Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak surfing question

Mark Arnold wrote:

>>I have heard several people recommend using the low brace rather than the
high brace in that situation.  Their point was that a shoulder dislocation
was more likely with the high brace (in the surf situation) especially if
you
let your elbow on the bracing side get up and away from your side (easy to
do
if you do not practice your brace).
What are your reasons for not using the low brace?<<

Shoulder dislocations are certainly possible in the surf, most likely from
using a high brace in the stern quadrant (try to avoid high bracing there)
and letting the upwelling water lift your elbow up away from your side. If
this happens and the force is too much to control just let go of your paddle
shaft with that hand. If the water is upwelling that hard you might even be
able to use the flat of your hand to brace with until you can grab the
paddle again. Always be ready to let go of the paddle. When upside down if
it snags in the sand you want it to yank out of your hand rather than yank
your shoulder out of joint. Usually you can hang on to the paddle with the
other hand until things calm down enough to grab the shaft again and roll
up. I will use a low brace on small waves or as a stern rudder when sliding
mostly forward on a bigger wave but switch quickly to a high brace on
broaching when in waves over a couple of feet tall. The reason is it is not
easy to let go of a paddle that is being pushed up from below when your hand
is on top of it and your arm is angled back. Can you say "torn rotator
cuff"?  If you let a wave force your arm back and up you may learn a lot
more about how this feels.

>>Does using an extended brace with a Greenland paddle make any difference
in
the choice of braces to use?  Do you even try to go to extended braces in
the
surf?<<

There is so much force in the surf you don't need much leverage on your
braces and if you give the surf too much of a lever it can do some real
damage to you. And the surf doesn't even need a place to stand, just a long
enough lever.

>>I do not have much surfing experience, but in the past I have used the
high
brace when broached and side surfing. I was thinking of working on a change
to the low brace because of the shoulder dislocation comments.  Is it worth
the effort to try to switch from my natural instincts?<<

Not in this case, except learn to let go (of the paddle) if things get too
overpowering.


Matt Broze
Lots more surfing advice in the paddling manual on the website below.
http://www.marinerkayaks.com


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