STAKEOUT 2015

THE PAST THREE YEARS IN A ROW, BOTH THE LAC-ST JEAN REGION IN NORTHERN QUEBEC AND THE OTTAWA RIVER HAVE SEEN RECORD FLOWS DURING THE SPRING RUNOFF, REVEALING NEW WAVES IN QUEBEC AND PROVIDING DAY AFTER DAY OF PRIME FLOWS FOR KNOWN SURF FEATURES. WHEN THE RIVERS THAW AND EXPLODE INTO BONE CHILLING COLD SPRING-SEASON WHITEWATER, PADDLERS DESCEND ON THESE REGIONS TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN FIND. THIS IS STAKEOUT, AN ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE FOR BIG WAVE SURFERS LOOKING TO PUSH THEMSELVES, AND THEIR SPORT, TO EVER-GREATER HEIGHTS.

Words: Benny Marr - Photos: Dave Jackson, Jens Klatt

There are no better arenas in the world for big wave freestyle whitewater kayaking than the Lac-St. Jean area and the Ottawa River: the wide river valleys can hold thousands of cumecs while the low gradient and long rapids stand up huge river waves and massive features. The Ottawa River and the mighty Mistassibi are un-matched world wide (as far as we know) for wave density. Daily, an average of 3,500 cumecs flows into the Lac St-Jean at peak run off, pulsing down three huge rivers and many smaller rivers and creeks. Water exits the lake through two hydroelectric dams, the Grande and Petite Descharge, into the Saguenay River, which also boasts several large and impressive waves. The number of paddlers who join the Stakeout varies each year, with the biggest…

You're reading a preview of

Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, KS#55 (fall 2015)

DiscountMags is a licensed distributor (not a publisher) of the above content and Publication through Zinio LLC. Accordingly, we have no editorial control over the Publications. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers or other information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including those made in Publications offered on our website, are those of the respective author(s) or publisher(s) and not of DiscountMags. DiscountMags does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or usefulness of all or any portion of any publication or any services or offers made by third parties, nor will we be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on information contained in any Publication, or your use of services offered, or your acceptance of any offers made through the Service or the Publications. For content removal requests, please contact Zinio.