

Sharlene Yabe - President - (719) 210-2160

Drake Dennert - Vice President - (951) 236-4403

Kurt Schroeder - Treasurer - (719) 761-1572

Craig Forbes - Secretary - (719) 650-0946