David Rousseau did a great french interview with Radio-Canada about the ARSA river surfing instructor course. Thank you, David!
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/le-cafe-show/segments/entrevue/493734/cours-surf-riviere-calgary
Report on 2023 Pilot River Surf Lessons on the Lower Kananaskis River
In Summer 2023, the Alberta River Surfing Association (ARSA) offered public river surfing lessons on the Lower Kananaskis River as part of the ARSA’s plan to provide river surf lessons and instructor certification courses. The lessons went very well and introduced 36 people to river surfing over 6 lessons. This document provides a summary of the pilot program results that will be shared with the Alberta Government and the ARSA membership to communicate the progress of the plan and the next steps.
Report on 2023 Pilot River Surf Lessons on the Lower Kananaskis River - Feb 2024
The report and the ARSA “Plan to provide river surf lessons and instructor course- June 2023” are also published on the ARSA Policy, Procedures, & Plans page.
Global News: $200k+ donation of recycled steel and structural engineering for Kananaskis adjustable wave
The generosity of Ed Meyer of Able Demolition, Dave Matthews of Madden Matthews Engineering, and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) is providing a huge advancement to the adjustable river wave project on the Lower Kananaskis. The donation of steel and structural engineering is helping the Alberta River Surfing Association (ARSA) and Alberta Whitewater Association (AWA) simplify and improve the adjustable wave structure design and reduce the project cost by over $200,000. The ARSA, the river users, and the many people and organizations positively impacted by the adjustable wave project send our deep thanks to Able Demolition, Madden Matthews Engineering, and SAIT.
The steel is coming from the demolition of the SAIT campus center. Ed Meyer of Able Demolition donated the steel with the support of SAIT. Dave Matthews of Madden Matthews Engineering is engineering the structural using the donated steel.
More details on the wonderful donation are available at in Global News story from December 12, 2023:
“Recycled demolition materials bring ‘huge contribution’ to Calgary-area river surfing project”
More details of the adjustable wave project are available at:
https://albertariversurfing.com/kananaskis-adjustable-waves
This project is also supported by a $150k CFEP grant from the Government of Alberta.
CBC - Calgary surfers catch waves on the Bow River
The CBC joined us for our ARSA BBQ at the Harvie Passage! Flora Lee and Neil Egsgard did a great job talking about surfing at Harvie Passage and making better waves there.
CBC video - Calgary surfers catch waves on the Bow River
City of Calgary explores integrating the Calgary River Wave Park into 10 Street Gravel Bar flood mitigation project
We are very excited to announce that The City of Calgary is exploring integrating the Calgary River Wave Park as part of the 10 Street Gravel Bar flood mitigation project. There is no guarantee that the waves will be possible but having the Calgary River Wave Park become part of a City of Calgary project is a huge accomplishment and milestone. Thank you so much to our community and supporters who helped advance the project so far. All the events, surfing, social and traditional media, and advocacy has paid off. The ARSA and the Alberta Whitewater Association have been advocating for the project for many years and are partnering with the City of Calgary on the project.
City of Calgary project site
ARSA wave projects overview site
https://albertariversurfing.com/overview-of-wave-projects
Statement from the City of Calgary
"Over the past several decades, a gravel bar has been forming in the Bow River under the 10 Street SW Bridge, also known as Louise Bridge. The 2013 flood resulted in a dramatic increase in size of the gravel bar. Since 2013, the gravel bar has become vegetated with plants. It is expected to continue growing in size, increasing flood risk to the area.
To lower flood risk, the approach is to realign the gravel bar. This means that the gravel and soil would be removed and redistributed within the area of the river. There is a natural wave adjacent to the gravel bar which has been used for recreation such as river
surfing. The City of Calgary project team is exploring incorporating a permanent recreational wave as part of this project. They are working with Alberta River Surfing Association and the Alberta Whitewater Association who provide expertise and represent river recreation user groups.
The project team is currently working on the preliminary design for the 10 Street Gravel Bar project. Please check the project webpage at calgary.ca/10stgravelbar for updates throughout the project."
Media coverage of Mountain Wave Classic 2023
The media did three stories on ARSA’s Mountain Wave Classic 2023! This was the 18th annual event. The interviews were with ARSA board Director and event organizer David Rousseau in both english and french. David killed it! Thank you, David!