Hello, My name is Mark Sanders. I started paddling about 8 months ago and am eager to learn more about the sport of Kayaking. I've been reading your posts for a couple of weeks and really enjoy all the great information. If I may ask my first of a string of silly newbie question, I'd like to know if anyone out there ever surf lands their kayaks backwards? I have been playing around close to the surf line in albeit small waves, but I like the idea of being able to see the waves coming at me and having the higher volume end of my kayak toward the incoming waves. Also this way my paddle is in a better position ie mostly using the front of the blade to correct my position while still using the momentum of the waves to carry me in. The beach although behind me is usually stationary, whereas the waves seem to keep moving around. I realize this may not work in all situations, but I thought I'd ask. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Welcome to the list, Mark. In regard to landing your boat backwards in the surf - not a really great idea. First of all, most people have more difficulty controlling a kayak going backwards then they do with one going forwards. I suspect this is mostly because we don't usually practice going backwards enough to get really proficient at it. But also because the boat seems to react much more quickly to direction changes going backwards then forward. I couldn't tell you why that is, but perhaps the people on this list who know a whole lot more about boat design then I do could. Next, as you say, when you come in backwards you have your higher volume end of the boat, the bow, towards the waves, This of course means that your lower volume end is heading into the beach. This will make you more prone to a rear ender. That is while the boat is sliding backwards towards the beach on a wave, your high volume end, the bow, will be lifting up on the wave which will in turn be lowering your lower volume end, the stern, into the water. If the end of the stern dips under the water in the process then it will "stick" in the water and your boat will go vertical on the wave and possibly over backwards. This can be dangerous in shallow water, and just a little scary! You mention the paddle position while coming in backwards. If you are holding the paddle high in the paddling position when a wave hits you then the force of the water can push against your paddle blades and force the paddle shaft back into your face. Needless to say that this is not a good thing either. I'm sure that there are probably several other reasons why landing backwards in the surf is not a really great idea, but I think I have at least hit the highlights. I would recommend that you stick to landing facing forward, or coming in sideways, and get really good at that. Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 3/13/2003 9:36:54 AM Eastern Standard Time, KiAyker_at_aol.com writes: > ... most people have more difficulty controlling a kayak going backwards > then they do with one going forwards. I suspect this is mostly because we > don't usually practice going backwards enough to get really proficient at > it. But also because the boat seems to react much more quickly to direction > changes going backwards then forward. ... 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. Best regards, Ralph Ralph C. Hoehn Ralph_at_Atlatl-Kayaks.com / Ralph_at_PouchBoats.com www.Atlatl-Kayaks.com / www.PouchBoats.com phone: +1-802-649-2555 *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 3/14/2003 6:17:59 AM Eastern Standard Time, Rob.Castle_at_mail.house.gov writes: > So, what do you do when the wave begins to recede and the flow starts to run > back out? I see your supposition but I would be concerned in those > situations that oft arise where there are a couple normal breaking waves > followed by a big dumper. You're gonna get sand in your britches man! There was no supposition (I know I get a bit theoretical at times), only report of personal experience. When what you describe does happen, I tend to arrange to end up broadside on and side surf in on the next one, unless the receding water has set me down on that potential britches filling stuff by then. It's been a rare occurrence though and I've not yet had to get the sand back out of the britches yet. :-) For a relative novice I reckon the situation you describe is potentially a lot worse if you're coming in bow first, by the way and are too busy avoiding a broach to check what's coming up from behind to slap you around! About thirty years ago, during stormy spring tides on the North Sea coast, I used to end up "surfing" over what's actually submerged pasture land on the outside of the dykes (a lot of the land being below the high water mark behind the dykes). The individual plots are usually separated by drainage ditches and, if I was unlucky and got swept out of my intended, presurveyed landing area, by barbed wire fences. The strange mix of currents and winds in conjunction with the extremely chopped up "seabed" makes for some very interesting wave patterns (or lack thereof). Perhaps my inclination towards landing while facing the waves was born of "growing up" (I never did, really) in those conditions. Of course nowadays there are severe restrictions on paddling in those areas (wildlife refuges) and paddlers wear immersion gear and PFDs, which allows them perhaps to be a bit less scared ... :-))))) Best regards, Ralph Ralph C. Hoehn Ralph_at_Atlatl-Kayaks.com / Ralph_at_PouchBoats.com www.Atlatl-Kayaks.com / www.PouchBoats.com phone: +1-802-649-2555 *************************************************************************** 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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