>>1098254Whitewater parks are man made rapids built for people to surf and recreate in. Some of them are small with just a couple standing surf waves and some of them are huge with multiple channels and long, multi featured rapids. I love them becuase they give you awesome waves to surf without having to go to the ocean. Most parks have their waves controlled by waveformers, machines that basically look like big combs at the bottom of the river, and you can adjust the "teeth" of the comb individually to change the wave that forms from it.
At most of the busier parks ive been to there's a guy with a job title of "Wave foreman". Usually its a guy who had a hand in the design process, is an avid SUP/Kayak/Surf -er, and for some reason always has dreads. His job is to make sure all the waves and features are safe and surfable and to improve the performance on the waves. So when I see these guys wave test, they'll go out on their board or kayak or whatnot and ride the wave and see how it feels. If its sticky enough to surf but not so sticky that its hard to get out of. If you can ferry from one end of the wave to the other smoothly and without hitting a pocket. If its deep enough so kayakers can do their somersaults and aerial tricks and bowstalls without hitting the bottom.
If the wave foreman doesnt like it, he will go back to his control booth, turn some knobs, change the wave, and come back out to try it again. He has other responsibilities too but from what ive seen it looks like at least half of his day is spent on the water.
I want that fucking job. Its like being park crew at a ski resort except you do a tenth of the work.
