Opposites Attract: How Paddling Draws Us to and Back to BV

OUR COMMUNITY

eric2 by: Earl Richmond

Recreational activities seem to be a focus of many people’s lives. It is not uncommon for people to move or relocate to areas that provide ample opportunity for fun outside of work. Buena Vista fits this description as a place with unlimited amounts of outdoor activities and the best whitewater that the country has to offer. The question is how you make it P1010032

“work” once you get here. Here is a story of how two folks, Eric Gibb and Jahvea Vidakavich, were drawn to and back to Buena Vista for work and play.

Eric Gibb was raised in California and has been a long time outdoor enthusiast. He studied undergrad at Stanford then decided to attend Medical School at Tufts. “I started in the field of Oncology and quickly realized I would rather work in a more uplifting environment. That was when I realized that family practice was more up my ally.” His internship lead him to Grand Junction where he studied with Dr White, who helped Eric discover Buena Vista, Colorado. And the case was closed. Soon he and his wife Diane were packed and moving to BV 81211.

Eric fell in love with the small town feel, the river, the mountains and the abundance of clients that were in general happier and healthier than those in the big city. I asked him what his take was on that. “Probably the biggest health concern our country faces today is not cancer or heart disease, but a lack of exercise. People in Buena Vista have the ability to paddle, mountain bike or run in town right after work or even at lunch. It is a great asset for my patients and me. It shows in the health of many of our patients.”

Eric has definitely taken advantage of this situation too. We see him out most every day jogging at lunch, biking the Midland Trail, or kayaking in the Buena Vista Play Park. He loves kayaking the most but has realized that it gets pretty cold and low once late fall has arrived and the skiing is just too good through March. He was instrumental in assisting with the design and implementation of the original wave (or Uptown Hole) at the BV Whitewater Park and his practice, Mountain Medical Center, is a long time community supporter of the river park extension and with numerous other community projects. He is not only a fantastic doctor but a great asset to the community. Thanks for moving here.

Anyone who paddles in Buena Vista either knows or knows of Jahvea. You know that guy that rips up the play park in a camo life jacket. Why is he such a good paddler? Well to start he does it for his living. Huh?

Jahvea was born in Salida and raised in Buena Vista. If you want some hilarious history on BV, just sit down with Jahvea at any given time and ask him anything about the town. He knows the answer and has a story attached to it. He is young but has that “old timer’ perspective that is great to hear and is good information for those of us that did not grow up here.

His father purchased a raft when the kids where young and allowed Jahvea to get acquainted to the Arkansas River with his younger brother Coby. “Pops bought his first raft in 1984 and our family vacations were mulit-day raft trips from that year on. I was 10 and Coby was 8. We went on all of these trips with the man who wrote the book on Browns Canyon - Tom Rampton, he is the one who taught my pops to row. Also my father was the 4th round pick of the Detroit pistons in the 1966 NBA draft. I must have taken his lead because he never reported to training camp - he moved here to Buena Vista instead - no way could he have lived in Detroit.” They were addicted from the beginning. Jahvea got his first kayak in high school and had aspirations to spend the rest of his life on the water.

Jahvea was a solid enough basketball player too that he was drawn away from BV to play college hoops in Nebraska at Chadron. “I still hold the 1 year free throw percentage record In 1997 I averaged over 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists for the year. First team all conference and would have had the votes to be an All American if I wasn't such a punk. Career high in scoring was 40 pts against Metro state in 1997. Got offers to play after school in the "A" leagues in Europe but did not even return the calls - at the time I was saving all the money I could to buy a snow machine (snow mobile) and moved to Durango, the rest as they say is history.”

He made it through in 4 years and ended back Colorado, sharing time between Durango and Buena Vista. He guided rafts during the day and built kayaking helmets at night. It was fun but he wanted to do something bigger.

One summer while working as a raft guide on the Arkansas River, it came to his attention that Buffalo Joes was for sale. He and his brother now had the opportunity to take over an existing business in town in an industry they know and love. We remember the excitement in their eyes once it became public knowledge that they had purchased the business and would be running Buffalo Joes Whitewater Rafting. “It was a great opportunity for Coby and me. The business was established, had huge potential, and included a building just off E Main St. We can now make a living taking people rafting. How can you go wrong with that?”

Buffalo Joes has grown to become the most reputable outfitter on the water while increasing revenue over 100% in the past 5 years. They offer trips on every section of the Arkansas and now offer snowmobiling in winter months, under the name of Cottonwood Country Snowmobile Tours. This allows them to be open and provide recreational outing almost year round for guests of Buena Vista.

Jahvea is an avid paddler who takes advantage of all the local rivers and creeks and still finds time to travel around Colorado to keep his itch to paddle under control. I do not think anyone has ever been turned down when asking him to go out for paddle. He just loves it and is a great ambassador to the sport and our community.

It is great to learn more about people and how they end up doing what they do in the places they now call home. Buena Vista is a town of endless opportunity. I think most people would love to live here. Why not? With so much to do and so many opportunities, it is a Mecca of potential. The question to ask is how can you make it happen? The answer is, come visit and you will figure it out.

Top photo
Dr Eric Gibb “At his Practice” at the Buena Vista River Park

Middle photo
Jahvea stands united with Buffalo Joes Rafting

Bottom photo
Eric Gibb with World Champion Eric Jackson and CKS owner Earl Richmond at Paddle Fest 2007