Playspot of the Week

Playspot of the Week
Ottawa River, Garburator, Level - 0 1/4

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Remic Rapids - Champlain - The Wall

High water levels produce the best playspot that the City of Ottawa has to offer. Every spring paddlers flock to The Wall playspot at the Champlain Bridge for a series of surf waves with abutting eddy access that are great for playboating.
The Wall playspots at the Champlain Bridge are located on the river right shore abutting Bates Island. There is ample parking and, at times, it can become quite a spectator sport. Every spring the Level 6 Cup whitewater festival takes place here. Parking is right there on the island. Google Link - The Wall.
At high water The Wall is a class III rapid that consists of a series of 3 to 4 surfable wave-holes that have eddy access, are retentive for all boat lengths, and allow all wave and hole freestyle tricks to be done. However, as the water levels fall, the waves become smaller, some disappear, and the eddy becomes unattainable from below.
Using the Britannia Gauge for water flow - the following are the characteristics of the playspot:
Below 58.5 - eddy is small, you have to portage up island for each ride, waves are small.
58.5 to 58.7 - the eddy is in, but rope needed to reattain the top.
58.7 to 58.9 - you can paddle up the eddy with effort.
59.0 - the eddy is full with little effort needed to paddle up, the waves are steep and retentive.
Above 59.1 - you are recirculated to the top of eddy and the waves continue to be great. The higher the water level the more the the playspots become breaking waves and lose their hole character.

                                         Pictures at 59.3 on the Brittania Gauge


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