New River Academy Whitewater Kayak School

“Ahh, West Virginia whitewater in the springtime.” The thought evokes images of sunny days on giant waves, fast boofs, clean waterfalls, and more. At every possible level there is something to be ran or a fabulous wave to be surfed. Although, knowing these levels takes years of experience in the area.

Brian Jennings surfing the New River Dries at 30,000 cfs.

The New River Academy asked local hero Brian Jennings if he would teach a lesson on how to use the internet to predict whitewater levels. Brian is a Team Jackson Kayak member, head of kayak programs for North American River Runners, and a local WV kayak enthusiast.

Here is a summary of what Brian taught:

Favorite web sites:
www.afws.net The Automated Flood Warning System site allows web surfers to view amounts of rain in drainages throughout the east. This site is a great tool for predicting which run to choose when it is raining.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wv/nwis/current/?type=flow&group_key=huc_cd This site shows levels and graphs of rivers.

http://www.lrh-wc.usace.army.mil/wc/whitewater.html This site also illustrates levels and graphs of rivers.

Predicting the New River flow:
By knowing the upstream dams of the Lower New and New River Dries you can predict if the river will be dropping or rising.

• New at Hinton- is approximately 6 hours upstream of Lower New.
• New at Radford- is upstream of Hinton.
• New at Glen Lyn- is one day away from Lower New.
• New at Thurmond- is the gauge to be read for the Lower New and New River Dries sections.

Best Levels for Specific Spots

Brian went through every play-spot and local run he could consider.

New River Dries
Thurmond 60,000+ Giant Middle Wave at New River Dries. If you are up for it this wave often creates a fast runway that makes aerial lift-off the pro-freestyler dream come true. It is a steep giant 12’ wave often with a powerful pile over your shoulder. The run is fast with giant wave trains, on the fly surf, and big eddy lines.

45,000-60,000 River Right and middle waves of New River Dries. These were the waves that Jimmy Blakeny and Dave Garringer won the LVM Big Gun show freestyle trick surfing. The river right waves are fast and bouncy with a solid pile. There is a unique surge that can create a powerful bounce. Cameras are setup just 20’ away from the action.
The run is now offering more on the fly surfing, giant wave trains, and big eddy lines.

35,000-45,000 River left hole below Mile Long. This hole/wave has a great shoulder for wave moves.

26,000-32,000 First wave of New River Dries. The waves are getting smaller at about 8-10’. Surprisingly, these middle waves are easy to control and smooth with a pile. Beginner surfers can controllably front surf while pros can huck for video.

25,000 Two rapids below Big Kahuna is a great hole on river left. This hole has been featured in some kayak videos and known for 30-point cartwheels. It is great for all of the latest hole moves.

20,000-23,000 Midstream Hole below Mile Long. This hole looks shallow but is an all-day huck hole. Meaning you can throw tricks until you are tired.
The run is now approaching its best play level with more eddy service, and smaller perfect size waves and holes.

20,000 First rapid wave. Looking downstream from the bridge you can see a 30’ wide pile on river left. At this level the pile has a fast and glassy wave. It is glassier than any of the middle giant waves and offers speed for hucking or just surfing.

18,000- 23,000 Loop Hole below First Rapid Wave-
This hole has a shoulder for blunting and a big pile for all hole moves.

18,000-21,000 Big Kahuna Wave-
22,000-24,000 Big Kahuna (Wave in back 4th or 5th wave)-
21,0000-26,000 Big Kahuna (Middle or approx. 3rd wave)-
One mile downstream of the put in on river right sit 3 to 5 waves with eddy access. As the water drops you will experience varying faces to each wave. The New River Academy would surf the top wave and try hard tricks to stick like the McNasty. After a flush we would surf the next “glassy wave”. Next you could catch a slow pile or surf to the Big Kahuna Wave.
Big Kahuna has a large pile for hole moves, but its real action is its strong lefty shoulder. The shoulder curls and offers big left clean blunt, pan am, airscrew, helix, and Mcnasty action.

18,000 Landslide Loop Hole- This is the best loop hole on the Dries for huge air and learning. High-level hole moves are available.

Lower New River
14,000-16,000 Lower New is full of huge waves and a fun run. Check out Lower Railroad’s left shoulder wave.

13,500- 14,500 Surprise Wave- This is where many US and Canadian paddlers trained for the 2007 World Championships at Buseater. Surprise has a left curling shoulder, is fast, and offers big air moves.

10,000-13,000 Lower Railroad- This wave offers big loops, air blunts, and mcnasties.

10,000-11,000 Hole below Millers Folley

10,000 Ender Waves- These waves offer the big tricks with a steep glassy face and a pile.

6,000- 30,000 Greyhound Busstop- Greyhound is a slow but sticky wave best for blunts and cartwheels.

4,600-5,800 Seldom Seen- This hole is great for all hole tricks.

Negative 2’ Flea Flicker- Whoa, the New is really low now. But Flea Flicker actually offers all hole trick moves.

Lower Meadow River 600-1,200 cfs- This is a class V creek run with great boofs, slides, and technical moves. It is the bread and butter run for solid creek boaters.

Mill Creek- Brian stated this to be the hardest run in the area to predict, “just drive over there and look at it.” Mill has long slides, a clean 20’ waterfall, and both a class IV section and a class V section.

Elk Creek 9,000 cfs- At this level the Elk is “like a mini-Dries.”

Glade Creek- Is a fun class IV run with slides, boofs, and slots.

Five Boat Hole, Gauley River at 5,500-6,800- this hole turns into the best wave in the area at this level. Be ready to go Huge Kayaking.

Other features not mentioned: Gilespies Wave, Gauley 12,000 (compared to Dries waves); all of the play on the Gauley at normal flows; low water Canyon Doors.

For more articles by the New River Academy surf to www.kayakschool.org.