River surfing | Taste the “Guy wave”

Watching seasoned surfers have a blast on the “Guy’s wave”, the idea of ​​going to rub the perpetual roller splashes your mind. Only here: no equipment, no wetsuit, and above all, not the guts to embark alone in the strong currents. Fortunately, a lifeline exists, since friendly introductory courses allow you to jump into the water gently and safely. We followed one of them, a challenging but memorable one.

Text: Sylvain Sarrazin
The Press

Formed thanks to the rocky relief of the river bed, the eternal wave of Parc des Rapides, in LaSalle, offers budding surfers this little miracle: gliding in place on the St. Lawrence. Regulars also know that of Habitat 67, but for beginners, the “Guy wave” remains the best training point.

That day, five new suitors showed up to woo her, while the KSF company played matchmaker: the agency offers two to three daily three-hour initiation classes, in minigroups — usually in a quartet .

Very quickly in the saddle

Once the suits, boots, vests and helmets are on, the apprentices meet on the shore, where the presentations can begin: Jonathan Noel-de-Tilly, who has surfed almost everywhere, from Australia to California, will be our instructor. He will guide Alexis Danetz, a professional musician from Rosemère, who has come to rehearse his sliding scales, already strong in surfing experience in Hossegor, France; as well as Julianne Morel, 17, who trained her mother, Véronique Delisle, and her sister, Rose, 13, in the adventure. The female trio from Joliette also tried surfing at sea, in Toffino, but never on the river.

On the grass, it presents the key points of the board, the basic positions and movements. After a few quick tests on dry land, enough theory, it’s time to launch immediately.

Under the intrigued eye of the local geese, we first reach a small pool without current, where the instructor teaches the essential maneuvers to catch the wave, the communication signals, and shows the exit routes. “If you miss the first, a second follows right after. At worst, you get back to the edge further and you walk on the bank,” he says. All the students seeming to be comfortable on their board, the course is immediately set on the “Guy wave”, with a timing favorable, since few surfers occupy it this afternoon.

“Swim! »

Jonathan immediately leaves to position himself near the “sweet spot”, a specific area where the chances of picking up the wave are maximized. One by one, the initiates rush out to swim across the current, line up on the target spot, pivot to place their backs to the target, row against the current and finally, at the instant “t”, project their weight to the front of the board. On paper, nothing complicated. On the board, another pair of sleeves.

Because if the ocean surfing experience is an asset, it is not everything.

The rapids indeed impose real showdowns on beginners, who struggle to position themselves, turn in time or stay on the wave.

“Swim! Swim! Swim! shouts the instructor, whose phlegm turns into passion as soon as a student reaches the crucial point. “Step back on your board!” Beyond the roar of the waves, Jonathan grips the planks to make them hug the foam, as if his life depended on it. Sometimes, the mayonnaise takes hold, and you are floating like magic on the St. Lawrence. Sometimes his voice is drowned in the river: the ship’s boy has stalled, carried away by the current. “Don’t give up, we’ll have it! “, we hear in echo. He does not lie: some will have it…

Challenged, but thrilled

Despite a few stalls, Alexis, Julianne and Rose manage to stabilize themselves on the wave on several occasions, then to get up for a handful of graceful seconds. While neophytes multiply their attempts and refine their drifts, experienced surfers show up on the scene, showing the potential of the discipline; with great indulgence for learners. After more than two good hours in the water, they finish their lesson, exhausted, but radiant. These bases acquired, they are now sufficiently autonomous to return alone, with the possibility of renting a board.

“I loved it, I’m going to buy a board next week! “, promises Alexis, who took this course to” build confidence and start on a good foundation “. He particularly appreciated the educational supervision and the attitude of the seasoned surfers. “I was afraid that the premises would be closed, but I was able to discuss with some, who gave me advice. There was no judgement, ”says the one who has had more grating experiences in the Landes.

” It was hard ! “, launch in chorus Véronique and her teenagers, who found the challenge taken up, but would gladly lend themselves to it again, always with an instructor. “It’s not the same as at sea, where you can leave whenever you want. In the river, it’s really a different experience,” says Julianne.