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Playspot: Canada, BC, (Lower) Seymour River, Surfwave, Pipeline Wave

What's it like

At the end of the Lower Seymour River Run, North Vancouver, BC, if conditions are right, there will be a nice 4-5 foot retentive wave created riverwide by a pipeline on the riverbed.

Conditions needed: River level >7 or so on the gauge (river gauge is painted on the bridge above the take out, or on the rock (only to 5 - so if the rock is 'gone' you are OK) which is just above the Mt. Seymour Parkway bridge, in the middle of the river)

Nice wave at the right height, about 4-5 feet max. Retentive enough for extended surfs, will hold spins, blunts, etc. Perhaps too shallow at all but highest level for looping or aerials. Eddy service on river right until highest water, whereby local have installed a rope to help flushed paddlers get back to the wave. Eddy on river left works better at higher water, as there are some shallow rocks impeding return to the wave on river left at lower water. There is a long catch eddy 200 feet below, suitable for novice recovery and swimmer rescue. River right does have a workable trail to hike back up if you do get blown off and downstreem too far.

Watch for seals in the harbour, especially during fall salmon runs!

check out video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEmLTgLHCyk

How to get there

Located infront of the parking lot to Sea to Sky Kayak Center. Taking Hwy 1 north into North Vancouver, cross the Iron Workers Memorial (2nd narrows) bridge and take the first exit (Dollarton Highway) You can see the spot and the river and the Kayak store from the bridge. Keep right and wind around in the parking lot. Be conscious of the other businesses spots.

More info

BC river levels can be found at http://scitech.pyr.ec.gc.ca/waterweb/formnav.asp?lang=0 ; (click through and use 'Seymour river below orchid creek' value. 1.2 is minimum, 1.8 is ideal - note that this gauge is ABOVE the spilldam on the Upper Seymour run, so there is a 3-4 hour delay in levels to the Lower run)

Sea to Sky kayak - 604-983-6663 - Don or Paula always happy to let you know what is going on - join a clinic! http://www.squamishkayak.com/

Locals

Local Kayakers, Shop staff, students. Often the lower seymour is popular with fisherman, though they prefer to stand on the rocks below the wave and eddy area, so not much conflict, except maybe for parking.

Events

No scheduled events. Sea to Sky kayak often runs clinics in this stretch of the river. Don will teach surfing and freestyle if there is interest when the wave is up.

Info source

Christian Vogl, Director at Large, Vancouver Kayak Club.

Box 38695 North Vancouver, BC V7m 3N1