Description: For six to eight months a year this is the home to Thames Valley white water kayaking. (From September 2006 to August 2007 the weir was open for 11 months straight.)

1 gate – A front surf wave for freestyle newcomers. At some hard to predict levels, normally just before the weir closes completely, this wave becomes retentive for spinning and elevated moves.

2 gates – A nice clean wave next to the wall, flanked to one side by a nice hole.

3 gates – A big wave with curling shoulders both sides, flanked by two great holes. At this level Hurley is pretty close to unbeatable.

4 gates – A series of linked holes. The hole in gate 1 stays pretty much the same as if the weir were on 2 or 3 gates.

Description: Excitement was high when we found out that this weir was to be completely rebuilt during 2003/2004 and was to include features to create kayak friendly white water. However in all the water levels we have looked at it, the white water forms between the weir stanchions in the form of a terminal hydraulic, and when the water finally does release itself from this death grip it washes straight into the strainer of the walkway bridge supports. In 2006 we found out that when the River Thames was starting to flood and the weir was on 7 gates or fully open it creates a gorgeous wave like hole. It’s unlike any feature I know but once wired most moves are possible especially learning how to felix.