There are very few outdoor activities that necessitate wearing hockey shin guards over a wetsuit—riverboarding is one of them.

I decided to take the plunge with Rocky Mountain RiverBoards’ founders Darryl Brown and Rick Leitner.  The extreme water sport is popular in New Zealand and Europe, and is now drawing a throng of enthusiasts in the United States.  Brown and Leitner have endeavored to create superior riverboards and develop interest in the sport in the Rocky Mountains.  All you need is a board, helmet, wetsuit, fins and an affinity for adrenaline.

I felt confident in my aquatic abilities and ready to conquer Boulder Creek.  After getting my fins wet with a few trial rapids, Brown and Leitner decided to up the intensity. 

The experts gathered in a shallow cove near the base of the waterfall to map out the best route down the rocky drop. They lamented how a large boulder had shifted position in the waterfall since last summer, causing a sharp edge to jut out into their prime boarding path. My anxiety began to grow exponentially. I plastered a carefree smile on my face as they explained how I would need to stay to the right of the new obstacle, but far enough left of the other boulders to make a safe plunge down the waterfall. Combine that advice with the extensive 20-minute experience I already had under my belt, and I should do just fine. I adjusted my helmet and flippers and politely declined.  Having already drunk more of Boulder Creek than I had anticipated, I passed on the waterfall in favor of some rapids better tailored to my abilities.   

Diving through the rapids with my helmet pressed tightly against my board was exhilarating.  “It’s extreme, face-first whitewater adrenaline,” Brown says with a smile. To learn how you can have some whitewater fun, visit Rockymountainriverboards.com.