Blair Conklin

This one is for all the ladies out there!

BREAKING A SAND DAM CONNECTING A LAKE TO THE OCEAN – The water flowing through the trench is so satisfying!

My favorite type of barrel

When a lake finally breaks through and connects to the ocean, the transformation is wild. You see powerful currents, shifting sand, and water moving fast. It’s one of those rare moments where everything changes in seconds.

This one was hard to catch

What happens when you use a shovel to connect a lake to the ocean

Connecting a Lake to the Ocean by Digging a Trench

The Water Flowing Through the Sand Is Incredibly Satisfying!

A surfers dream wave

Watching the water trickle down as it breaches a sand dam is incredibly satisfying. The gentle stream quickly grows into a powerful flow, connecting the lake to the ocean. The mix of fresh and salty water creates a peaceful yet dramatic scene. The soothing movement of water is mesmerizing, offering a calming visual experience as nature takes its course.

RC surfer took the river wave for himself!

If there’s no waves, we can always count on the river!

My favorite way to start the day

Grandpa uses a shovel to connect a river to the ocean

Discover the fascinating science and natural effects of connecting a lake or river to the ocean using nothing but a shovel. This phenomenon often occurs at sand berms, where rivers meet the sea. When manually dug—or naturally breached due to rising water levels—the river carves a temporary path to the ocean, creating an estuary where freshwater mixes with saltwater. The result can lead to dramatic rideable “river waves” for surfers. While the process may look dramatic, it’s not illegal and often mimics what happens naturally during high water events.

This river was completely blocked and cut off from its natural path to the ocean by a sand dam. The dam was broken. The water didn’t just flow it trickled in a satisfying way down to the ocean. You can literally see the land reshaping itself in real time.

Nothing like arriving the beach and get the best one of the day!

This wavepool creates such satisfying stuff to watch!

Using a shovel to break a sand dam connecting the river to the ocean is an incredible sight. The moment the water starts flowing, it carves its own path, rushing to meet the waves. It’s simple but its so powerful 🎥 @SoLagLocal

The home zone has its moments! This was one of my favorite sessions I have ever had down there.