Ten years ago, four landlocked guys from Alberta turned their hunt for the perfect wave to an unlikely place – beneath the 10th Street Bridge in Calgary.
Paul Barrett, Jeff Brooks, Chris Szampanski and Neil Egsgard were the first to ride the rapids of Central Alberta. Not long after, they discovered the Green Tongue section of the Kananaskis River, and formed the Alberta River Surfing Association to feed their whitewater demand.
On Sept. 12-13, the organization will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Canoe Meadows with its Slam the Kan event, a celebration of river surfing in Alberta. The event will include a small competition, live music, food trucks, surf yoga class, demos, and a stand-up paddleboard race. Demo surfboards will be available from Rocky Mountain River Surfing, and participants are encouraged to camp at Canoe Meadows, and bring something to the event such as games, costumes or baked goods.
The Kananaskis River has long played a role in the sport’s development. Some of the first surfing in Alberta took place on the Green Tongue section near Canoe Meadows. Some of its features now have up to 20 people waiting to surf them.
“It’s a dam flow, so the waves are consistent. You know what it’s like every time. In nature, the flow fluctuates so much,” Brooks said.
Today, most surfers challenge the Mountain Waves feature, which is attracting crowds on the weekend.
“It’s the best wave the Kananaskis has ever had,” Brooks said.
Brooks got hooked on surfing as a teenager, and ever since then has worked to promote the sport in non-traditional areas.
“I went on a trip to Hawaii when I was 16. I got a surf lesson in Waikiki from a guy named Big Todd. They put me on a surfboard and pushed me into a wave and I rode all the way to the beach. From then on, I was super excited about surfing,” Brooks said. “I tried everything. I surfed holding a tow rope while my friends drove a Dodge Neon next to a canal.”
He moved to Tofino, B.C. and got a job at a surf school where he was on the water every day. Eventually, he returned to Calgary and helped create the sport of river surfing. He says there are a few standard requirements for the sport, but said it’s open to everyone, although most surfers are in their 20s, 30s and 40s on the Kananaskis. Chilly waters mean wetsuits are preferred, but not required.
“The number one thing is to be a strong swimmer. There are rapids, but if you’re a strong swimmer, it shouldn’t be an issue. Some are fine surfing on their stomach. It’s a matter of how far you want to take it,” Brooks said. “For beginners, we suggest a wet suit. You can surf longer and it offers some protection.”
River surfing uses short boards made of soft foam, which are sturdy and safe.
“They won’t crack on rocks and aren’t as bad if they hit you in the head. As surfers advance, a lot start riding boards made out of fibreglass or epoxy. You can do more with those,” Brooks said.
Other locations such as Rocky Mountain House and Lethbridge have also become popular surf spots, but the Kananaskis will always be a go-to, Brooks said. Newly constructed features and steady water means there is rarely a bad day on the river.
Slam the Kan is also a fundraiser for the Surf Anywhere project, which helps build world-class waves, and tickets for the event are available at www.slamthekan.com.
“This event started in 2005 and has continued to get bigger ever since. It’s cool to see something that four guys started grow into a big event.”
