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It’s not quite the parting of the Red Sea, but this week’s World Freestyle Kayaking Championships include increasing the Ottawa River’s flow to create an impressive wave known as the “Greyhound Bus Eater.”
“It’s the first time the water levels have fluctuated significantly for anything other than hydro production,” said Matt McGuire, organizer of the event, being held at Beachburg.
Negotiations between Ontario Power Generation, Hydro-Québec and event organizers began when river levels were found to be at their lowest point in four decades.
That was a result of winter snowfall that was 60 per cent less than normal.
“Usually at this time of year, we are at a peak because it is right after the snow melt,” said Fergus McLaughlin, executive engineer for the Ottawa River Regulation Secretariat. Race organizers were “unlucky” this year, he said.
The Greyhound Bus Eater, as it is called by kayakers, is a four-metre to five-metre wave that exists only during the peak spring flow and is formed when water rushes over a rock shelf in the riverbed. Once the water drops over the shelf, it collects and recirculates, forming a constant wave rather than moving downstream.
Organizers say the wave is one of the world’s largest used for freestyle kayaking and its presence is vital for a successful championship. There are 175 athletes from around the world competing in the event, which is open to the public and ends Saturday.
“With a bigger wave you can get better air. A kayaker can go three feet in the air,” said Mr. McGuire. He estimates Hydro-Québec and Ontario Power Generation will release enough water to increase the river flow by 18 per cent and raise levels a few centimetres.
While the power companies co-operate on a number of projects, this will be the first time they are doing so for a kayaking event. Water was released from five dams on Sunday in order to reach the site of the competition, northwest of Ottawa. Teams were given a day to practise on the wave before competing on it from Wednesday through Saturday.
“It’s a world championship and since there is no impact on us, why not?” said Marie Archambault, spokeswoman for Hydro-Québec, which opened one of its dams.
John Earl, spokesman for Ontario Power Generation, said water levels will remain safe for anyone using the river. In a written statement, he said: “the levels and flows during the time of this event are expected to be close to normal and any changes that may occur will be relatively small and well within the range of changes that naturally occur …
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“The changes that have been asked for will be made in a manner such that no river-user — industrial, commercial, municipal, recreational — should be surprised by changing conditions due to the championship.”