I have been whitewater kayaking on a weekly basis since 2001. I started with slalom kayak practiced on an olympic style whitewater slalom course at Lock #6 on the C&O Canal on the Potomac River. I then focused on attaining, where one paddles upstream, then downstream. I now do downstream (traditional whitewater kayaking), attaining, playboating, surfing, flatwater kayaking on the Chesapeake Bay, and I enjoy exploring new rivers. I paddle the Potomac River year-around.
The rivers I have gotten to paddle so far are: Potomac, Tohickon, Lower Youghiogheny, Lower Gauley, Cheat Forks, Cheat Canyon, Shenandoah Staircase, and Stoney Canyon.
Here is a compilation of several good runs surfing a wave on the Potomac on May 18, 2025 with a carbon slalom boat. It is Center Wave on the Center Hole at the Chutes, Mather’s Gorge, Potomac River. When the river is 6.4.-6.7 feet on the lower falls gauge a 5 foot high and 12 foot wide wave forms that is great for surfing. For a shorter boat, like a playboat, 5.5.-6.4 feet is a better level. I set up a tripod to make the videos and later edited the videos together.