River Surfing

The city of Boise, Idaho, is nowhere near the ocean. But you can still go surfing there, thanks to a popular new sport called river surfing. Waves are created along the Boise River when water is released from a nearby dam. Movable gates and other structures in the river direct the flow of water. The force of gravity pulls the water from higher elevations to lower ones. That pull causes the water to speed up, increasing its kinetic energy, or energy of motion. When that faster water meets slower water downstream, it creates a “standing wave.” Unlike ocean waves that crash on shore, these waves keep rolling in one place—giving surfers plenty of time to practice their moves.