Corner wave is feature on the Ottawa river located at the top of the bottom half of McCoys chute. It is fast, diagonal, green, hard to surf and difficult to get back into the eddy after you fall off the wave.
Reasons I like Corner Wave:
1. Always short lines
Is it because people are intimated of the Horse Shoe feature below, is it because it's hard to stay on for long periods of time, or maybe it's because the easier to surf Baby Face wave is just downstream. There are short lines because of all of these reasons. Corner Wave is just above where the river makes a 90° turn to the right, after this turn is the shallow and powerful Horseshoe hole where there is a small tongue in the centre. This hole has been the reason for many injuries and damaged egos. Corner Wave surfs are generally short and sweet which isn't appealing for beginner boaters.
2. It makes you strong
Corner Wave is always a workout. Once you arrive at Corner Wave you will quickly find yourself out of breath. Generally a Corner Wave surf will last around 30 seconds. As soon you fall off the the wave you have to start sprinting to make it back into the eddy. Sometimes it only takes a few strokes but other times when you flush off the far side you need to go into "Usain Bolt" to make the eddy. Effort is ALWAYS required to catch the Corner Wave eddy. There's a rule that if you miss the eddy and walk back up you must do 15 push-ups. Push-ups are done to make build strength so you don't miss the eddy in the future.
3. It makes you focus in your technique.
Corner Wave is very flushy (hard to stay on) this means that when you throw tricks you need no make sure they are done perfectly in order to stay on the wave. Theres a saying on the Ottawa river that if you can do a trick on Corner Wave you can do it anywhere. Moves such as a spin must be done with the correct technique i.e. Weight and paddle blades in the right positions and shifted at the correct times.
4. It's where all the good kayakers hang out.
Two years ago myself and my friend Quinton went for a surf at Corner Wave after dinner one night. In the eddy was Ben Marr, Joel Kowalski, Rush Sturges and Pat Camblin. These kayakers are some of the best wave boaters in the world. My point though is not to go to Corner Wave and get star-struck from the gods of kayaking, it's to learn from them. Every time I'm in the Corner Wave eddy I'm constantly watching the good kayakers surfing. I take notes on where they place their paddle, move their weight and dig in edges. I try to do tricks the same way they do and build my skills off this.
Corner Wave is a great wave to improve skills, build strength and make friends with awesome people. I highly recommend it to everyone. Have a nice day!
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| Trying to get the proper technique of a blunt |
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| Paddling hard to catch the eddy. |
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