You don’t think of landlocked provinces like Alberta as a surfing destination, but that’s about to change.
Despite being about 1000 km from the closest ocean, Alberta’s wild, winding rivers have become havens for the province’s fastest-growing sport – River Surfing.
Contrary to popular belief, catching a wave doesn’t have to involve the sun, sharks or salt water!
The rugged and fast-moving waves that flow through our mountain rivers provide a challenge that has gathered a cult-like following – especially in Calgary.
“Calgarians love their outdoor activities,” Andrea Juska, a Calgary-based surfer, told Thrillist. “We like any reason to be outside and enjoy nature. Surfing also has this kind of mystique about it. It’s a sport that not a lot of us got to do as we grew up.”
Calgary’s proximity to Banff National Park provides easy access to many “radical” surf spots, with the “Mountain Wave” on the Kananaskis River being a crowd favourite.
“I think what makes Calgary unique is that we’ve got the Rockies,” says Alberta River Surfing Association member Flora Lee. “It’s just such a beautiful setting.”
Lee moved to Calgary from Oahu, Hawaii, in 2017, and as you can imagine, the drastic change was a culture shock. However, she found a little piece of home she hadn’t expected.
“I was a little sad because I was suddenly landlocked—then I saw people surfing under the [10th Street] bridge,” she says. “That got me interested. I took a lesson, and the rest is history. Everyone is very welcoming. They’re happy to answer any questions, spread the love, and promote the sport so we can get more people involved.”
The small, surfable wave at 10th Street Bridge in downtown Calgary has become the crux of an entire surfing movement. The wave on its own isn’t near enough to bring in more than a local crowd – and as the Alberta River Surfing Association (ARSA) members have progressed in talent and number of members, they’re craving more surfing spots.
So, they devised a plan to create more surfable waves in the city.
They’ve got the city on board with creating an entire beach and adjusting the river to build surfing waves at the Harvie Passage and the 10th Street bridge.
The Calgary River Wave Park at 10th Street is designed and planned for all to enjoy and will be a hotspot for local Calgarians and create a thriving tourism point expected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city each year.
In terms of economic benefit, the fully adjustable waves are expected to bring in $1,800,000 to $6,000,000 a year from surf users alone. You can find details on the project plan and updates as it moves forward here.
“It’s a game-changer for the sport and for the region. We’re going to be able to have more serious competition here and attract athletes from around the world,” David Rousseau, a board member with ARSA, told CTV News.
The project is expected to be completed in early 2024. But even before that happens, ARSA encourages more Albertans to get in on the action.
As Juska said, “When I’m in the water, I am completely in the moment. The sound of rushing water or breaking waves, wind and sun on my face, the pure joy of feeling the board gliding under my feet.” It definitely sounds like an experience worth giving a go at least once.
You can learn the ropes through ARSA’s lessons if you’re a total newbie. Despite the community’s growth over the last few years, you find the same welcoming small-town vibe they’ve always had out on the water.
And if you aren’t in Calgary?
No worries, there are plans for a Lethbridge River Wave Park and a Cochrane River Wave Park!
Aye, dude, all of this sounds totally tubular to us! Surf on!
