I tried to jump in from the side and drop in from above. The wave wasn’t strong enough to hold the tube.

The transfer is the easy part

Then I wanted to try and do a board transfer onto the river wave. The transfer is the easy part. Getting onto the wave with two boards was really hard. A board transfer doesn’t count if you don’t paddle onto the wave with the boards yourself.

Finally after a few tries I got onto the wave and made it happen!

I ended my surf session on an inflatable surfboard. It surfs so well from rail to rail for an inflatable. I never have to worry about dinging it up or anything! One of the best investments in my quiver!

The post River Surfing Board Transfer appeared first on Riverbreak.

My brother’s truck decided to stop working and I was looking for any excuse to get a van of some kind. So I gave him the keys to my Lexus. I began the hunt for my perfect river surfing mobile. All my friends have sprinter vans. So that’s where I started.

It is going to take me to all the best waves I can think of.

I looked at full size sprinter style vans and cargo vans. But they all felt empty. They just didn’t seem to fit my lifestyle. I needed something I would be able to balance between my home life and river surfing. Finally I found a mini van that was perfect for what I needed.

DIY river surfing camper

A Car that Fits your Lifestyle

This may not be the van everyone had in mind for me. But it is mine and it is perfect for my life. It gets better gas mileage than a sprinter or cargo. Has just about as much room as a cargo (4 ft X 8 ft). Oh yeah, and the seats fold into the floor! So I can take the bed platform out and easily accommodate passengers. Best part of it is that it is going to take me to all the best waves I can think of!

When I converted the van I made sure everything could easily be taken out and put back in! It’s like a transformer van that is super stealth. I mean who sees a mini van and thinks someone is camping out in it?! Take a look at the video to see my transformer conversion!

The post How to Turn your Vehicle into the Ultimate River Surfing Mobile appeared first on Riverbreak.

Design, Volume and Shape

When choosing a surfboard for the river the most important thing to think about is design. Would you rather surf a board shaped for the ocean or a board specifically shaped for a river? Don’t get me wrong an ocean board could do the trick just fine. I surfed on them for years. But nothing will beat a board shaped specifically for the river.

Volume is the next thing you want to think about. Volume of a board is really important because it is a board floatation. Most river waves are pretty mushy and a higher volume board will surf better and ride more waves than a lower volume board. A lighter construction and overall weight can help add to the volume of a board.

Nothing beats a board shaped specifically for the river.

Shape of the board is equally important. A lot of river waves will require a shorter board with proper nose and tail rocker to fit into the wave and surf well. From my personal experience a nose rocker should be anywhere from 3”-3.5” and a tail rocker from 1”-1.5”. You are also going to want to look for a little wider tail. A board with a wider tail is going to allow for more push while on the wave. Which means on a smaller and softer wave, your board will stay on the wave better.

One Board Quiver?

Would you rather surf a board shaped for the ocean?

A lot of people are looking for the answer for the one board quiver. There are really not many boards out there that will meet all these specifications and surf pretty much any wave you will encounter. The Badfish Sk8 is one of the few boards that I have found to be a perfect answer to the one quiver board. I ride the 5’ which is a whopping 48.5 liters. It has perfect tail and nose rocker. I know that it will surf the powerful high performance waves (like River Run Park, Boise and Bend), it will surf the mushier waves that require the higher volume (like Glenwood Surfer Left and other local small waves) and it will definitely surf big waves (Glenwood Surfer Right, Pipeline and Lunch Counter)

So I go back to the question everyone river surfer should ask themselves … Would you rather surf a board shaped for the ocean? Or, something shaped specifically for the river? Something that will perform well no matter what wave you end up at? It’s a no brainer!

Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more useful videos and tipps on river surfing!

The post How to Choose a River Surfboard appeared first on Riverbreak.

Here is Timo’s Apnea philosophy and all you need to know about the ApneaSurf camps and courses he offers:

Control, power and hard training is what you don’t need to hold your breath for a couple of minutes. The will to learn, to accept and let go are more important then strength. First, it’s crucial to develop a deep understanding of how your body and mind actually work. Your body can do way more than you think it’s capable of. Most of what you need to hold your breath longer, is already in you. So simple? Yes and No.

Your body can do way more than you think it’s capable of.

What happens when you are hold-down by a strong wave or in a nasty low-head dam? Think like “I can stay here for a while”. The goal is to achieve a relaxed state. This helps you to keep a clear mind allowing you to set effective actions instead of panicking. While being under water you often need to do the exact opposite of what your mind tells you.

ApneaSurf takes the knowledge of breathing and breath-holding and brings it to the surf community, where the situation is more like an emergency breath-hold

You need to change your current pattern and stop thinking about time. Thinking about time leads to stress, which leads to muscle contraction, which consumes oxygen leading to a much stronger urge to breath. Understanding the physiology of your breath-hold gives you a huge advantage in knowing what’s going on in your body, finally giving you the confidence you need to endure longer hold-downs.

 Relaxation and the right mindset are key to endure longer hold-downs.

We are now offering ApneaSurf courses to improve your breath-hold during emergency situations. Usually, people start off with in a group or 1by1 Skype session. After spending time on listening to yourself and accepting your physical sensation the next step is to get more comfortable with holding your breath under water. In our courses we mix, dry and/or wet sessions to simulate different situations.

The following ApneaSurf courses and camps are available at freedive-your-life.com:

1. 1by1 SkypeSession to master your fears and experience what holds you back in taking the next step
2. Course (1 Day) for up to 4 persons in the pool or lake (dry+wet)
3. Workshops (1/2 – 1 Day) up to 20 persons in a dry environment
4. Camp (1 – X Days) at the Lake Constance (Bodensee) – WakeSurfing, ApneaSurf-Workshop, SUP, Camping, Grill and Chill

Stay safe and keep the stoke alive!
Timo, Freedive-Instructor & Systemic Coach | freedive-your-life.com

The post Surf Apnea – Maximise the Length of your Breath-Hold appeared first on Riverbreak.

Duct Tape

It can be a session saver, but by no means should it be considered a season saver. Duct tape is not waterproof and will let water into your board over time. That water will cause your foam and fiberglass to mould and rot and will destroy your board. Use a waterproof tape to get you through a session or local two, but have a ding repaired as soon as possible if you want to get the most out of your board. But be careful which type of tape you use. Those that are for industrial applications do a good job of keeping water out but have very strong adhesives, which may tear off some of the good fiberglass when you attempt to remove the tape or it may leave a residue that is a nightmare to get off.

Dings at the tail and on the rails, previously covered in duct tape

Waterlogged foam around the fin boxes

Fin Boxes

Older boards tend to have FCS X2 fin plugs, which are two individual plugs per fin (one per fin tab). Many newer boards have FCS Fusion or FCSII boxes (or Futures, of course). These boxes are stronger and much less likely than fin plugs to pop out if you hit a fin on a rock or something else that is hard. However, they do tend to crack around the edges, which can let water in, which can lead to foam rot when water gets in.

If the foam around the fin boxes has rotted, there are a couple of options for repair. One is to rip out the fin boxes and replace with new ones, but both Fusion and FCSII boxes were meant to be installed before the board is glassed, so this is not ideal (though not impossible). A new method that I just tried was to remove all of the rotten foam, replace with filler, and to fill in, paint, and glass over the existing Fusion boxes without removing them. I then drilled them out and installed FCS X2 plugs directly into the old Fusion plugs. This works well because FCS X2 plugs are meant to be installed after a board is glassed. I’m quite happy with the results – they are as solid as the original Fusion boxes and were easier and cheaper to install.

New fin boxes installed and dings repaired

Board ready to shred again

Final Note

My goal is to continue to share this sort of information with our community when I see specific problems arise. I don’t expect to get rich doing repairs, and I’m certainly not able to quit my day job, so I would rather try to educate others so that they can keep their equipment finely tuned and significantly increase the lifespan of their boards.

The post Tales from the Repair Shop: Duct Tape Nightmare and Installing Fin Boxes appeared first on Riverbreak.

What Equipment You Need

As a starter, here is is the most essential gear advice on how to make the right choices when buying your first river surfing equipment.

River Surfboard

Your board is important, without it you cant surf. The size of your board will be impacted by a few things. First, you will want a board that has enough volume to float your body weight. Second, what waves will you be surfing it on? You want to make sure you get a board that will fit into the wave you are surfing. In most cases your are going to want to stay under 6′. If you are surfing a high performance river wave like the Boise, Denver or Bend wave you can get away with a low volume board even if you are a heavier rider.

Helmet

I always wear a helmet because you never know what could happen. Check out the River Surfing Helmets Buying Guide where you will find everything that you need to know to make the right choice.

PFD / Life Jacket

Personal Floatation Device. This will help you save energy on the swims in between surfs. It is also helpful in the event you need to be recued because it will keep you floating above the waterline and give rescuers something to hold onto.

Leash

Leashes are expectable under one condition: They need to be attached to a quick release of some kind. Otherwise leashes can be a death trap! Before you go out, make yourself familiar with leash safety.

Footwear and Neoprene

Depending on the water and weather temp, wetsuits are a great idea. Wearing a wetsuit will allow you to surf longer and prevent hypothermia. Depending on the river depth you may want to wear surf booties. They are thick enough to provide a little protection and thin enough that you can still feel the board beneath your feet.

Finding River Waves

Visit Your Local Surf Shop

Finding river waves is easier than you might think. You can go to your local kayak, SUP or inland surf shop to find out where local spots are.

Go Online

You can even youtube river surfing in your area to find out about new waves. Another way is to search online for any info related to rafting and playboating. Another great way to find suitable waves is Google Earth.

Use the River Wave Map

Use the worldwide river surfing map or browse through the most comprehensive list of river waves here on Riverbreak.

Catching a River Wave

Catching a river wave is the hardest part about river surfing. There are a few different ways you can catch a river wave. The techniques may vary depending on what wave you are trying to catch.

Dropping in

Dropping into a river wave is the closest feeling to paddling into an ocean wave. To do this you will need to enter the river some distance above the river wave. Hop into the water and paddle up river to position yourself with the pocket of the river wave. Once you start to drop onto the river wave continue to paddle up river until you feel the board catch the wave.

Jumping in from the side

To jump into a wave from the side you need to position yourself nest to the wave on rocks or in the water. Make sure you have a good solid foundation to jump from. You will be facing up river next to the wave. Glide out onto the wave on the board in a prone position. Once on the wave take a few paddle strokes to ensure you catch the wave.

Acid dropping

This is one of the most fun and difficult ways to catch a river wave. You will need to position yourself on a solid platform or rock next to the wave. Face up river holding your board in your hand with the deck facing your body. You want to glide onto the board with your feet as smooth as possible with forward momentum onto the wave. Once you hit the pocket of the wave apply pressure with your front foot or back foot to straighten out on the wave.

Risks and Safety Measures

Be aware that there are significant risks involved in river surfing, so make sure you are familiar with the risks and safety measures in river surfing. Always ask local surfers, check the river at low-flow and look for any potential dangers upriver and downriver before you go in. Also, check out our information on leash safety.

Surf more, surf better & stay safe with these river surfing tips!

Don’t take it too seriously and have fun! Catching a wave and becoming comfortable will take some time. Hit me up on my social media with any questions.

Instagram: @alexandermauer
facebook.com/alex.mauer1
facebook.com/alexmauersup

The post River Surfing Tutorial for Beginners appeared first on Riverbreak.

An acid drop is done in one motion where you jump on the board just before it hits the wave. Here’s the most important things to consider if you want to stick this trick:

• Grab the board in the middle with your back hand
• Spot your landing
• Make sure you don’t lean too far back, you want to be centred on your board or even just a little bit forward when dropping in
• Jump high enough to be able to get your board underneath you
• Stabilise on the board right after landing. You can also use the momentum you gained from the drop to generate speed for pulling off higher airs (see Flo Kummer and his infamous river surfing kickflip for instance)
• Try low heights first and then progress to drop from more extreme heights

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Dan Mateer has compiled this sequence shot of Ben Nielsen that allows you to convey the entire movement step-by-step (see photo sequence below). Also consider this tip by Ben: “Once you throw the board look where you want your feet to land.”

Photo: Dan Mateer capturing Ben Nielsen dropping onto Denver Wave.

Still not getting it right? One of the most common mistakes is lack of commitment — so if you wanna go, go for it! Once you go, you really got to commit to it!

Note: You are responsible for your actions (see disclaimer).

The post River Surfing Tricknology: How to Do an Acid Drop appeared first on Riverbreak.

The post How To Improve Your Turns and Carves in River Surfing appeared first on Riverbreak.

There are two types of river surf waves — Hydraulic Jumps and Sheet Flows. A Hydraulic Jump Wave forms when fast moving water slows down because of the water downstream, called “tailwater”. There are many examples of Hydraulic Jump Waves:

• Eisbach
• Czech Wave
• Lochsa Pipeline
• Brennan’s Wave
• Boise River Park
• Lunch Counter in Wyoming
• and countless other river waves.

By contrast, a Sheet Flow Wave forms when fast moving water flows over a bottom contour that shapes the wave but is not affected by the tailwater. The best example of this is the Cunovo Wave in Slovakia. Note in the video how much the pool downstream is below the wave – not impacting the wave at all. In general, a hydraulic jump wave is the only type that forms naturally in rivers. I suppose a sheet flow wave could form in a river, but I personally have never seen or ridden one.

Hydraulic Jump Wave or Sheet Flow Wave?

I have been asked which is better a Hydraulic Jump Wave or Sheet Flow Wave? That is a tough question and probably more of a personal preference. For me, I can’t tell the difference when I’m surfing as long as the sheet flow wave is deep enough to ride full profile and stiff fins. Although shallow sheet flow waves like the FlowRider™ are super fun, I prefer the feeling of driving through turns as only fins allow. Hydraulic Jump and Sheet Flow Waves are formed by two fundamental elements — hydraulic drop and flow.

Flow: It’s obvious but without water there are no river waves. Also without enough water it’s not deep enough to surf. My experience is that a minimum flow for a surf wave is about 15 cubic feet per second (cfs) per foot of width of wave (1 cubic meter per second per meter) but this is very dependent on various hydraulic conditions.

Hydraulic Drop: This is energy available to create the wave. More drop equals bigger waves right? Not exactly, there are practical limits. In general, 2 to 4 feet of drop is ample to create good waves.

Neil Egsgard with the Surf Anywhere Project wrote a great article for Riverbreak on the basic elements needed to create river waves. Check it out for more info.

The Four Types of Hydraulic Wave Formations

My expertise is designing Hydraulic Jump Waves. That’s the kind of wave most commonly surfed. Hydraulic jumps are affected by many factors, none more than tailwater, the depth of water in the downstream pool. Depending on tailwater there are typically four unique wave/hole formations:

#1: Pour Over (Lowest Tailwater) — Can be hazardous to river users due to strong upstream currents.

#2: B Jump (Low Tailwater) — A hole formation (breaking wave) that occurs just downstream of the structure.

#3: Max Wave (Perfect Tailwater) — The holy grail for river surfing.

#4: A Jump (High Tailwater) — Hole formation (breaking wave) that occur on the structure.

Video Illustrating the Various Wave Forms

Check out this video during a MWDG physical model that illustrates the various wave forms. Note how the wave form changes with tailwater. Can you find the four wave forms?

As you can see in the video, the Max Wave, what we all want to ride, is very sensitive. The height and steepness needed to surf requires a specific tailwater depth. Herein lies the crux of the wave building problem. To further complicate the matter, there are many variables besides tailwater that affect Max Wave — drop, flow, geometry of wave structure, slope of approach, downstream pool configuration, and others.

How to Design a Max Wave

There are two approaches to effectively design a Max Wave. Trial and error may work in canals and other very controlled environments but still may never yield a Max Wave suitable for surfing due to so many variables or may be cost prohibitive particularly in natural rivers.

Real-Time Adjustability – WaveShaper™ (developed by MWDG) to solve the Max Wave problem. The WaveShaper™ can be adjusted to affect the approach angle, drop, and tailwater relative to the structure – three of the biggest factors. Design is still very important even with real-time adjustability because the range that Max Wave occurs is still easily missed. In addition, the more adjustability a feature has the higher the cost so accurate design is key. The Boise River Park is a good example to illustrate how the WaveShaper™ works and it’s applicability to river surfing.

Static Features – Boulders or concrete structures. This requires the highest level of design and experience to reliably create a Max Wave. MWDG designed a static feature called the Treadmill Wave in Columbus Georgia. In general, the best static feature waves occur with higher flows than required by the WaveShaper™, which is often not available.

Getting your Wave Built

So what does all this mean to ripping your first turns? If you surf a man-made wave already, consider yourself lucky and buy the designers/builders a beer (or two) next time you see them, it’s a great accomplishment. If you want one built in your town, get in touch with an experience designer that has had success building surf waves. If you are keeping it natural, keep hunting around that next bend and hope for highwater. See you on the river.

By: Ben Nielsen, PE, LEED AP

The post The Two Types of River Waves: Which One Are You Surfing On? appeared first on Riverbreak.

River surfing has grown so much in the past 5 years. I love the sport and I really want everyone to have fun and be safe! When I founded the WRSA (World River Surfing Association) back in 2002, I was driven to share my stoke and my river surfing knowledge. One of the very first pages I built for the WRSA website was dedicated to safety. I listed many issues, but the main concern I had was the use of leashes. It has been about 5 years since I have really involved myself with the promotion of river surfing and I have not been vocal about the direction of the sport.

Now with the explosion of our sport I must speak out: LEASHES SHOULD NEVER BE WORN ON A RIVER! I have so much to share but I do not want to share anything else at this time other than: LEASHES SHOULD NEVER BE WORN ON A RIVER!

 Any kind of rope on a river is a death trap.

When I started river surfing there were no other river surfers for me to surf with. All my earliest river peers were kayakers and raft guides. One of the first lessons I learned, was that any kind of rope on a river is a death trap. Now even many of my old friends from the kayak world who are river surfers now, are breaking this rule. In the future it is very likely there will be a fatality if this trend continues.

The only place I have ever worn a leash is Skookumchcuk Narrows. I did not wear a leash when I surfed Rapid #11 of the Zambezi river. I did take a 30 second hold down at Rapid #11 and ended up a solid 200ft down stream before I surfaced. But the risk of having a leash hang up on a rock was just to great. I would rather take a 30 second hold down than take a trip to the morgue.

So my question is this … Why would you wear a leash on a small wave with no dangers similar to what Skookumchuck Narrows presents? The answer is … you wouldn’t.

If you own a surfshop that caters to river surfing, if you are a leader in your river surfing community or if your just a river surfer who cares about the safety of others on the river, please speak up. From Munich to Missoula the time has come to make sure there are no leashes on rivers!

Please see Negs article on this subject for a more critical analysis of leashes on rivers.

Aloha
Mack

The post Elijah Speaking Up on Safety appeared first on Riverbreak.