Not sure excessive sediment will be an issue. High water events will tend to scour it away. Most large eddies in the FB nearby are not overwhelmed with sediment. Yes, some does accumulate sub-surface in very calm places, and the same will likely occur here. The by-pass channel is specifically designed to have a few large rocks offset just downstream in the run-out that will create eddies so that ferries, eddy turns and peel outs can be learned and practiced. There is simply not enough natural gradient in the river to provide a more extended course for skills development. As you point out though, downstream in the area of Ledges Park, natural gradient picks up and there is a lot of whitewater that is great for novice skills development. Regarding the Wave channel and whom it is designed for, yes the primary goal is to create a world class surfing feature suitable for freestyle and higher-skilled surfers, intended to be more ideal for surfing at a range of flows than any other place in the south. Certainly much much better than what Ledges Park provides in the way of surfing. The modeling does indicate that at flows below about 1500, it should be a great place for intermediate paddlers, including those without a 100% reliable roll, to learn surfing skills with confidence thanks to the calm water immediately below. And in so doing, build rolling skills and confidence. Because flow levels typically vary a lot over a season, intermediates may develop skills here and build confidence can continue to challenge themselves on days when the flow is a little higher. We think in this way, and given that it will be very close to people for park-and-play use, it will be a fabulous place for skills development over the course of time. The project design that includes all this was strongly influenced by the public engagement process that resulted in hundreds of inputs from the community. As for accessing the wave without getting out of one's boat, surfing the main feature will be easily accesible from the eddies below. Beginning a surf from upstream of the wave feature is not necessary or even preferred by most surfers.

Thanks, best of luck for weather and good runs, and please let me know how the trip goes

Thanks Matt. Making this thing became a COVID project for me. After a couple years of thinking about it, I started assembiling in Nov., 2020, and finished in March, 4 months later. I'm guessing I have about 150 hours in it. A lot of it was finding and getting permission to use video clips. I also started with limited editing skills in Premier Pro, so def some hours spent in that learning curve. Started out thinking of something simplre and limited. Obviously, it became a "textbook in video clothing..."

@@MarcHunt I’m also a filmmaker. So as someone with a foot in both worlds, I have to say you did a great job.

The modeling suggests that the shape of the wave could be grood for stand-up surf boards at lower flows - say below around 1500 cfs.

Thanks so much! An approach that works for many is to watch the video segement on phones at camp the evening prior, then rely more on printed diagrams during scouting.... A little more time efficent... And I also encourage focussing on scouting technique as outlined in my Hance Rapid segemnt, making sure all rowers are engaged in the discussion during scouting.

Risks in running the rapids of the Canyon are much higher than automobile travel. 3 whitewater drownings in the Grand Canyon in last 20 months - out of maybe 350,000 river users during that time. There is no reporting or documentation of "close calls", but there are a good number of those.... Likelihood of such accidents are significantly reduced with improved skills and awareness. Yeah, it's a long movie - intended to be more of a video textbook than a quick view... Thanks for watching.

@@MarcHunt, thank YOU for sharing! The river could be deadly to those not experienced enough and careless. Hopefully, purely enthusiastic people never row it alone!

@@MarcHunt, 350,000 people in less than two years! How immensely popular rowing rapids has become!

Aaron - Thanks for the nice words. I am seeing more and more folks using helmets, usually putting them on in the larger rapids. Helmets were hardly ever used traditional down there, and I suspect old habits are slow to change in this case. I agree that they should be part of the drill though. ~~Marc

Larry! Glad you bumped into this.... hope all is well....

Teresa, this will be a single stand-alone wave feature. Very little gradient upstream and downstream, thus not enough downstream flow to make slalom gates work here. Picture a calm long wide pool immediately above, then another calm wide long pool immediately below. Not gonna be a great place for gates.....

​@@MarcHunt why can the city of woodfin put a manmade wave in but a club can't take a tree out of river to make it saftsr

@@jam7547 Don't know anything about the tree or who is saying you cannot take it out. Seems like something like that should be workable..... paddlers remove hazards like this from rivers all the time... But as for the Wave project, the Town and its designers have worked with Army Corps and other agencies for several years and gotten proper approvals to implement the Wave project.

@@MarcHunt please don't get me wrong I in favor of the wave.. and In favor of keeping the. rivers open for everyone. 3 summers age I tried to get City. of Asheville to remove 3 trees and was. told. it was illegal to remove any. tree.. while the. city of Bryson City. removed 2 from their river I was only seeking info looking forward to the wave

My experience is that staffers at government agencies often say "no" unless there is clear guidance otherwise. I think COA was wrong to say it was illegal. I also suspect that they did not want to set a precedent of removing trees from the river as that is expensive work that can be complicated..... They were probably feeling that hey would also need permission from the Army Corps or NC DENR to work in the river, and that might actually be true. I've seen lots of DIY tree and strainer removals done by paddlers on the fly. I would not be optimistic about any government agencies becoming active on tree removals from bridge pilings or elsewhere.... Having said all that, I think trees that create strainers on bridge pilings and along shorelines on the FB are a huge hazard. Tubers and other novice floaters do not have the experience to recognize them for what they are....

I've done one motorized private trip, and talked a bit with the boatman about routes, techniques, etc. Routing is similar, more anticipation required, and you are correct, avoiding damaging props and the motor is a big thing. Sounds like the learning curve for driving a motor at the lower water levels we are seeing typically involves a few prop replacements.

Couldn't agree more, the stronger you get the more you're going to benefit from this maneuver, especially the first two days on the river, bust your ass and get it into shape it'll pay off every day incrementally I should go down the river

The person could not have sent it better get off your ass and practice before House Rock whether it be months before weeks before or hours before do it

Thank you Scott as this, coming from you, is a real honor!

Thank you!

Elizabeth, thank you for this. A physics professor taking my work seriously is about the best complement I've gotten!

Range for Oct., 2021, is to be 6K - 9K, and Oct. generally offers the lowest flows of the year. Continued drought could of course make it lower next year. The rapids that get more challenging at lower flows are House Rock, 24-Mile, Horn Creek, and Bedrock. Lava gets easier. As we emphasize in the video, scout carefully.

@@MarcHunt Thanks Marc!

Thanks, Barrett. So glad to see on FB that you and your gang continue to get out on rivers!