RE: [Paddlewise] Surf advice - was ' How was 2004?'

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net 
> [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net] On Behalf Of PeterO
>
> Either I don't lean far enough or more usually I don't 
> recover properly from the lean. 

Peter,

Lean aggressively. If you do it before the wave hits you, scull. Then as the
wave starts to side surf you in, you will feel the wave letting go of you.
Quicly bring the boat under your body as this happens.


> 
> Steve, I like the idea of controlling which way to broach, 
> which for me is to the right so I can roll up with the wave. 
> The idea of using a low brace as much as possible is 
> intriguing. Several paddlers I go out with have dislocated 
> their shoulders and they are mostly thin, low upper body 
> strength build like myself. Just when would you make the 
> decision to move from a low brace to a high brace? 

With the people I paddle with, we only have had one shoulder dislocation.
That happened during a rescue practice session while somebody was trying to
learn a re-enter and paddlefloat roll. Never happened in surf.

I go to a high brace when I'm looking at a wave and getting that ("Oh sh*t,
I'm going to die" feeling because a monster wave is going to break right on
top of my head. If I can spear the wave with a low brace instead of trying
to put the paddle over the wave, there's plenty of support.

If you do it before the wave breaks, you usually are bouncing in on the soup
in front of the breaking wave.

Many of the lessons I've learned either came from good professional
instruction, or the the numerous crash and burns I did before I was able to
learn to do this without being terrified.

As with any skill, you do have to get in the soup and practice. We even came
up with a special award for all who crash and burn. Your boat gets draped
bow and stern with as much kelp as can be found on the beach. Hence the
"Kelp Award", and I've received many.

Steve
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