By Michael Meru
Once Labor Day has passed, most people put the covers on their boats and store them for the winter, but for a small group of dedicated wake boarders, the only thing that will keep them out of the water is a frozen lake.
'It was early November at Deer Creek and there was snow on the ground,' said Brett Hadley, a junior from San Clemente, Calif. majoring in biology, about a day of wake boarding last season. 'It was so cold.'
Most Utah lakes keep its boat launching ramps open for as long as weather and water depth permit.
The three closest wake boarding destinations to BYU are Utah Lake, Deer Creek Reservoir and Jordanelle Reservoir. As of Sept. 16, 2003, the water temperatures for each of these destinations were between 70 and 73 degrees, which is quite warm considering the cold weather as of late.
'The boat ramps are closed at Provo Harbor in Utah Lake, but we''re not sure if people are launching from other places,' said Hollie Brown, a public affairs specialist for the Utah State Parks and Recreation service. 'We patrol the Provo Harbor and the water is only three feet deep, but our ramps at Deer Creek and Jordanelle are still open.'
With the lakes remaining open for as long as weather permits, eager wake boarders are allowed to get in the water until the lake literally freezes over.
'You can go until about snowfall,' Hadley said. 'It depends on how hardcore the people are. Do they have a wetsuit, or even better, do they have a dry suit? It basically comes down to how bad you want it.'
The water temperature at the three local lakes drops from the mid to upper 70s in the summer and into the 30s until the lake eventually freezes over. That is why it is a must to have a wetsuit or a dry suit.
'I''ve been riding into late October up the canyon at Deer Creek and it is freezing,' said Paul Jacinto a senior from Encinitas, Calif., majoring in business. 'I didn''t wear a wetsuit and I would never do it again without one.'
That is why most late season wake boarders will opt for a wetsuit and then a dry suit once the water becomes too cold for a wetsuit.
Though the dry suit keeps a person much warmer than a wetsuit, it does have its downfalls.
'Riding in a dry suit is a lot stiffer,' Hadley said. 'It is not nearly as free as a wetsuit, but once you feel the water, you are sure glad you have it. When it''s 30 degrees outside, it is the only way to go.'
According to the Utah State Parks and Recreation service, there are a lot more people in recent years that have taken up wake boarding. The lakes have become increasingly crowded, and that is why the parks'' service has attempted to provide more docks, launching ramps and recreation areas to accommodate the ever-growing number of people heading to the lakes. The numbers of people dramatically drop after Labor Day and continue to diminish thereafter.
This increasing number of wake boarders has lead to a recognizable jump in the talent level of local riders.
'I have been wake boarding here for the last two years, and you see a lot more people every year pulling killer stuff,' said Bob Jackson, a senior from Sacramento Calif. majoring in marketing. 'I do think that a lot of the guys that you see pulling all of the huge tricks are from other areas in the country because the seasons there start earlier and end later, if at all. In Sac-town, it''s still 100 degrees, and my boys have more time in the water.'
Hadley agrees the level of talent in Utah has increased.
'The Utah scene over the past four years has gotten so much better because everyone does it now,' he said. 'It is to hot here during the summer to do anything else.'
The Utah State Parks and Recreation service keeps day usage fees as low as possible to enable everyone to be able to use the resources available.
Deer Creek, Jordanelle and Utah Lake all charge $9 for day use that includes use of the boat ramps, docks and all other facilities.
During the summer months at Jordanelle Reservoir, it is possible to rent boats, and other water vehicles to use on the lake, but after Labor Day that is no longer an option.
Though Deer Creek, Jordanelle and Utah Lake are the closest wake boarding destinations to BYU, the park service has many other areas in Utah that are excellent for water sports. A list of these state parks with information regarding pricing and location can be found at www.stateparks.utah.gov.
Jackson said no matter the time of year or temperature outside 'you have to get the last one out of your system before winter comes.'