Okay, I'll take a stab at defining surfing. Surfing occurs when a wave imparts a forward velocity to the kayak. This can be sustained, or temporary. To sustain the surf, the force from the moving wave must be *greater* than the drag of water on the kayak's hull. Otherwise the wave will move past the kayak. As the kayak is left behind, at some point, it will no longer obtain any extra forward momentum from the wave, at which point the surf stops. The ability of a wave to cause planing depends primarily on it's slope, and to some extent on its size. Slope however is the primary determining factor. Any wave, if it is steep enough, can easily cause a kayak to move fast enough that it will plane. I have seen this, and I have experienced it. This is incontrovertible fact, don't even try to argue! However it is debateable what size and slope of wave will be required to make any particular kayak enter the planing mode. It is very possible to surf without being in planing mode. Cheers, Kevin Whilden *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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