Re: [Paddlewise] Feathered paddles & surf

I agree that the paddle is most likely to pivot if it is feathered, or if it
does catch on the wave strongly it is likely boat, body and all will get shoved
backward.  Since most of our big surf on Lake Superior is that evil dumping
shore break, I don't have too much experience punching out through waves much
larger than 5 feet or so.  However in my whitewater paddling I have punched
through breaking waves up to 8 feet high and never had a paddle shoved in my
face.  I don't recall ever talking to a whitewater paddler who has had this
happen to them.  I have seen a friend pull his abdominal muscles from being
violently slammed from leaning forward to head back on the rear deck, and had
one friend who broke some ribs being beaten against his own kayak as he was
doing violent multiple enders in a big hole (not by choice!).  The violent power
of breaking waves is for real, but the paddle hazard is minor especially if you
are agressively reaching into the wave and pulling yourself through with a
strong forward stroke.

There was a time in whitewater days of old when some paddlers would hold their
paddles up in the air when punching big waves or shooting a water fall with the
thought of avoiding a paddle in the face.  Not only will this slow you and
increase your chance of getting stopped and back endered, but the high arm
postion sets you up for a nice inverted body scoop brace combo and perhaps a
double dislocation.  William Nealy has a good illustration of this in one of his
books with the caption " How To Get Munched In A Hole".  The proper technique of
leaning forward and pulling yourself through the wave with a forward stroke is
entitled " How Not To Get Munched In A Hole ( Maybe)"

Matt Broze wrote:

> But the feathered paddle won't be slammed back into your face nearly as hard
> as the unfeathered one will be. Because it can pivot it is unlikely you will
> test the comparative strengths of your neck and paddle shaft to see which
> breaks first as you might with unfeathered.
> A feathered stroke can be started sooner as the breaker passes from the
> "lean forward to punch through the wave" position you are advocating as
> well. An unfeathered paddle will not be able to be lifted to take a stroke
> until the rear blade is also clear of the water.
> There is another technique used for slipping through a wave. Laying back
> against the back deck is often used in kayaks other than sea kayaks,
> especially those with very low back decks (it reduces frontal area and also
> helps keep the bow from burying as deep when using a river or surf kayak).
> Matt Broze
> www.marinerkayaks.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tomckayak_at_aol.com <Tomckayak_at_aol.com>
> To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
> Date: Monday, April 26, 1999 1:04 AM
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Feathered paddles & surf
>
> >In a message dated 4/23/99 7:19:28 PM EST, KiAyker_at_aol.com writes:
> >
> ><<  In punching through a wave in a kayak you will
> > receive extra bonus points for momentum. Using the paddle to "grab" the
> wave
> > and pull yourself through will help to assure that you make it to the
> other
> > side. >>
> >
> >You punch the paddle straight into the on coming face and grab on the other
> >side.
> >Keep the paddle low to the deck and it helps to put your head down at that
> >moment of impact. A feathered paddle is no advantage at that time. If you
> try
> >to paddle though a green wall of water as it is about to brake, you will
> get
> >the paddle shaft slammed in to your face.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> ><< There is a very good reason why virtually every surfer who uses a wave
> >ski, a
> > pure surfing tool, also uses a feathered paddle.
> >  >>
> >
> >Wave ski ? I am talking Sea kayak.
> >People use feathered because everyone around them use feathered, its cool,
> >then they come up with imagned advantages.
> >
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