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.

3.95 - Testing out the Braap

Got a new Braap and wanted to see how it attained. Level was just a shade under 4 ft and falling on the LF gauge --- 3.95 when I got home. All in all, it was a pretty successful experiment. The Braap accelerates well, some real jump right on the first stroke. But as you might imagine, there is not a lot of glide in that hull, so it gives up speed quickly. Nevertheless, I made it to Rocky, though not without a couple of too casual attempts at Wet Bottom that failed. Doh! As is common at this level, the Rocky waves were surging, so it was hard to get a good ride. In the hands of a competent paddler, this boat would be a ton of fun in all the Rocky waves. My fun was measured in pounds, but it left me looking forward to the possibilities. Nice day. New boat. Winning!

Potomac 4.2 and steady

Headed out in the slalom boat. The Clay's Revenge attain in the rocks of Corner Hole was very do-able. As I was meeting some folks, I only took a couple of shots at Maryland Chute. As usual, the ferry could be done multiple ways. But that last little up on attainer's right was too tough. I don't remember that approach having two dips/waves, which made even getting up beside the rock a bit challenging. I think I would have made it with more attempts, but it had definitely crossed into that more difficult territory for me.

Center Chute attainer's right move could definitely be done by those a little stronger than me. I'm thinking the main VA Chute attain is also possible for the mighty. I did succeed at the VA slot attain on attainer's right --- just gotta keep your focus and nerve. Finished by playing around up and down the Center Chute ledge, then heading upstream past the Jumps before needing to head for home.

Folks I was with were surfing everything in medium length boats --- VA chute and the wave below the Center Ledge seemed most entertaining for them.

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.

Wet Bottom surfing

I keep forgetting the levels when that surf wave comes in at Wet Bottom. But headed back down after a maiden attain in the new slalom boat --- BINGO! Wish I had left myself time to play as it dialed right in. So, recorded data point #1 for Wet Bottom surfing...3.3+ is pretty nice.

P.S. Had an interesting sessions surfing Rocky the week before at a little over 3.4 --- not easy, but that challenge is accelerating my learning. I know, I'm pathetic ;-) ---  I should be at O-Deck at such levels, but didn't have the energy on that particular day.

More O-Deck and Rocky info

More surfing and attaining info, this from Stro...yes, sometimes you do find him ABOVE the water. :-)

Having paddled on the potomac for decades, I've acquired a quiver of boats to keep me happy at just about every river level. I prefer long boats and I love me some Rocky and O-deck surfing and attaining. Here's my boat choice list.
10 - 4.4 Rave Sandy Beach to Anglers
4.8 - 3.9 Reflex2 or Cylon attain to rocky
4.5 - 3.8 Rave put in at fisherman's eddy
3.7 - 3.3 Sleek put in at fisherman's eddy
3.2 - 3.0 Cheta, Reflex2 or Cylon attainment levels
2.9 - 2.6 Whirld at Bermuda Triangle

Sleek is 9' 5", Cylon 13'2", Reflex 11' 2", Rave 11', Cheta 13' 6"
Sleek is ok at lower rocky levels (below 4.1) for 2nd, 3rd, 4th wave
I consider O-deck in around 3.9 and like something about 11' long or longer. 9 ft and 8.5 boats like the rpm, axiom, zen, speeder can start to stay on o-deck in the mid 3.7 and below.

O-Deck levels

Not really an attaining topic, but this information from Robert Polleck should be of interest to those who only attain to get to the good surf spots. :-)

O-Deck is in from at least 3.4 to 3.8. Above 3.6 it is a challenge to jockey a playboat across the current without getting swept downstream and you will want something a bit longer to punch into the top wave.

Easiest access is probably from Fisherman's Eddy on the GF Virginia side. When you enter the park, take the hard right hand turn to go to the parking lots a little downstream. I really hate the climb down the VA side, but it's worth it. The ferry over from Fisherman's to the O-Deck waves on the Maryland side can be a little tough in shorter boats.

You can attain up from Sandy Beach with a carry at the appropriately named Portage. :-)

Long boat surfing at 7ft and above

More great info from the river encyclopedia, Adam VG:

Long Boat Surf-spots Above 7 Feet (Little Falls Gauge)

Skull Island Wave

Long River Runner: 6.6 - 7.3

Slalom Boat: 7.1 - 7.8

Sweetie Pie Wave (aka Back Channel Wave)

Long River Runner: 7.4 - 7.9

Slalom Boat: 7.9 - 8.2

Dead Cow Wave

Long River Runner: 8.6 - 8.9

Slalom Boat: 8.8 - 9.3

River Bend Wave (River Right at Right-Turn Elbow in Mather Gorge)

Long River Runner: 8.1 - 8.5

Slalom Boat: 8.3 - 8.8

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!

Just a bit below 3.5

Headed out on a Saturday afternoon as the temperatures climbed into the 40s, but the water temperature hung just above freezing. Not a good day to forget the pogies, but it wasn't too bad. I was in plastic, Ned Poffenberger was in his C1 and the adventurous team of Jen Sass and Joe Randall were in a Topo Duo --- an unusual choice for a planned attainment and downriver run to Sycamore.

Because everyone wanted to get warm fast, we paddled steadily up Center Chute without checking MD or VA. The Duo made the elevator move on attainer's left with ease. Left and center lines were available, as usual. All the usual moves at Wet Bottom were tried and made.

Rocky was more interesting. At this level, something I call the "guard wave" forms at the top of the attainer's left eddy at Rocky. You can use it to surf right-to-left up the move...but getting over and onto the wave from below can challenge boat control and power. One alternative is to go straight up beside the rocks to the left, then power up with a little help from a tiny elevator there. But that leftside move beside the rocks really challenges a right C1er, like Ned.

While Ned and I took turns assaulting the guard wave, Jen and Joe took aim at the left side line. I'm assuming that they received a tremendous advantage from the extra boat length, as they powered right up. :-) And just to taunt Ned and I, they then proceeded to go make 3.5 look like a good level to surf at Rocky. It was a lot of fun to see that big boat lock into place on the wave, sending spray flying in huge arcs.

Well rewarded --- and well chilled --- for our efforts, we headed back down, where the Duo also caught the wave at Wet Bottom. After a sprint to Anglers, my companions took off and I headed down to Sycamore.