6.8 and rising - Center surf bonanza!

Rising waters turned the Chutes into a medium level game of Frogger (look it up, you young punks!), as the quantity and quality of wood floating down increased as the evening went on. Attain up the back channel was easy enough on attainer's left and really quite easy on attainer's right in my slalom boat. Once at the top, the ferry over was also easy enough, though debris collecting in all the eddies provided occasional obstacles. I took a quick ferry over to the Virgina side of Center Chute and then back over to the wave. Ton of fun! I was joined by a few of the Calleva Cheat Elite group who had snuck away. Long boats of different stripes were catching the surging wave. The Pirouette seemed particularly well suited. And once I got it dialed in --- did I mention I missed the lesson on surfing somehow...I really suck! --- I stayed on as long as I wished. Center wave is probably long boats only starting at around 6.3. Select the "surf" tag from the right side column and find Adam Van Grack's guide to Center Chute levels, among other surf level lists folks have submitted over the years.

Carderock attains

As prep for the Cheat race, I've been doing a series of attains from Carderock to where ever water levels and daylight will permit. It's good as resistance training, aerobic endurance and mental focus --- keeping cadence and solid strokes in a situation where the mind really wants to wander. I've hit a variety of levels, from 4.6 to 3.7 so far this spring. I'm not really trying for speed, but I am clocking. The day at 4.6 took a bit over 90 minutes to Wet Bottom (yeah, pretty slow)--- but that included me getting stubborn and repeatedly trying one ledge above Maryland chute, instead of immediately choosing the alternative. Under 4 ft, I'm getting up in a little over 60 minutes. I'm hoping to cut some time off of that this week. I choose the slalom boat for over 4.2 ft and the plastic Animas for lower levels. If you've never done this attain, there is nothing particularly difficult or hazardous about it. At higher levels, the forward stroke does start getting tested in places, though. I have discovered two hazards worth noting, however. First, the bugs are out in the spring and are especially bad as you head back downstream in the twilight. I'm bringing glasses and a bandanna to keep them out of eyes and airways! The second is taking out at Carderock in the dark --- it can be tough to find and walk the proper trail. I have bruises. :-)

Potomac 6ft and falling

With dreams of long boat surfing at Center dancing in my head all day, I headed out with a new crew. Sadly, the water was falling rapidly. What had been around 6.4 that morning was already edging toward the 5s. I think it was just at 6ft when we put on.

Nevertheless, we headed up the back channel. These guys were in long or mid-sized boats, but had no real problem getting up to Dead Cow. After ferry practice across at the top, the team was out into the main Potomac.

As this was a training lesson, the main group did loops --- ferrying over to Center Chute, crashing through the wave, then back around the island on the Maryland side to attain back up to repeat. A few of the boats were well sized for the wave hole that starts to develop at Center in the upper 5s, so a few attempts were made. Other worked on ferries and the occasional roll.

Bonus info --- Center Chute wave/hole levels

Compliments of Adam van Grack...thanks, Adam!

TRADITIONAL Center Chute Wave:
5.2 - 5.5 = Hole Play for Playboats
5.5 - 6.0 = Wave Play for Playboats
6.0 - 6.3 = Wave Play for Medium/Playboats
6.4 - 6.9 = Wave Play for Long Boats (i.e., slalom boats)
7.0 - 7.4 = Wave Play for Really Long Boats (i.e., over 14 feet)

Center Chute ISLAND Wave
Above 11.5 = Experts Only

Potomac 6.66 - Devil's delight!

The Cheat trainers headed out for a Wednesday evening workout. Under cloudy skies, darkness was sure to descend early, so the plan was simple. Attain up and out the back channel, check out the Center Chute wave and head down for a loop around Offet Island and back to Angler's.

The level was an ominous 6.66, but dancing with the devil on this night was harmless and fun. Attain up the back channel required steady, but relatively easy work. The ferry over to attain out to the chutes did not challenge this group. The wave was a delight and yielded a number of long surfs. The Skull Island wave was not strong enough to hold, but provided momentary amusement.

The loop around Offut provided more challenge, but was managed by all. many figured out that ferrying over to attainers left at the top section avoided all the annoying trees and shrubs in the current. A small surprise came for some at the top, where the attain around the corner caused some to carry across the rocks. (You can ferry all the way across the main river to the Virginia side and attain up to Skull as an option.) The biggest challenge of the night was the final ledge before Angler's. My group got there in darkness, which made picking a line of attack extra difficult. A number of folks decided on a portage. The brave and foolish found a little sneak through the middle of the rocks which led to a small elevator move out into the water above the ledge.

Solid workout...waiting for DST to kick in for next week!