Surfing on a river?

(robandrus) · (robandrus) **Join Date: Feb 2002** 02-19-2007, 9:18 PM

Yesterday a friend and I were scoping out a couple of spots on the Provo river where you could tie a rope to a bridge and try to surf the rapids. Has anyone tried this before? We found a few with a nice current and some rolling rapids. One concern is that I only have skim style boards and I worry I might not have enough flotation. Also a leash is a definite must have.

(abhoe157) · (abhoe157) **Join Date: Feb 2007** 02-19-2007, 10:17 PM

umm arent rapids made by the water hitting rocks and being diverted?? probably not the safest idea

meyerb 02-19-2007, 11:21 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0tRXWFIpEA

(nickypoo) · (nickypoo) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 02-20-2007, 9:13 AM

There's a spot I've been eye balling for a while now. Problem is it's right in the middle of a kayak park.

I wouldn't worry too much about the skim/floatation issue. Once underway, the shape of the board has way more to do with keeping you up. The only thing floatation really helps with is getting up from a belly start.

Go hit that river and get some video.

A brain bucket and a vest are probably a good idea as well.

(surfnfury65) · (surfnfury65) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 02-20-2007, 10:03 AM

We surfed the South Fork of the American River. We scouted the river first to find a spot to surf. Took a trail well upstream. Jumped in and floated down to our surf spot. You need to pay close attention or you will float right by it. Anyway once you find the right spot the current from the water hitting an underground obsticle with produce a wave on the surface. Once you are there surf on. The wave continues to change so you will und up down stream. We had helmets and PFD's on.
Late$
Wadd

(robandrus) · (robandrus) **Join Date: Feb 2002** 02-20-2007, 2:59 PM

Bryan, that's about what I had in mind. It would be nice If I could drop the handle. Water is way too cold right now, but I'm getting the itch.

I'll be sure to wear the helmet and try to have a safety rope down stream when you get swept away.

I would be jumping in from the side with a rope. I'll try to get some pics of the spot later.

(lostrider19) · (lostrider19) **Join Date: Feb 2007** 02-20-2007, 6:00 PM

Heres a mellow ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ93TMG65JQ
this is insane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcQ-vIKZbics

This summer me and some friends are gonna try and surf the wakarusa wave

(caskimmer) · (caskimmer) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 02-21-2007, 6:44 AM

more my style-http://www.wavehouseathleticclub.com/content.aspx?id=34

(Message edited by CAskimmer on February 21, 2007)

(alan_bogdanoff)

that's what i'm all about sean.

(robandrus) · (robandrus) **Join Date: Feb 2002** 02-21-2007, 12:44 PM

If only they had one of those in Utah.

(robandrus) · (robandrus) **Join Date: Feb 2002** 03-07-2007, 7:06 PM

Here's a pic of one of the nice spots, its starting to warm up a bit. I would tie a rope to the bridge to help me start and then hopefully be able to drop the rope and surf. Upload

(surfnfury65) · (surfnfury65) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 03-08-2007, 11:57 AM

I would stay away from the low head dam. They are a death trap trap. The white water at the base of it called a hole, stopper, or keeper. The water flowing over the dam is forced downward in a loop style reversal. The rebounding water splits at the surface and some is pushed downstream and part flows back upstream. The reverse flow tends to have the object recirculated, stopped or kept, hence the name stopper or keeper. Bacically you can get stuck in the whitewater and continually pulled under without moving downstream.
Board More/Work Less!
Wadd$

(nickypoo) · (nickypoo) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 03-08-2007, 1:50 PM

Whoa, yeah, you don't want to surf that. As tempting as that nice glassy face is, Johnny is right, death trap. Natural formations are dangerous enough, but a low head dam, bad news dude.

(robandrus) · (robandrus) **Join Date: Feb 2002** 03-09-2007, 2:17 PM

I think the picture may make the river look bigger than it is. At most its about 2-3 feet deep here. I'm 6'4". Personally I wouldn't really be worried about it. We would have a spotter with rope on the shore to pull you out if needed. Helmet, wetsuit and vest worn. But because of your warning I will definitely use extra caution.

So if I do try it, wouldn't the best place to surf be right on top of the whitewash?

(robandrus) · (robandrus) **Join Date: Feb 2002** 03-09-2007, 2:20 PM

Hey Nick, I saw a thing on the discovery channel the other day about a guy up in Oregon who does it all the time on a big river up there. In the documentary all the kyakers cheered him on and thought it was awesome. You might be surprised how people react if you ask nicely.

(smedman) · (smedman) **Join Date: Feb 2006** 03-09-2007, 4:44 PM

Hi Rob,
We did something similar when I was living in Provo on a low head dam (at least looked similar to your pic). But we were never able to surf freely - always had to have a rope. I think we actually had it attached to the board (piece of plywood in our case).

That spot may work but you might try looking for more of a freestanding wave. Check out this pic:
http://www.riversurfing.ca/index.php?page=pics&folder=pics/10th%20Street%202005&img=10street.jpg&parent=pics/

(houdini) · (houdini) **Join Date: Aug 2005** 03-12-2007, 2:20 PM

i second the 'don't do it' vibe. In cincinnati a few years ago a boat dealer died on a test drive. the boat stalled out on a river and went over a very small dam. the water is very shallow there and it doesn't look dangerous. the two people could not get out of that 'stopper/keeper'. i couldn't believe that after riding on that river several times. i didn't think you would be 'trapped', but it happened.

don't want to be debbie downer, but those things are big time dangerous. if you do it - have a couple spotters with ropes. that would help imo