'There's always surf after storms': Southern Utah residents surf Virgin River

WASHINGTON, Washington County — For longtime surfer Tanner Staheli, the recent rainfall in southern Utah created the perfect conditions to surf a body of water he had never surfed before: the Virgin River.

"There's always surf after storms," Staheli told KSL.

Monday morning, Staheli and two of his friends were at the overpass that crosses Long Valley Road in Washington, which he said was the perfect spot to catch some river waves.

"It's a good spot, the way the sand is right there," he said. "The sand creates ripples or bumps under the water, and that's what lets the wave do its thing."

Staheli and his friends Isaac Foster and Caden Bringhurst are all part of a group called Landlocked Surfcrew, who often find ways to surf on bodies of water that aren't oceans. In fact, Staheli owns a boat rental company in southern Utah and often teaches people how to wakesurf. He said that when the chance to surf the Virgin River presented itself, he had to seize the opportunity.

Editor's Note: KSL does not encourage or condone this activity. This stunt is performed by those with training and experience.Tanner Staheli

"We've always thought about if it would be possible, but it's dry out here, and we don't get too much flow in the rivers to make it happen. But, gosh! This was the first time any of us have done it," he said.

The three were out surfing for several hours with a rope tied to a tree, in to help them catch the wave.

"The water comes and goes just like the ocean," he said. "So the wave will get big, and then it'll get calm for a few minutes and come back, so we're just timing it. And then you can let go of the rope once you get onto it and just surf it."

Editor's Note: KSL does not encourage or condone this activity. This stunt is performed by those with training and experience.Tanner Staheli

And while they had to end things for the day, Staheli said that he'll be keeping an eye on the river, and if there's a chance to head back out, he "definitely will."

"Storms are bad news, but they do bring good waves," he said.

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