Ralph C. Hoehn responded: >>>> Except that with respect to the water you're actually going forward even as you're approaching the beach stern first. We're not talking backward surfing here. <<<<<<< In a message dated 3/15/2003 12:21:15 AM Eastern Standard Time, mkayaks_at_oz.net writes: > ... I don't see this. You are moving backwards in respect to the land and in > respect to the water. How can this not be going backwards. You may get the > illusion of going forward through the waves but you can't back in to the > beach without going backward through the water. In 1981 or 1982 when I was > first learning about how to deal with surf in a sea kayak some of my > paddling friends got the idea it would be best to come in backwards so you > could see the waves coming and paddle forward through those that might surf > you uncontrollably to the beach while doing your own rendition of a > lopsided paddlewheel. It was quite painful to watch. ... Matt, I reckon we're talking about different situations here ... the original question by Mark Sanders was clearly not posed on the basis of his intention to embark on the BC-to BC run tomorrow. The next time we both end up in the same piece of water and there is enough surf about I'll show you how I get to the beach without backwards surfing (!) and how I do not go backward through the water even as the top of the wave is carrying me towards the beach; there is no magic trick or illusion about it. The overall approach to the beach is very (!) slow of course, as you point out so extensively, unless you back paddle between breakers (which calls upon a new skill set altogether). Yes, in effect you end up "washed up onto the beach like a piece of flotsam", but under control (for which little skill is required!) all the while ... and under certain circumstances that may be the safest course of action. Let's hark back to the original question, which is all I was answering. I do not advocate approaching every beach backwards in every little ripple of surf under all circumstances by any means. Good enough? Best regards, Ralph Ralph C. Hoehn info_at_FoldingBoatCenter.com www.FoldingBoatCenter.com phone: +1-802-649-2555 -- Ralph phone: +1-603-632-9500 -- Alv (yup, they rhyme) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Mar 15 2003 - 04:55:18 PST
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