River waves are really weird. »

River waves are really weird.

by scsurfer April 10, 2020

Rideable standing waves exist on waterways with elevation drops and hard structure that create the wave. Sufficient water flow rate and vertical drop play a role in the wave quality and rideablity.

These waves are weird because you are surfing against a very strong current in a very confined space. This is very different than riding a rolling wave in a large open area like a traditional surfing wave.

Finding and riding these waves are challenging and require a surfboard that is shorter front to back, wider for balance and thicker to float over the churned up water.