[Paddlewise] Surf & Skill Ratings

       I thought that Vincent Swendsen's comments on sea kayaking in the
surf zone to be right on the money. As I paddle more & more, work in a
kayak store and see more people paddle & talk about paddling I am amazed
sometimes by peoples'  perceptions about abilities. I myself am
competitive by nature and like to judge myself and always try to reach
higher levels of ability. I have seem "experienced" paddlers who clearly
not only can't even get in & out of their boats safely to beginners who
embaress me with their strenghts and ease of learning. It took me a very
long time to learn a virtually bombproof roll but so far no luck on the
hands roll. Sometimes, it's a mental thing about ability I guess.
         Back to the surf. I have come to believe that as far as
abilities go kayaking in surf is the dividing line on abilities. I  tend
to feel ( and in no way do I want it to be a snobbery issue)  that
certainly no one is above intermeadiate if they haven't mastered the
surf zone.
To master it one must have a very good roll(one that you trust
implicitly), boat control and almost more importantly, an intuitive
awareness of what's happening around you. Be it other boats, swimmers,
waves, what have you, you have to be able to process your surroundings
and make next to instant choices on courses of action. From rolling to
avoid getting speared from someone's bow to judging whether it is safe
to go out at all. Additionally the surf teaches rough and storm paddling
and as Vincent harped on will show you in a heartbeat about gear staying
with the boat, watertightness and I venture to say the true open ocean
seaworthniness of your kayak.  And it is almost an automatic: it will
always be harder to get in thru the surf upright than it was to get out.
Slim hardchined speed demons fare far differently that softer, volumous
boats. Life is full of little tradeoffs. where do you intend to go? And
in what conditions?

                                             Pete Gallagher


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