Surfing The South Platte: A Lesson In River Renewal

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Photo: Ben Nielsen Surfing The South Platte
Ben Nielsen catches a standing wave on the South Platte.

You would be forgiven for thinking that Colorado and surfing don't really go together. Except they do on the South Platte River, in a symbol of the river's improving health.

Photo: Ben Nielsen And His Surfboard Beside The South Platte
Ben Nielsen and his surfboard beside the South Platte.

A $15 million project is going on right now along a one-mile stretch of the river near Denver to enhance flood control, wildlife, and recreation -- including hangin' 10. We visited River Run Park in Sheridan, which isn't even a year old, to meet its designer Ben Nielsen, who also happens to be a skilled river surfer.