Re: [Paddlewise] Under the waves

Dave,

>Whatever happened to just giving a few pointers on the beach and then
sending
>the kayakers into the surf?

Thanks for doing it your way. I have been paddling for almost three years
now in Southern Calif although I grew up on Long Island and summered on Cape
Cod. I'm not afraid of surf, I just respect it. I worked as a lifeguard in
NY and Mass as a teenager and I did learn quite a bit about it.

I'm back in the learning stage again, My ocean kayaking skills have been
improving ever since I started with one exception-returning to the beach.
I'm batting about .333 on staying in the boat while coming in through the
surf.

At this time, I've decided that just reading and talking about it with
others does NOT work. I'll be taking a class with some other paddlers about
kayaking in the surf zone.

BTW, one of the other paddlers is a retired LA Sheriff and I'm a combat
experienced ex infantry officer. I don't think it's a question of
testosterone or machismo. It seems to me that it is common sense to learn
from those who know more about a subject than I do.

I could keep going the way I am - usually getting wet, cut, bruised, etc or
just maybe somebody can actually show me what I am doing wrong and how to
correct it. It will definitely be cheaper. Lost a paddling hat ($40) on one
trip (even though it was tied on), lost a foot peddle on another, and just
this last weekend, bent up my rudder which was OUT of the water. In my
opinion, I've tried the just throw them in method and it does not work for
me--give me a class with a knowlegable instructor anytime.

Steve Holtzman

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