Weekend Forecast & Flow Flash 4-29-11

Yo people! There is a ton of water out there this weekend, especially on the Connecticut -flooding- which is getting everything melting off the northern Whites! You can choose from Well Enough, Sharon Dam, 302 Waves (which are higher than i've ever seen them and I have to assume something good will be there), high water Hartlands, or Jungle Bush wave. Have fun!

302 session

The video isn't the highest quality, but it will help you get an idea of what the 302 waves are like.

Reader Mail: Moose River Wave

This just in from A.J. Seibel from up in the Northeast Kingdom (not usually considered part of the upper valley, but heck it's close and it's the same drainage, so we're not going to split hairs):  "Finally getting back to you with more info.  The wave is high-water only, and forms at the confluence of the Moose and Passumpsic rivers in St. JohnsburyVermont.  Here’s a link to location:  http://maps.google.com/maps?q=44.423207,-72.009426&num=1&sll=44.433611,-72.015&sspn=0.063757,0.128059&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=44.422356,-72.007409&spn=0.005885,0.01089&z=17 ... The Moose River at Victory VT gauge needs to be at 9.0 feet or higher [ed: that's 2000 cfs] for the wave to come in.  It really only happens 2 or three times per season.  I’m heading that way for a lunch break, I’ll see if I can get you a photo or two…" and after said lunchbreak: "Turns out that when the passumpsic is also high [ed: floodstage? ~7500cfs], the moose wave gets washed out.  Oh well... A.J. Seibel"


If any of you folks up north happen to catch this one we'd love some more info and or pictures!

Weekend Forecast 4-22-11

Hey people, we've got some good water for this weekend and it looks like next week is going to be in the 70's! YES!!! For this weekend best bets are Sharon Dam on the White, Well Enough on Quechee, 302 Waves on the CT, and Jungle Bush on the 1stBrWhite. Get on it!

Session: Sharon Dam Wave - River Left

Today was butt cold- complete with snow flurries, but a decent low level for the river left wave at sharon dam. Peace - Jolyon Pruszinski

Sugar River Surf Beta - what do YOU know?

So the Sugar is one of the bigger rivers in the region, but you never hear about anyone surfing on the Sugar. I think this is suspicious. So today I went to check out the ledgy section of the Sugar that runs through Claremont and... SURPRISE... there's playboating to be had. You may think "isn't downtown Claremont full of old mills and chunky waterfalls and dams?" Why yes dear reader it is... but amidst the deteriorating remains of industrial america,  there are two ledges in particular of interest.

Top ledge at 1500 cfs

The top ledge is an old low-head dam, though of a more benign persuasion than other low-head dams I have met. There are three sections of the dam split apart by two old bridge abutments. The River Left channel is home to the stickiest hole... the middle channel to a less sticky wave-hole... the River Right channel to a small wave. I encourage you to try things out from Right to Left. I have not had a chance to surf here yet, but it looks very promising. Let me know if you do, and any info on levels would be welcome! It appears that 1500 cfs is good, but that lower or higher would work very well too. There is acceptable eddy access, though if you take too long to roll up you might be headed down another shallow ledge. Don't swim!!! Of course be careful of nasty industrial debris in the river (pipes, rebar, concrete, shopping carts, etc) and if you surf here bring a buddy.

Lower Ledge at 1500 cfs from upstream

The lower ledge on this section is about 100 yards below the top ledge. At about 1500cfs is appears to be a slightly breaking wave that looks decent, but i am wondering more about its potential at different levels. If you're here higher or lower, let me know.

lower ledge from the side - 1500 cfs

These playspots are park and play. You can either park (legally) near the Main Street bridge (100 yds below the lower wave) and walk/paddle up to the lower ledge (and then again to the upper ledge if you desire), or you can park at the public lot on North Street and walk down the hill to the upper ledge. The North Street parking lot is probably preferable due to it's obvious intended public use for recreational access.

North Street Parking Lot Sign. Turn in here.

Please be warned. There is a very large dam about 200 yards below the lower ledge. Don't paddle here if you are a beginner, or have any potential to swim and not self-rescue within 50 yds. You do not want to go over that dam.

Claremont Surf Map! thanks to Google

So go to it people. I'm looking forward to getting out here in the near future. If you do, let me know how it goes and what the levels look like. Seems like this spot has great potential, especially with the whole semi-urban-graffiti-wasteland thing going on. Peace - Jolyon Pruszinski

NO UVSURF RODEO - YES SURF!

Hey folks, we were planning on "hosting" a chill "rodeo" this weekend and it would have been great but I have to bail for family reasons. There weren't going to be great prizes, nor tough competition, nor free money or whatever... and there still won't be. But there is great water right now and great surfing to be had and you'll still have a good time getting on the water. We do it all for the love y'all. So in  between events during the Ledyard River Festival this weekend, throw some nasty blunts or pull out that sweet shudder rudder at your own private brodeo.  Right now it looks like either the 302 waves on the Connecticut River in Woodsville (right by the Wells) or the RL wave at Sharon Dam on the White River (closer to Hanover) should both be awesome. You're in for a treat.  Plus the festival will be good people. Peace - Jolyon Pruszinski

Cliff Wave access warning

Beware paddlers considering park & play at the cliff wave on the white river. There is a very belligerent landowner that may call the cops on you if he is even under the impression that you might consider unknowingly walking over his alleged property. At this time we have to recommend running the whole normal lower White River (which ends at the west hartford bridge) and surfing as you head downstream. Though somewhat less convenient, this does have the silver lining of giving you the opportunity to hit a lot of great catch-on-the-fly waves in addition to cliff wave. Hope you don't have any troubles with this guy.

So-Ro Session

Hit the So-Ro wave today at the low end (~12000 cfs). Lots of short surfs (flushy & munchy). Nice wave though. No eddy access was not-so-nice.

HiWater FlowFlash 4-11-11

Alright, you've seen the weather. Temps are high, even overnight, now there's the first warm rain of the season, and tomorrow (monday) everything is going to be off the hook as far as I can tell. GO SURF!


Running now:
Well Enough Wave - Quechee Gorge
Sharon Dam RL Wave - White R
Campbell Hole - Williams R
Jungle Bush Wave - 1st Br. White R

Coming in Soon:
(and if these don't pan out i'm never going to believe the NWS again)
Cliff Wave - White R
So-Ro Wave - White R
302 Waves - CT R
Wilder Wave - CT R

Looks like a good start to the week.
Check your gauges before you head out.
Shalom
Jolyon

Well Enough Session

Just took the new boat out for a test run on Well Enough. Great level. Hope y'all are getting out this weekend. Peace - Jolyon

Weekend Forecast 4-8-11

Hey boaters! This weekend is looking beautiful, with expected highs in the 60s and sunny skies. Great time to get on the water. It's also the "take 2" for the New Haven Race. So if you're looking to get out locally or if you're coming through for the race and looking to do some surfing as a race wind-down, it's a good weekend for you. We look to be set for great flows for the Sharon Dam Waves on the White, the Sign Wave at Hartlands (pending continued releases from wilder dam), and the Well Enough wave on Quechee Gorge. Go out and get some! And if you happen to be driving by Bretton Woods this weekend be sure to raise your fist in defiance at the i-banker/international-financiers meeting there to set up the new world order to control all us peons. SYOTR

Flow Flash for 4-5-11

HEADS UP FOR TOMORROW (tuesday)! The National Weather Service is predicting spiking river levels all over the valley! Get on these waves when they come in!!




Likely surf forecast:
Well Enough Wave - Quechee Gorge - Tuesday onward
Bellows Falls Wave - Connecticut R - some of Tuesday
Campbell Hole - Williams R - all Tuesday
Jungle Bush Wave - 1st Br. White R - all Tuesday
Sharon Dam RL Wave - White R - Tuesday AM
CLIFF WAVE - WHITE R - TUESDAY PM
SO-RO WAVE - WHITE R - TUESDAY PM
Wilder Wave - Connecticut R - maybe Tues PM / Weds AM
302 Waves - Connecticut R - Weds & Thurs

be sure to check levels again before you head out.
SURFS UP! - Jolyon Pruszinski

Weekend Forecast 4-1-11

Hey y'all we here at UVSURF hope you are enjoying your April Fools day, complete with full-on winter storm. And just yesterday my front yard got snow free. Figures. Anyway for all you looking for water this weekend and those heading up through for the New Haven race, here's the beta on surfing for the weekend. Most stuff is too low. But Quechee Gorge is releasing during the day, sometimes a great deal. Right now it's about 1300 cfs which is a GREAT level for the Well Enough Wave. The only other viable surf option in the upper valley is going to be at Hartlands where flow forecasts from H2oline suggest that levels will be up and down, but likely good for Main Drag or Back-Bennett's all weekend. Outside the region look for the Crackpipe wave in Manchester, NH to be running well.

Have a great weekend out on the water friends. Sunday looks like it should be nice.
Shalom - Jolyon Pruszinski