No ocean around for 600 miles.
What ’s gnarlier than Hawaii ’s Banzai Pipeline or Mavericks in California ? Jumping into four degree Celsius water and stay upright on a undulation that never breaks . That ’s the boot — and challenge — of river surfing , an increasingly popular niche variation that would make John John Florence clutch his eight - clique and weep . One of the world ’s largest and most passionate communities of these hearty jock pay heed ten year - round in an unexpected destination : Alberta , Canada .
“ If someone ’s never heard of river surfing , I describe it as like to wake surfing , ” sound out Andrea Juska , a Calgary - free-base surfboarder who has been a member of theAlberta River Surfing Associationsince 2015 . While traditional surfriding relies on catching a wave and let it carry you , river surfing is more about wrestling a electrostatic wave into meekness . Superhuman pith strength and counterpoise are required to go against the current until you inevitably come down off your control panel — some more graciously than others . Skateboarders , who must get over weight distribution in order of magnitude to perform joke like kickflips and ollies , tend to be ready learners .
In river surfriding , many undulation are natural , triggered by a sudden drop in the river bottom ’s elevation or by water flowing downstream . But what nature giveth , nature taketh off . A wave can abruptly melt or become un - rideable with heavy rainfall or as the snow melt each season . That ’s one reason man - made wave , which can be orient for novice and are operational year - round , are becoming more common .
Photo by Module Creative
Recently , Alberta has check an influx of hokey moving ridge projects , thanks to the efforts of the Alberta River Surfing Association , their local partner , andSurf Anywhere , an establishment dedicated to building river waves around the populace . One such wave include the aptly key Mountain Wave on the Lower Kananaskis River , found about 45 second west of Calgary in Kananaskis Provincial Park . Surfers travel from around the world to live its epic , swift waters . ( Those looking for a chiller drive should control out nearby Santa Claus to exercise how to control their board in rapid ) .
The Alberta River Surfing Association has plenty of Isle of Man - made wafture projects in the pipeline , too , which prognosticate to turn this neighborhood into the unquestioned North Shore of Canada within the next few years . In addition to defend the development of theCalgary River Wave Park , a downtown urban beach at the urban center ’s 10th Street Bridge , they ’re planning an innovativeadjustable waveat Kananaskis that can pitch physique on requirement , allow surfboarder to perform left , right , roll , and A - frames . Anew parkin neighbour Cochrane is in the works as well .
While river surfing is n’t unique to Alberta , or even Canada ( surfing on stomach wafture was born all the elbow room back in the 1970 ’s in Munich , of all places , when a group of enterprising surfers balanced on rudimentary wooden planks in the Eisbach River ) the inner community of interests has adopted the strange sport as its own — and for good intellect . Calgary , which is more than 600 miles by from the nearest ocean , but conveniently butt on the province ’s most spectacular wild , such asBanff National Park , provides easy access code to magnificent , muscular rivers .
Alberta River Surfing Association
“ Calgarians sleep together their outdoor natural action , ” order Juska . “ We care any cause to be outside and enjoy nature . Surfing also has this kind of mystique about it . It ’s a mutation that not a lot of us get to do as we develop up . ”
Although the spate might be the last lieu you would think to bring along your control panel , theCanadian Rockies ’ glacier - fed rivers provide idealistic ( albeit icy ) conditions for surfing . It does n’t spite that they ’re pretty damn scenic , too .
“ I think what makes Calgary unique is that we ’ve got the Rocky Mountains , ” says Flora Lee , an Alberta River Surfing Association member . “ It ’s just such a beautiful circumstance . ”
Alberta River Surfing Association
An ocean surfboarder who move to Calgary from Oahu , Hawaii back in 2017 , Lee was make in by another major charm of Alberta ’s river surfriding scene : its sense of community of interests .
“ I was a little sad , because I was suddenly landlocked — then I saw citizenry surfing under the [ 10th Street ] bridge circuit , ” she says . “ That bewilder me concerned . I took a object lesson , and the rest is history . Everyone is very welcoming . They ’re well-chosen to reply any questions , spread the love , and encourage the sport , so we can get more multitude necessitate . ”
For both Lee and Juska , feeling the musical accompaniment of other strong women surfers and build a friendly relationship with them has become an intrinsical asset . While they estimate that women make up less than 50 % of local surfers , their figure are rapidly increase . In the late Mountain Wave Classic contender , there were 21 manly surfers compared to nine women . The previous year , only three women competed .
Photo courtesy of Julia Barnes
“ There ’s not an official cleaning lady ’s group , but it is in spades a sisterhood , ” say Juska . “ We go down up our own surf chat and breaker nights . We even have a weekend come up where we ’re doing a ladies camp . Not that we ’re boot out the guys , they are welcome to join , but it was organize and drive by us . I ’ve had some really magical sessions where we ’ve had almost all women in the piddle . ”
hang out by the south channel ofHarvie Passageon Calgary ’s Bow River , it ’s easy to read the appeal of such an inclusive vibe . Surfers line up to take turns on the “ bunny James Jerome Hill , ” a gentle , absolvitory wave that ’s great for safe exercise , stepping out of the line to chat or give pointers to young kids . An informal audience gathers on the rock and roll nearby , sipping kombucha , groaning at rub - outs and warmly spat those who oversee to stay stand for more than ten s . ( Hey , this variation ishard . ) The crowd barely range a sideways coup d’oeil when a gentleman’s gentleman lifts his yorkie — in a mini wetsuit no less — onto his board to surf à deux . All case and style are welcome here . It ’s cleared that river surfing , in Alberta at least , is strictly about playfulness .
It ’s this warm , come - one - come - all spirit that make it the pure spot for uninitiated river surfboarder to souse their toe in the frigid flow . So how can you join in ? depart by capture an first appearance degree wave like the one at Harvie Passage , which is typically open from mid - April to Thanksgiving .
Alberta River Surfing Association
“ That ’s how we learned , ” says Juska . “ Just hang out by the waves , talk to citizenry , and ask questions . ‘ Can you give me some pointer ? How should I position the control panel ? What base hit concern should I know about ? ’ ”
For extra counsel ( or those with extra nerves ) the Alberta River Surfing Association offers lessons . Bow Valley SUP & Surfcan kit up you up with rental power train ( including that duncical wetsuit ) , while the Alberta River Surfing Association’sFacebook groupis another great resourcefulness for homework .
Ultimately , Juska and Lee harmonise that practice and patience are central . After all , it can take a longsighted time to see real progress .
“ It consider me a year just to be able to stay on the undulation on my abdomen , ” says Lee . “ But everybody is different . Other people pick it up just like that . My advice is to fete the small victories . ”
Let ’s be honest — surfing on a motionless undulation was never really about take someplace fast , anyway .
