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Jed Boal ReportingWith this beautiful stretch of weather, you may be tempted to head for the water. Jed Boal tells us about a chance you'll have this weekend to try something new, or get out and paddle for the first time.
For the ninth straight year, the Utah Rivers Council will host a paddle festival at Little Dell Reservoir. We went out for a warm-up today and discovered there's a lot to lure the beginner and the expert.
Shove off this weekend, take a splash and paddle across a pond.
Merritt Frey, Utah Rivers Council: "Paddlefest is our annual even that lets us reach out to people and make them feel safe and comfortable on the water, and also talk to them about rivers and what we need to do to protect those rivers."
Last year, one thousand people hit the water for the Utah Rivers Council Paddle Festival. Visitors get to try out the hottest kayaks, canoes and sailboats. Experts teach you how to paddle, scull and even roll in a kayak. You can even flip if you like.
One of the things that excites the visitors to the paddlefest is that there have been a lot of innovations with the boats that make it a lot of fun.
Charlie Butler, Wasatch Touring: "It's got the same attraction of snowboarding or freestyle skiing. It's so free and multi-dimensional."
The traditional kayak hasn't changed much, but the whitewater boat sure has.
Charlie Butler, Wasatch Touring: "These little whitewater boats have these flat bottoms. They've shortened up the boats to make them more maneuverable."
That flat bottom lets the paddler do tricks on the waves. The touring kayak is better for trips and flat water.
You can also enjoy fly-fishing, food and music. The event attracts more families each year.
Merritt Frey, Utah Rivers Council: "Over a doubling of participation in the last couple of years, largely driven by families and those types of beginner people."
Proceeds benefit Utah Rivers Council campaigns to protect the state's rivers. The festival runs from 9:00 to 5:00 Saturday and 9:00 to 4:00 Sunday at Little Dell Reservoir.
