How to river surf Charles City, Iowa

Editors note: Please welcome Hannah Ray J as the latest contributor to the blog! She is an avid SUP river surfer, and is constantly posting photos and videos of her shredding at Charles City.

Summary: The best wave in Iowa. Double D (DD) Wave is 30’ wide and surfable at multiple levels 700-9000cfs+. It ranges from easy glass, a little foam, to a steeper shouldered pocket at higher flows. At certain flows a bonus wave appears, Tew Shanez, 25’ of foam and glass all in one. If you find yourself in NE Iowa, Charles City is a must on your hit list.

Kolton Gilbert surfing the pocket on DD Wave; Marty Colbert, Ty Graham, Hannah Ray J surfing DD Wave. PC: Marty Colbert, Angela Graham

Location: Google Map Link. Charles City is located north of I-80 and east of I-35 in NE Iowa. From 218 northbound, take exit 218 to S Grand Ave, turn right and continue towards downtown Charles City. Turn right onto 200th Ave, cross the bridge over the Cedar River, turn left on Clark Street, turn left on Chapel Ln. The best parking for the whitewater park is shared with the Charles City Public Library.

Difficulty: Lower flows, 2500cfs or less is great for beginners/intermediates, good for advanced surfers. Above 2500cfs things speed up and the wave is fun for intermediates/advanced. Above 5000cfs eddy service disappears. There are two features below DD Wave and then only flatwater for miles.

Double D (DD) and Tew Shanez Waves at various flows. Riders: Hannah Ray J, Ty Graham, Marty Colbert, Ryan Patin, Bella SUP PUP.

Hazards:
DD Wave: On surfers left a somewhat strong whirlpool can form generally from 1000-3000cfs. If you jump or fall in it just hold your breath, tuck your legs in and wait to pop back up downstream, it will hold you down for 6-10 seconds or so and sometimes bounce you across the bottom. Both surfers left and right have a couple of large rocks. Either swim strongly to the eddy before reaching them or ease up and swing in behind. There’s plenty of space after DD Wave for recovery but just make sure you get to an eddy on either side or you’re going through the next whitewater feature, which is usually a hole at most levels. It’s not keepy for swimmers but it can toss you around as you swim through. Other hazards may include shallow rocks, occasional trees hung up along shore, or ice shelves.

Tew Shanez: Recovery is short and the next whitewater feature comes up fast, swim quickly to an eddy, surfers left eddy is best. Surfers left access carries a hidden FU rock as you cross the eddyline, it catches fins from time to time.

Hannah Ray J surfing DD Wave, 8000cfs. PC: Brad Lunning

Ideal flows:
DD Wave: At low flows 700-1300cfs the wave is fun for beginner to advanced paddlers, inflatable boards recommended as things are on the shallow side. At flows 1300-2500cfs things speed up for DD Wave and the pocket wave on surfers right becomes surfable. The pocket wave is ideal for beginner surfers. At 2500-5000cfs the pocket wave gets even better, steeper, and faster. At 5000cfs+ eddy service disappears and if the wave is foaming, drop in rides are a blast.

Tew Shanez Wave: This gem appears and disappears, best flows it appears at are 1200-2000cfs. When it does appear this wave has a green tongue with foam on both sides, fun for intermediate to advanced surfers. When Tew Shanez Wave is not present its a wide, foamy rodeo hole.

Hannah Ray J; Ty Graham surfing Tew Shanez Wave. PC: Marty Colbert

SUPs work at all levels listed above, boards surfed so far: Badfish IRS, River Surfer 6’11”, MVP, Glide Sesh, Starboard Stream and a few others. Shorter boards work better.
Surfboards: Still researching, so far a Boardworks 6’ Nurf on DD Wave at 3500-4000cfs in the pocket and on Tew Shanez wave at 1300-1800cfs.

Hannah Ray J surfing the pocket on DD Wave. PC: Marty Colbert

Gauge: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/uv?site_no=05457700

Best time of year: Generally spring/early summer; rain dependent.

Amenities: Camping approximately 1 mile downstream at R Campground. Several nearby hotels. Best restaurants: Pub on the Cedar, Aromas, and Dave’s Restaurant.

To see more photos and videos of Charles City visit riverotteradventures.com

Written by | Hannah Ray J

Hannah is a team rider for Badfish Stand Up Paddle and No Coast Stand Up. She is an Iowa native who loves surfing at her local play park, Charles City Whitewater.