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Thursday, April 19, 2012

Boating "pipe is in, bro"

Posted by on Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 4:38 PM

"PIPE IS IN."

You don't have to live on Oahu's North Shore to surf monster waves. The Montana/Idaho edition of "surfing Pipe" involves a drysuit, stinky people, and one gorgeous, green, glassy wave on the Lochsa River.

Matt Sylvester gives Pipe a rip in his R.A.D. (short for Radical Aerial Device).
  • Matt Sylvester gives Pipe a rip in his R.A.D. (short for Radical Aerial Device).

The Lochsa is about an hour and a half from the bustling metropolis of Missoula, and nice-looking days draw nice-looking crews of river-people out from the woodworks. The whole stretch is about 8 miles (according to my uber-sensitive nose radar), and it packs in some great Class III-IV rapids. Lochsa Falls feels like a car accident if you haven't been in a boat all winter.... like yours truly.

Bobby Ty shows the world a shudder rudder -- which is an old school freestyle move on par with the Pirouette, which also happens to be the name of his big purple phat ride.
  • Bobby Ty shows the world a "shudder rudder" — which is an old school freestyle move on par with the Pirouette, which also happens to be the name of his big purple phat ride.

Since moving to Missoula, I've noticed a lot of SUPpers in this neck of the woods. SUP is a totally dude-ical acronym for Stand-Up Paddleboarding. I'm not sure if they're invasive or endemic to local waterways. They rip up the surf waves just like dem kayaker-peeps!

Stand-Up Paddleboarding: its getting big, people.
  • Stand-Up Paddleboarding: it's getting big, people.

Well, a good day on the water often finishes up with a good dose of post-paddle gab and catching up. Matt Sylvester is one of Montana's native rippin' paddlers.

He summarizes Pipeline as "tasty surfing treats," which is Sylvester-speak for really effing fun.

Like gold-detailed t-shirts from Mexico, Pipeline is a one-of-a-kind surf wave in the region.
  • Like gold-detailed t-shirts from Mexico, Pipeline is a one-of-a-kind surf wave in the region. Matt Sylvester reflects on a day of "tasty surfing treats."

You can read more about the exploits of Mr. Sylvester and the rest of Missoula's creeking community in the latest issue of Montana Headwall.

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