Walton Whopper

Tidal Race
Class: I – III+ Length: Park’n’Play
Location: Walton Bridge Character: Standing Wave, Tidal Constriction
Gauge: Burncoat Head Contributor: Leigh Woltman

Hazards

This feature works on an outgoing tide, while there is some distance below this feature before the open Bay, rescue and safety should be discussed and set up ahead of time to prevent a swimmer from being washed out into the bay of fundy.

The bottom of this feature is hard, sharp rock, long boats that have struck bottom have had massive gouges cut in them, and even a rudder ripped off. Care should be taken especially as the water becomes more shallow. There is also evidence of construction materials from the bridge which may also be present in the water.

Later in the feature the hole can become violent and appears retentive, with large whirlpools forming below care should be taken to ensure proper safety, always boat within your limits.

Access

There is ample parking alongside the road, and up the street a bit. Please avoid taking up the parking spaces at the Walton Pub so that local patrons can use them. Also please grab a burger, beer or beverage at the pub after, they’re friendly, they look out for us and have been very accommodating of our presence.

Gauge

Tidal Range at Burncoat head is used. I would target spring tides to get a good ride. In general, it seems worth surfing when the Burntcoat Head high tide is 14 metres or better, 14.5 is best, 13.5 is doable.

12.4 metres high, falling 9.9 metres

A feature formed but it was very small and not fast. The top wave was the only thing surfable, but it quickly formed into a true ledge with a hydraulic that was too steep to do anything. The features got shallow very quickly. At this level the corner wave (middle wave) doesn’t form up before the top wave comes in.

13.3 metres high, falling 11.4 metres

Was able to get some surfing out of it, the waves are really small and hard to do anything. Pretty slow and got shallow quickly – maybe had 30 minutes of surfing before it was too shallow. No corner wave until later.

15.1 metres high, falling 15.2 metres

High volume feature. Took longer to form as the extra water depth likely meant it took longer for the water to fall to where it could feel bottom. Waves were big and challenging. Top wave was not accessible from downstream eddy, eddy fence was just too high, but several people carried around and got good rides.

14.1 metres high, falling 13.2 metres

Good surfing level

13.5 metres high, falling 12.2 metres

Was able to surf but not as exciting as higher levels

14.7 metres high, falling 14.4 metres

Good features formed up. Top wave closed off from bottom eddies early. Dave was out in whitewater boat actually got to work some features.

15.3 meters high, falling 15.9 meters

Large features formed up, too much current/water for shortboats to stay on the wave more then a second or two, did not test long boats, but they might have had sufficient speed.

General Observations

  • Slack tide under the bridge is a little after Burntcoat head high water (10 20 minutes lag)

  • Generally arriving in Walton at Burntcoat Head high water gives time to gear up and then get in the water before the features start to show

  • It takes 45-60 minutes after Burntcoat Head high water for features to form, sea boats will be able to ride things first, probably another 20-30 minutes before short boats.

  • The pub next door appears to drain sewer directly into the river (is this legal?)

  • At neap tides, I would skip the Whopper, a feature seems to form but isn’t worth the drive for me

  • The rocks at the Whopper are very sharp. The bottom wave/then hole (the Whopper) gets shallower and shallower. Judgement has to be used when to stop paddling. Hitting your head would not be good, as the rocks take a lot of plastic off the sea kayaks when the make contact.

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