Flat multi adjustable kicker sysem – Concept engineering

This is a concept engineering design for the adjustable surf and kayak wave on the Lower Kananaskis River in Alberta, Canada. Construction is scheduled for Fall 2023 or Spring 2024. This simple river wave design allows the creation of different shaped good 3D waves while minimizing costs. The river wave multi adjustable kicker system is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License to encourage the creation of more good waves and can be used for no cost. The adjustable wave project is partnership by the Alberta River Surfing Association, Alberta Whitewater Association, and Surf Anywhere. Structure engineering is by Rostel Industries and river engineering is by Applied Ecohydraulics.

Components of the flat bottom multi adjustable kicker system

The diagram below shows the main components of the 12m wide multi adjustable kicker system, the concept engineering drawings for the key parts are included below. The slope or ramp does not move but a different angle could be used because a wide range of slope angles will make waves. Adjusting kickers locations and wall location requires diverting flow away from the wave structure.

Simple diagram of flat bottom multi adjustable kicker system

The sliding kickers allows the creation of different wave shapes. Diagrams are not to scale.

1. Height of the fixed ramp provides the drop.
2. Fixed ramp accelerates the water.
3. Kicker angle shapes the wave steepness
4. Not needed.
5. Kicker positions changes wave type.
6. Tailwater gate controls tailwater elevation.

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Surf and kayak configurations

The multi adjustable kicker system can create a wide range of good surf and kayak waves. Surfers prefer wider waves to allow more side to side manueouvers. Kayakers prefer narrower waves to allow deeper water infront on the wave.

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Engineering concept designs

These designs show the engineered concepts of how the multi adjustable kicker system will function.

Profile of wave structure

This drawings shows the profile of the wave structure with water flowing from right to left.

• On top of the slope there is the head water control gate.
• On the flat section are removable deck section that allow kickers to be placed at different locations on the deck.

Kicker panel movement

The kicker panels and be moved and replace by flat deck panels. The panels lock into place using a sliding tube under the structure allowing no gap between panels. The panels can be replace with hydraulic kickers, fixed three dimensional forms, blank panels, panels with covered bolt holes, or other variations.

Kicker and deck panel locking tube mechanism

This image shows the locking tube. The kicker panels have hooks underneath that slide into the slots on the beam and then into the slots on the tube. To lock the panels in place, the tube is slide downstream and pinned into that position.

Crest gate for water elevation control

This drawing shows the crest gate in the fully lowered position. The fully lowered position is used for higher flows situations and provides lower water velocities at the wave.

This drawing shows the crest gate in partially raised position. This is the maximum height that can be obtained using hydraulics alone. This position is used to increase the velocity of the water approaching the wave and to increase headwater elevation during low flow conditions. The crest gate can be at any height between flat and this position.

This drawing shows the headwater gate fully extended to block part of the channel. This position is used to fully block of part of the channel to increase flow intesity for the kayak feature or during low flow conditions. The gate extension is done by pinning the gate straight when fully lowered, attaching the brace to the gate, use hydraulics to raise the gate to full position and manually attaching the bottom of the brace to the slope.

Partition wall

This drawing shows how the partition walls for the narrow kayak wave are attached. The aim is for a simple an secure system that can quickly be installed or removed by a couple of people. The lower section on the left shows how the wall will be attached on the flat surface.

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