Words: Mike Shaw
Photos:
Mike Shaw,
Beth Kirby,
George Everett &
Peter Tranter
Bio
Mike Shaw is a professional coach and playboater in his spare time, sponsored by Jackson Kayaks, Mitchell Blades and Square Rock.
Hurley Village, Hurley Weir, Maidenhead
An idyllic village nestled in the English countryside between the picturesque towns of Marlow and Henley on Thames, Hurley boasts many magnificent buildings. The village church dates back to its founding as a Benedictine priory in 1086.
Hurley Manor was requisitioned in World War II for radio communications between allied forces and its spies and secret agents located throughout occupied Europe; Churchill and Eisenhower are said to have stayed there. Just across the sleepy high street is another historic building – the conveniently located pub, one of two pubs in the village. The Olde Bell is said to be the oldest continuously running inn in England. The original exposed walls that date to its founding in 1135 can still be seen inside the main bar area, behind the greasy lustre of plexiglass.
In the summertime, pleasure boats cruise the length of the Thames, dog walkers and ramblers tread the pathways, and the picturesque quality makes the village a popular filming location for many a murder mystery.
But why dear reader, in the very dead of winter with gloomy grey skies and rain lashing down, is that car park always so damn full?
wave-boating hotspot
It’s definitely not for the medieval village, the cosy pubs or fans of Midsomer Murders. As the long summer gives way and the autumn rains begin from around October to April each year, the Thames Valley weirs spring to action. The gates open up, unleashing the waves and delivering the goods. The Thames Valley has become the wave-boating hotspot of the UK. And its jewel in the crown is Hurley.
Turn left and meander down the lane from the car park between the big country houses and the priory walls, and the intrepid freestyle kayaker will be greeted with a stretch of the River Thames so revered as to be almost sacred.
Hurley Weir comprises four main gates, each creating a different experience for paddlers. One gate is a great venue for beginners to learn the basics of surfing, even providing some good eddying in and out training, but the wave can be flushy, and tricks are hard to stick.
three gates
Two gates create a nice fun wave next to the wall on the surfer’s left and a small hole in gate two. Most wave moves are possible at this level, and the hole gate provides some fun where most hole moves go. But it’s on three gates that Hurley comes into its own.
On three gates, gate one remains closed, and gates two, three and four open to create a consistent, stable wave in the central gate, which is flanked by two well-formed shoulders giving the surfer clearly defined surfable boundaries and plenty of air to take off for blunts, which is usually the first trick most paddlers will learn at Hurley due to the ease of throwing them, thanks to those shoulders.
At prime levels, the wave becomes steeper and greener with enough foam pile to be retentive. At this stage, the wave feels loose and flows effortlessly from one to the other.
Hurley is incredibly fast for a wave of its size. Just a front surf feels exhilarating to those unfamiliar with Hurley: there is nothing like it.
The wave train and eddy lines below can be tricky for novice paddlers to manage, but with an eddy, the size of a small continent, rescues downstream are easy with a set of steps on the river’s left bank if you drift down that far. Readers should note that there is no access to the weir without paddling across to it, and spectators can only see it from some distance upstream. The left river bank is privately owned, and climbing on the weir structure is forbidden.
four gates
At four gates, Hurley becomes a more powerful hole. While it can still be fun, there are usually better options available. Once Hurley is fully drawn with all side spills and lashers open, the eddies disappear, and the weir is very difficult to paddle up to. The Thames Valley then provides us with a treasure trove of other options and arenas to play. Boulters Weir and Marsh Weir, just a short drive upstream, provide the goods when Hurley is at its limit. These are not beginner-friendly features, though, each with its hazards and challenges. You’d want to go with an experienced paddler to introduce you to the Thames’s larger features before tackling them yourselves.
Duncan Williamson
Frequent Hurley user, the legendary Duncan Williamson, posts his daily updates on TVF’s Facebook live whenever he is there, always a friendly, welcoming face. Hurley local and perennial GB freestyle member Alan Ward can often be seen throwing move after move throughout the season, and when Nottingham’s Holme Pierrepont is closed due to high water levels and Trent Lock isn’t running, many of Nottingham’s, and by default, the UK’s, top paddlers migrate south for their freestyle fix. It is very rare indeed that a weekend goes by without several paddlers filling Hurley’s eddy. You are just as likely to find yourself bumping into local club paddlers, eager kids grinning from ear to ear as are the top freestyle athletes of the day, current and former British freestyle and world champions, and legendary coaches.
A world-class wave, friendly, welcoming paddlers, free parking, a short walk to the weir, great countryside walks for family and friends who inexplicably aren’t interested in paddling, and several superb pubs to choose from for an after-paddle hot chocolate. What isn’t to like?
The Thames Valley Freestylers Facebook community page is a great place to see what features are currently in and get any advice; the website Thames Valley Freestylers has a breakdown, description and location details of the majority of waves the Thames valley has to offer.
See you at Hurley!
Team GB’s selection event
This year’s Hurley season is particularly special as Team GB is selecting their team for the 2023 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships, taking place from 9-14 October in Columbus, Georgia, USA. Team GB’s selection event is scheduled to occur at Hurley from 11-12th February, with backup dates in March if water conditions are unfavourable.
Stay updated with the GB Freestyle kayaking team through their website and social media channels.
Website: www.gbfreestylekayaking.co.uk/news
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GBFreestyleKayaking
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gbfreestyle
