As temperatures creep into summertime territory, crowds at the Bend Whitewater Park are on the rise.

Ryan Richard, the park’s wave shaper, said initial reviews of the revamped whitewater channel have been positive. The park was open for just under a month last fall, and over the winter it was remodeled to include a smoother safe passage channel and a surfer-friendly wave in the whitewater channel.

“The overall vibe and energy of the park is extremely high,” Richard said. “Surfers, kayakers, boogie boarders — they’re all loving the park.”

On Tuesday, with afternoon temperatures hovering near 80, close to a dozen surfers and boogie boarders took turns on the surf wave, while a smattering of kayakers played and practiced in the other waves of the whitewater channel.

Much like when he worked as the wave master at the Boise, Idaho, whitewater park, Richard said, the regulars set the tone for how park visitors behave, and so far, that’s worked well.

Richard said a first-time visitor should follow the example of others — paddle or wade out to the edge of the surf wave, take your place in line and, when the time comes, put your board in the water and climb on.

There’s no official limit for how long a park visitor can stay on the surf wave, he said, but riders have adopted an unofficial standard that they should spend their time on the wave attempting progressively more difficult moves. Most riders exit the wave when they wipe out attempting something beyond their abilities, Richard said — even the most talented surfers and boogie boarders on hand Tuesday spent no more than a minute to a minute and a half on the wave.

Richard said as the weather continues warming, he expects congestion in the safe passage channel to be a bigger concern than long lines for the surf waves.

Signs with pictures of the waves in the safe passage channel will be posted upstream at Riverbend Park where many floaters put in, Richard said. The winter renovations included the construction of a trail along the shoreline, where any floater who feels unable to handle the channel’s Class II rapids can exit.

In the safe passage channel Tuesday afternoon, a kayaker paddled upstream against the small rapids, while a pair of teen boys waded in the shallows. Richard said such activities are fine this early in the season but will be discouraged as the number of floaters in the safe passage channel swells.

“I think the blanket rule is, so long as you’re not impeding anybody from floating down or getting in anybody’s way, go ahead,” he said.

Helmets and board leashes are not required at the park but are encouraged.

— Reporter: 541-383-0387, shammers@bendbulletin.com