Re: [Paddlewise] surf landings

At 11:00 AM 8/11/98 -0700, sylvio lamarche wrote:
>This winter, not being able to go out touring, due to my nasty "staph"?'
>infection on my knee, can't swim, can't knee brace much...
>
>I started practicing surf landings going backwards towards the beach, I
>sure do like it that way as I always have an eye out for the incoming waves
>ready to paddle through a dump, and at the ready for the nasty wave to come
>at me...
>        As for going towards the beach, the water carries me to shore and
>with very lttle paddling I can go ever so slow to the beach and execute
>safe landings ...
 

I guess it depends on the surf. Here on the big lake you can (or I can)
easily find yourself facing a much bigger and steeper wave than expected,
and if you realize it too late and are not paddling quick enough into it
when it hits you, you are in for a wild backward surf ride. I think I would
rather find myself careening wildly towards shore while facing the shore
(actually I like doing that) than careening backwards toward it. Not that
the latter doesnt have its own special thrill, but it sounds like you are
more concerned with landing than thrills. Not having surfed the ocean, I
cant speak for that situation, but you might have more spacing and reaction
time between waves on the ocean, so you might be better able to avoid back
surfing. If it consistantly works for you, then its probably a good system.

Of course if you want part thrill and part vision you can always do some
broached surfing. However, if you do see some obstruction in your way there
wont be a damn thing you can do about it. ;-) 


Wayne

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