[ Editor's Note: We're quite impressed with this rookie: 30+ runs is a heckuva lot for anybody at this stage in the sport's growth, and for a rookie? That's great - this is exactly what we want to see, first-timers who become experienced riders right out of the gate and can't get enough of this awesome sport. I'll shut up now and let him give his acceptance speech. ;-) ]

Got off to a bit of a late start in 2006 trying to get the scratch together for the gear. Fortunately I live only a few miles from Club RMR so I contacted Darryl and drove over checked out the boards. We chatted for a while sipping on some Darryl's latest batch of home brew and I left with a board.

A few weeks later we made plans to hit the Boulder Creek/Eben G. Fine Park run to break the new foam in

Throughout the summer I hit the water with Darryl, Rick, assorted family and friends on a regular basis. The runs included:

* Boulder Creek/Eben G. Fine III
* Clear Creek/Lower to Golden III
* South Boulder Creek/Alto-Alto IV
* Arkansas River/The Numbers IV
* South Platte River/Waterton Canyon -IV
* Colorado River/Shoshone III

Late in the year I did Waterton quite a bit since it flows late in the season, is close, and all around fun. On separate occasions I guided both my sister (who got tumbled a bit the first time down but quickly voted for another run when we got out) and Darryl down the run in early October.

Other fun facts:

* The distinction of being the only boarder to miss the bus for the pre-race day runs at the 2006 Gore Fest. Perhaps this was a good omen. After all, if you can't even catch the bus there's a good chance you're not going to catch Tunnel correctly either.

* Nearly cooked myself alive in a 7mm wetsuit in 90 degree heat.

Overall, 2006 couldn't have been much better - 15 days up and 33 runs total. I'm no less enthusiastic about getting challenged by the water in '07.

Zach

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