Topic: Loosahatchie Wave 9/25

[mhoward]

A couple of us have talked about doing some work on the Loosahatchie wave this Saturday.  Our goal is to build it back up to a decent surfing wave.  After we get it back into somewhat decent shape it should be fun for all until the next flood.

If we do decide to do some work this Saturday and you are interested in helping, be sure to bring an old pair of work golves and your boat.

Russel, it is your call on weather or not we do this.  I am free until about 4pm.

michael

[madapple]

coutn me in
I am free all day

Bring a shovel to!

[mhoward]

Russel, are you still in?
Sandbags?

michael

[Boyd]

I'm in.   I'm really good at designing holes and waves.  Grew up building small scale rapids as a kid.  

I think it has excellent potential.

What time are yall meetin?

[Larry]

Directions?

[Boyd]

I-40 towards Nashville.
watch the brown signs...like 15-20 miles....for "Lagrange" exit. (Oakland)
Take a right at the top of the exit. watch for cops
Take a RIGHT DIRECTLY ACROSS from the power sub station (easily visible on the left) onto 96 (I think...been a while)
drive drive drive
you'll cross over the Loosahatchie Bridge...marked and obvious.  Park anywhere but DO NOT BLOCK the gate on the left.

It's really easy and self explanatory...1st brown sign...you'll even cross the Loosahatchie on I-40 just a little ways before you hit the exit as a warning that it's comming up.

See you there,
                 Boyd  

[mhoward]

We are going to be at the wave around 10am.

Don't forget your shovel and gloves.


michael

[Russ]

Iv'e got 125 sand bags,some misc boards to use.Anybody that can go by Home Depot and pick up 100' of 3\8 poly rope,would like to try to put a board downstream of the drop to back up the water.Anybody have any chainlink fence laying around,bring it too,thinking we might make a chainlink sausage,fill it with sandbags and try to position it below the drop to slow the downstream flow and encourage a wave to form above it.I could be wrong but I believe the deep hole that has formed behind the drop is the reason we could not get a wave to form there last year,we need some bottom obstruction to encourage the water to "Hump Up'.I went by there today,the water is flowing pretty good and the hole is bigger and wider than it was last year,the current is more than adequate for squirts and bow stalls,still a great place to practice ferries and rolling in current.

[madapple]

SO you want to know if we were successful with the Loosahatchie huh?


We were sucessful. Were not talking hell hole or river left of rockport here but it's a surfable wave, with nice eddies, and strong eddie lines.

We (Russ, MIchael Howard, and myself) worked from about 10:45 to 1:30 rebuilding the ledges to divert more water thru the main channel, we raides the water level about 2 to 2.5 feet! we didt good a good wave formed or anyhtign but lid serious ground work for what was to come...

at about 1:45 Boyd came along and a littel while later Russ had to leave, then Jeff Hoff (Jeff was just stopping by to see what was goin on then joined in teh work) and then Danny joined us, Russ you should have stayed, but we understand.

We placed 2 particle boards at the upstream edge of the channel, creating a "ramp" for the water, then built up the ledge a bit more on each side, added the second plank and increased the "ramp" to create a great little wave!

We played it for about another hour (4:00 - 5:00) before heading out.

YOU MUST GO TRY IT OUT! It's not much but MEMPHIS HAS WHITEWATER!


we used about 30 sandbags to plug up the ledges and increase the "hump" at the top of the channel and LOTS of roks from the river bead, talk abot cut up hands.


The play spot is great for beginners and those needing practice: clean water, sand bottom, no downstream worries.

After the wave is a GREAT spot for stern squirts and the like, and a wonderful plce to practice rolling. I got my first 2 movign water rolls. Just lek at boat ball early this week they were of the combat style.

i was trying ot stern squirt, got rolled, didnt panic, missed my first roll, set up again and hit it.                      I was surfing a lttel while later and I don't know what happened at all but I was suddenly underwater, set up and up I came!                    It's been a big week for the Madapple.


anyway, I think a few people might go otu tomorrow and continue workin on plugging up the holes in the ledges to get more flow thru the wave. A few boulders need ot be moved but hey Memphis has a wave now.... USE IT! we didn't cut up our hands for nuthin!!!!

THANKS RUSSEL for getting the SandBags!

[Boyd]

the little wave is a total blast right now.  I hope it stays for a little while anyways.   It's an absolutely PERFECT wave to learn surfing and ruddering techniques.  It's an incredibly easy, but fun surf.
Lefty pop-ups are totally possible.  Lefty washout cartwheels aren't that difficult at all.  Squirts are super easy.  the water is INCREDIBLY CLEAN,  CLEANER THAN THE SPRING BY FAR!!!!  20 minutes from Wolfchase if you drive the speed limit.

If anyone is whilling to donate some concrete, I'd like to make the wave and levees more permanent. and I believe we could STILL make it TWICE as good!....but we need more supplies to do so.

We actually have a local playspot that is worth driving to and now we need to maintain it and preserve it!

So go check it out!!!!
Stay Wet yall,
               Boyd  

[Sammie]

Boyd and I went over to the wave today and it was awesome. It's a really good wave. Personally it's a great beginner wave, but upper level paddlers can still have fun on it. It is really awesome, and would be great for teaching prople how to surf. I'll be there alot more now. Anyways, it's an awesome wave.

All y'all guys that built the wave did an awesome job. Props to ya , haha.


Sammie!

[Sally]

Boyd,

E-Mail me with a list of supplies and I'll see what I can do.

[bassgiddy16]

All of this sounds pretty sweet. Is the water level constant, though?

[Boyd]

It's spring fed..stays relatively the same all the time..... if it rains....it's instantly too high.
So when nothing else is running, it's perfect...YEAR ROUND!

AND the water quality is BETTER than the SPRING in Arkansas!

The water is emerald clear! with a bright sandy bottom and beautiful beach.
------------------------
Supplies:

hmmmmm.... mostly concrete.  With a lot of concrete, I think we could more efficiently stop up the holes in the levee to increase the volume WHILE MAKING IT unable to wash out in a big storm.

Also, the plywood under the wave will eventually wash out....is there a more permanent material we could use anyone? Russ?  Same size and shape?

That's mostly it for now.


the spot is AWESOME!
Today I got washout righty cartwheels, a couple RETENTIVE roundhouse blunts, spins (only off and on)  and extreme hard carves (slowmo flip turns).  Sam carved like nobodies business.  That girl FLUNG those hips into her turns and I could see the sun molded in the bottom of her boat...and to make it better, she stayed on when she did it...just changed edges.

It's also an AUTOsquirt spot!  Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!  I'll be there a LOT more now.   Only 20 minutes from Wolfchase!

[bassgiddy16]

Can anyone get some pictures and post them?

 Also, if the Loosahatchie rises after just a little rain shouldn't there be some other playspots on the river or is it just flatwater?