Fresh Water-Fresh Rides
By Noah Sabich
Often we forget that life isn’t all work. There is pleasure too. As surfers, we are probably aware of this fact more than the majority of our brethren. Great waves call us from our bureaus and, most often, we heed their message to fete their rolling forms. These callings renew our sense of purpose and serve as a reminder that most joys of this world stem from natural surroundings. Yet, because of our frequent oceanic dips, we sometimes desensitize ourselves to novel possibilities in surfing. Just what hydrotherapy we choose is not as evident as one might think, though. Saltwater is the obvious alternative, but what if saline waves were no longer the sole source of amusement? ‘What could honestly replace the liveliness produced by the ocean?’ you might ask. And to this I say the following: the proper reflection is not how we replace oceanic energy in surfing, but rather how we take the lessons learned from the seas and use them elsewhere.
I was recently perusing www.cnn.com when I came across an interesting evolution in surfing that uses waves produced from neither the tides nor the oceans. Instead, the mad rivers of Wyoming set the stage for cutbacks and other aquatic experiments in a unique video filmed by the news organization. The river surfers’ enjoyment is intense. Their fun is assured. But, more importantly, they are taking the practice to “fresh” places (pun intended) and challenging the perception of surfing as an activity of the brine. With all our boasted knowledge, we forget that the river people, though inexpert in drop-ins, use agitated flow and a unique current to rival our own rides. Let us watch, respect and mimic their freshwater delight.
(http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/08/06/snake.river.surfing.cnn?hpt=C2)
It must be understood that both wide experience and pioneering thought are needed to successfully progress surfing. It is a lifelong experiment that will yield gains around the Earth not only for the sport, but for thinking that defies the norm.
