The locals call it "Arty," and this stretch of the Great Miami River in downtown Dayton is about as high-performance as river surfing gets in the Midwest. It's a man-made wave built with beginners in mind, but don't let that fool you—the local crew here knows how to shred and will make you look slow in a hurry. Prime sessions line up in spring, summer, and fall when the flow cooperates, so check conditions before you make the drive. Pro tip: bring your high-volume board, since Arty rewards a bigger deck more than a thin shortboard.