[Paddlewise] Kookyakers - again

Well, my old 166 CPU blew up last week, so here I am again on a brand new
Pentium IV, with Windows XP. I lost all previous data (email contacts, etc),
so never did call Kaitlin on the sponson thing. But, I did get out surfing
last Remembrance Day weekend, the 11th. There was some great surf that
weekend, including some double-overhead sets. Most of the staff from Ocean
River Sports and some from Victoria Canoe and Kayak Center showed up, along
with a bunch of other yakers. Needless to say, the surf boarders were a little
displeased, and resorted to the actual issuing of death threats to some of us.
(no BS). I had my big knife on deck, and wasn't too worried, though I did get
yelled at a few times.





Boarders must surf right (a right break at Jordan's), and so most of us tried
staying north of these guys, but hey, with drift, currents, overlap - well, it
can get nasty. Talk about aggro attitude.





It was the first time in my new custom drysuit from Whites. What an incredible
piece of gear. 6 hours in the surf, not a drop of water, total mobility, total
joy. The way synthetic fleece allows a bi-laminate top shell to slide over
above is definitely less restrictive than a wet suit. 





I even took a swim with the current out into the first break, leaving my boat
on the beach. Though cool with the compressed insulation, again, it was
flawless. It was a unique experience at the end of the day, pulling the suit
off, with nary a wet spot (there was a very small wet spot in the small of my
back from condensation).





I spent the entire time in my Nordkapp. Never came out once. For something
different, I tried placing myself in some 8 foot curls (bigger than it sounds)
while broached to the break just as she curled. It was a weird sensation to
have the kayak rotate 360 in the curl, especially as you get upside down.
Interestingly, rather that get dragged endlessly under the soup as normal, the
wave broke around the kayak, and as I surfaced, the wave had moved on. Of
course, this leaves you sitting in line for the next immediate break. I
twisted my back in one nasty episode -- but I didn't want to let go of my
paddle. There were enough swims by others that day, including some of the
instructor trainer types in WW kayaks. The ensuing rescues of gear and paddler
are always such a pain, though the kayakers did help a few boarders in the end
who had suffered leash breakage and board breakage/ separation. Some of the
boarders had come down from Tofino, as they couldn't get out up there, it was
so big. 





There were a few times where I was under for a while, but I've finally got to
the point where I can consistently manipulate the psychology to hang
upside-down, take the time to reorient the paddle (including running my hand
to the power face for a quick reference check, then rolling back up. A few
time I had to dog paddle to catch an interim breath. T'was an awesome day, and
one where I felt some of that good old health returning. 





Barring poor conditions this Friday, I hope to cross over to the San Juans for
a get together with kayak friends. Surfing again, and now looking forward to
some crossings.  Kookyaking is here again for me.





Doug Lloyd 


***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************