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Show RTS SPECIAL SECTIOH Local waters offer river rides Kayaking opportunities abound in Ogden area By JON NELSON sports editor ( The Signpost Spring is here and for many people in Utah, that means it is time to knock off the rust from winter and get outdoors. One of the many activities Utahns, or anyone, can do outdoors is kayaking. Kayaking can be found in several forms, from sea/ocean kayaking to Whitewater kayaking. The latter is what is most commonly found in northern Utah. For people living in Weber, Davis and Box Elder counties, kayaking can be done in close proximity to their homes on one of the small rivers flowing through the canyons to the east. For Ogden residents, there is a manmade kayak park on the Weber River, just off 24th Street. There are also plans for one to be built in Riverdale, east of the city offices. "I was just down at the 24th street kayak park yesterday," said Weber State University Wilderness Recreation kayak instructor Paul Wackowski. "Right now the peaks are pretty dramatic and I wouldn't suggest that for beginners because there are some pretty big drops." Kayaking may look easy to some, but it is a sport that can get the average person into a lot of trouble without the proper training or equipment. Training or basic classes are WSU freshman Michael Muhlestein surfs the upper rapid in his kayak at the Ogden kayaking park in West Ogden, just off 24th Street, during spring break. extremely important and are beneficial for the person just learning how to use a kayak or for the experienced user. These classes teach users the rules of the water, paddling techniques, safety and many other topics on the safe use and enjoyment of their kayak. "If you are a beginner, maybe start up at a lake and work yourself up by class 1, 2, 3, depending on how fast you learn," Wackowski said. "You should never go down a river you aren't familier with. Besides learning the basic manuevering See River page 4 Work hard, play harder: ATVs provide chance By JEREMY TYLER asst. sports editor | The Signpost ATVs are used for a variety of activities. Most people use them for recreation, while others use them as a work tool. Justin Kinghorn, salesman at Layton Cycle, has been selling ATVs for eight years. According to Kinghorn, the Suzuki Vinson and Suzuki Eiger are the two most popular machines sold. Both the Eiger and the Vinson are utility ATVs, which means they are four-wheel drive and made to haul larger loads. Kinghorn said there are many places to ride ATVs in Utah. A few places he mentioned were the Paiute Trail in centra] Utah, which has about 2,500 miles of trails; Little Sahara Sand Dunes; Ben Lomond Peak; and the Uintah Mountains. People who purchase ATVs can be as young as 20 and as old as 70. Ralph Nielson, a 72-year-old fruit farmer in Perry, Utah, uses ATVs as a tool. "It took my family three or four years to convince me that I should have one," Nielson said. "Now I don't think I could ever get along without 'em. They're leg savers, especially when you "It took my family three or four years to convince me that I should have one. Now I don't think I could ever get along without 'em. They're leg savers/ especially when you get older." - Ralph Nielson, Perry, Utah, resident ATV enthusiest Ty Tyler rides his Suzuki ATV through a large mud puddle on one of his many summer trips with friends and family. get older." Nielson said he puts about 3,000 miles on his ATVs every summer and uses them to check the water levels in the orchards and also to check on his help. Nielson also said they save him a lot of time, and they are handy because he can jump on one and be where he needs to be in a few minutes. Not only do they save Nielson's legs from a lot of work, they also save wear and tear on his truck. "You're always on dirt roads and rough roads and when you have a good pickup; you just beat it to death," Nielson said. "These four-wheelers are easier riding and they get you around faster, and (that) saves your pickup." Nielson figures he would put around 5,000 miles on his truck if he used it instead of his ATVs. Approximately 80 percent of the fruit farmers in Perry use ATVs. Most of the fruit farmers in Perry are older so they use their ATVs as a tool for work, not personal recreation, according to Nielson. "I think they're just a necessary thing to have around See Vehicles page 4 |