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From: James <jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm>
subject: [Paddlewise] How was 2004?
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 08:12:27 -0600
Normal for me, except that I seem to be paddling more days than I
usually do.  Since 1966, when I started racing, I've been right at the
150 days a year mark.  But this year I'm already over 160, and I didn't
paddle at all in January because we actually had snow to ski on in
Chicago for a change.  I know I'm paddling less intensively since I
stopped racing, but the time in the boat is still there.

Most days I paddle the DesPlaines River near my home.  This time of year
the sewage treatment plants on it and its tributaries are allowed to
dump untreated sewage because "no one is using the river."  But I
haven't had so much as a head cold since 1996, so maybe the exposure is
doing me good.  And the fact that I glow in the dark makes night
paddling easier.

Big trips were to Cumberland Island, Georgia for a week with the
counseling service that I volunteer with (wild horses!), a week in Maine
with the same group (seals and FOG!), three weeks paddling through the
Grand Canyon (first whitewater trip in ten years and only rolled once!),
and the usual monthly weekend trips on the Mississippi.

Taught, as usual, at the Western Michigan Coastal Kayak symposium.

Hoping to get back to Greenland in 2005.

Just a normal year in the life of the luckiest person in the world.

Happy Hanukwanzmas to everyone.

Jim Tibensky
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From: Michael Lampman <mlampman_at_solitaireboats.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] How was 2004?
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 13:41:07 -0500
> On Wed, 8 Dec 2004 10:09:13 -0500, Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com said:
>> So, how was your year?  Anybody reach any milestones, finally achieve 
>> a
>> personal goal, . . . . . . . . . .

I found my "secret place".   Don't ask, I am not telling - its a secret!

Michael in Tallahassee
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From: Duane Strosaker <strosaker_at_yahoo.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] How was 2004?
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 19:05:00 -0800 (PST)
Paddlewise,

With designing my own kayak, it was a great year
for me. I always admired kayak designers, such as
Nick Shade, Chris Cunningham, Jay Babina, John
Lockwood and others, so I thought designing a
kayak should be the next step in my amateur
kayaking career. I designed it, it works great,
and now I can't figure out why so many people say
designing is so hard and why there are so many
bad designs out there.

Not a bad year paddling either. I did another
Catalina crosssing and circumnavigation trip,
another Catalina for lunch crossings, and another
San Miguel Island circumnavigation with the bonus
of Richardson Rock. I didn't do anything I'd
really call hardcore this year (no hundred
milers), because my focus was designing,
building, and testing my kayak. I am building a
second one of the same design right now.

During the last 1 1/2 years, I spent some time
and and a lot of money on the BCU thing, ending
with the 5 star sea training this fall. I did it
all backwards, learning to kayak on my own first,
and then taking the lessons. I think I'm done
with the BCU thing, since I can do everything I
want in a kayak and do a lot of training with my
friends, which is usually more productive (and
cheaper) anyway. The best thing about the BCU
thing was paddling and hanging out with fellow
paddlewiser Rob Gibbert.

Next year, maybe I'll get that last Channel
Island.

Duane Strosaker
Southern California
www.rollordrown.com
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From: <Rcgibbert_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] How was 2004?
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 20:03:33 EST
In a message dated 12/8/2004 7:10:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com writes:


> "Hey" everyone.  Well, 2004 is almost over.  I was just curious to know
> how your paddling year went?  Mine stunk. 

The upside is that it can only improve. If you find yourself high and dry, 
get a rowing machine, television and a copy of the DVD, This Is The Sea, sort of 
a Soylent Green form of paddling.

Mine was better than ever. I paddled some of the outside of Alaska's 
southeast, Cross Sound, Icy Strait and the east arm of Glacier Bay; Paddled a lot more 
of the Olympic National Park coastline in WA state; Got to paddle with Mr 
Roll or Drown himself, (highly recommended); California paddling and BCU training 
was a blast; Towed a lashed pair of Seyvelor rafts caught in a tide rip 
3/4ths of a mile offshore; Watched my friend Scott launch his brand new plastic WS 
Tempest into a cliff face; (Though he managed to survive his boat looks like a 
tiger's squeaky toy.) Celebrated my 100th capsize of the year a couple weeks 
ago with only 3 swims so far due to one failed roll, one blown spraydeck and a 
forced evac due to loss of paddle and no handroll. Finally, have found 1 
committed partner for a trip in march '05. My evenings are consumed with planning, 
mostly fantasia, but half the fun is always planning for me.  

Hope all your plans come together for great paddling. Merry Christmas, too.

Rob G
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From: Shawn Baker <shawnkayak_at_yahoo.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] How was 2004?
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 15:44:51 -0800 (PST)
>So, how was your year?  

I had a great paddling season this year.  I started with quite a few
winter outings (goal has been at least 1x/month, and February will be 4
years), and a quiet spring, followed by lots and lots of whitewater.  

Bought a big Maravia raft, which meant even more whitewater--including
non-paddling friends and family.  Rafting doesn't quite give you the
intimate thrill of smaller canoes and kayaks, but having your wife,
your parents, or her parents joining you on the water you love is also
priceless.  New respect and understanding for rafters.

Participated in a multi-stage team relay race.  The team already had a
kayaker, so I was signed on as a canoeist.  During the first 30 seconds
of the race, I swam exactly 3 times more than I have swum from a kayak
in the past 3 years.  Lots of new respect for marathon canoeists.

Whitewater this season was phenomenal.  We had a very slow, quiet
spring runoff that stretched through June, instead of peaking and
dropping quickly at the end of May.  Got two new (to me) whitewater
kayaks, a Wavesport X and a Wavesport Big EZ.  And fit my 6'-6", 185
lb, size 14 feet frame into them.  Anyone who says a sea kayak is "too
small" is lying.  Learned to bow stall and cartwheel.  Saw a griz one
day on the North Fork of the Flathead, just missed seeing a black bear
do a mystery move in a hole on the Middle Fork (of the Flathead), but
my paddling companions saw it happen--followed by a frantic climb
straight up a near-vertical 5.8 cliff.  Many happy days on the Middle
Fork in my kayak, and many happy days in the raft--some days saw a
morning kayak run and an afternoon raft run.  I twisted my back using
bad technique doing flatwater cartwheels in the Big, and missed an
incredible late season "monsoon" that brought the Middle Fork up to
mid-June levels.  Lots of respect for freestyle kayakers now.

Taught some of the best classes of my life this year.  Did a demo at
the New Zealand KASK Symposium in March--intrigued a lot of Kiwis that
a "skinny stick" actually works!  Followed by a great time under a
rescue helicopter--an exhiliarating rescue demo with 30 minutes of
downdraught and stinging sea spray in my eyes.  SSTIKS 2004 in Tacoma
in June, I had an incredible "Intermediate Greenland Rolling" class
with 7 students all in the same point on their learning curves who
progressed from a single roll to almost mastering 4-6 new rolls, chest
sculling, plus balance braces.  It's a thrill to learn a new roll, it's
a bigger thrill to teach one.  Early October saw me at the Delmarva
Paddlers Retreat, where I had two very enthusiastic sections of
Intermediate Greenland Strokes.  We had a lot of fun with chest
sculling, side sculling, some balance braces, hanging draws, bow draws,
bow rudders, and the like.  And then a Sunday morning class teaching 20
people how to make their own neoprene gloves, followed by a frantic
drive across 3 states to try to catch a plane home only to be foiled by
a 1.5 hour security line wait.  Was extremely fortunate to befriend Ken
Taylor--whose one-man expedition to Greenland in 1959 is most commonly
known for the skin kayak he brought home to Scotland which begat the
Anas Acuta--and who is a master observer and storyteller who relates
his visit as if he had returned yesterday.  Lots of respect for new
people passionate about learning old techniques, and for the seasoned
people who make the old things seem fresh and new.

Huge props this year to one of my students--a 57 year-old grandmother
who finally learned to roll this spring after trying doggedly for over
4 years.  She was with another instructor and something finally
"clicked".  I couldn't be prouder--perseverence pays off.  Dogma sucks,
sharing knowledge rules.  Passionate paddlers are all experts in my
book, no matter what their choice of craft or paddle.  I have big
respect for anyone who paddles around with a smile on their face--no
matter what anyone else thinks.

So, I've logged 47 days on the water, not necessarily a lot of touring
miles, but countless hours of smiles.  Work stinks; it's family,
friends, and paddling that put life in balance.

Shawn
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 
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From: <MJKory_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] How was 2004?
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 14:14:16 EST
In a message dated 12/8/04 11:46:05 AM Pacific Standard Time,  
rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au writes:

"Moved from a Pawlatta to something like a screw roll and was amazed to  find
it was easier. Turns out that because of my long arms the paddle was  hardly
being used at all for the Pawlatta roll except at the very end.  Consequently
my hip flick was way better than expected. "
 
Response: I had the same experience with the Pawlatta roll. Just could  not 
do it consistently, so I switched to a roll that was taught by a  kayak shop in 
Santa Barbara and it WORKS GREAT! I don't know the name of it,  but while 
upside down, you swing the paddle out so it is perpendicular to the  boat (ie, 
sticking straight out from the boat), pull the paddle down while  doing a hip 
flick, and you pop right up. Keys to success for me are to  keep the leading 
edge of the paddle blade slightly up as you swing it out so  the paddle does not 
dive, and KEEPING YOUR HEAD DOWN throughout the roll. This  is the hardest 
thing to remember, and as soon as you forget to keep your  head down, the roll 
fails. Mike Kory
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From: PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] How was 2004?
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 06:49:22 +1100
Mike wrote:; -
>while upside down, you swing the paddle out
>so it is perpendicular to the  boat (ie,
>sticking straight out from the boat), pull
>the paddle down while  doing a hip
>flick, and you pop right up.

G'Day Mike,

The Pawlatta has always worked for me, but a friend observed recently that
while I was swinging the paddle perpendicular to the boat it was mostly
above the water not in it. I think one of the reasons my 'screw roll', or
more accurately 'non extended paddle roll', seemed easier was that with the
proximal blade above the hull the distal blade was made to be in contact
with the water throughout the roll, giving a bit more support.

Anyway it was a pleasant surprise!

All the best, PeterO
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From: PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
subject: [Paddlewise] Surf advice - was ' How was 2004?'
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 07:56:22 +1100
PeterO wrote
>The Pawlatta has always worked for me,

G'Day,

Its also worth adding that having just learn't a 'non extended paddle roll'
and also managed to carry out an offside roll the opportunity exists for me
to practice both onside and offside 'non extended paddle rolls' so that both
become equally good. With the Pawlatta as the back up when I miss a few.

I know this is all pretty elementary for the rolling afficianado's but its
got me excited, a decent offside roll should improve my chances of recovery
from problems in the surf.

Alternatively, of course, I could learn how to surf properly:~) On this note
what do people suggest are the key things to remember in surf thats bigger
than 1 meter?

All the best, PeterO
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From: Jim Farrelly <JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Surf advice - was ' How was 2004?'
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 16:44:31 -0500
>Alternatively, of course, I could learn how to surf properly:~) On this note
>what do people suggest are the key things to remember in surf thats bigger
>than 1 meter?
>
>All the best, PeterO
>
>  
>
Points to remember when surfing above or below one meter.

1. Sand rolling hurts.  Try to stay in the surf.  Thats why its called 
surfing.
2.  Saying naughty words just before doing an endo wont change a thing.  
It makes for a cool story later though.
3.Waving at your wife from atop a wave of any size makes bracing 
difficult if not impossible.
4. When  bearing down full speed on another kayaker do the polite thing 
and roll under before impact.
5. Helmets are your friend.
6. Eyeglass straps are your friend.
7. Your friends are your friends.   Bring them along when you surf 
bars.  All that  weird, tumultuous, fun water is caused by sand ( at 
least here in Georgia). Sand isnt kind. See point 1.
8.Go over, come up, smile and repeat.
I will be surfing in five days.  I cant wait...

Jim et al
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From: Joshua Teitelbaum <teitelba_at_post.tau.ac.il>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Surf advice - was ' How was 2004?'
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 11:02:23 +0200
At 10:56 PM 12/12/2004, PeterO wrote:

>Alternatively, of course, I could learn how to surf properly:~) On this note
>what do people suggest are the key things to remember in surf thats bigger
>than 1 meter?

Peter, it depend on the type of beach  you are surfing into. First, one 
should think twice about surfing a sea kayak in surf that high.  That is 
about the limit.  If  one has to land, it depends on the type of beach you 
are surfing into.  If it is relatively free of rocks, than you can be 
fairly that a good high brace will get you in safely.

I'm assuming that you are not "going surfing," but rather are simply trying 
to get ashore.  If this is the case, try to pick your way through the 
waves, trying to come in on a small set.

Basically, use a rear rudder stroke to surf the kayak in straight as far as 
possible.  Eventually, the kayak will broach.  After you broach, high brace 
hard into the wave (one needs to have  practiced this, and be careful to 
keep your upper hand close to your chest and lean aggressively, in order to 
avoid a shoulder dislocation).  Ride that baby in (called a bongo slide, I 
believe) until the wave releases you.  If there is still room, you can 
paddle in straight.  If not, you will already be on the beach.

As for rolling in the surf, I remember that Matt (I think) once said that 
after you capsize, hold in tightly with your thighs until the 
washing-machine feeling stops, then roll up.

Any comments from surf pros like Matt?


Josh  Teitelbaum
Raanana, Israel




==============================================================================
Dr. Joshua Teitelbaum, Senior Research Fellow               Tel: [972] 
3-640-6448
Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and                 Fax: [972] 3-641-5802
   African Studies
Tel Aviv University
Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978  Israel
E-mail:teitelba_at_post.tau.ac.il
www.dayan.org
============================================================================== 
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From: Steve Holtzman <sh_at_actglobal.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Surf advice - was ' How was 2004?'
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 10:06:55 -0800
Josh said: 
> Peter, it depend on the type of beach  you are surfing into. 
> First, one should think twice about surfing a sea kayak in 
> surf that high.  That is about the limit.  

1 Meter surf is not really all that big. When you are sitting on the sand
waiting to launch, that's a wve that is about the same eight as your head.
We do that routinely in touring boats.

Two meter waves start to become a challenge, but more so launching than
landing. The technique that I use is to surf the waves as far as possible,
and then before the wave broaches my boat, I intentionally broach it to my
stronger side. This puts me in command and not the wave.

I also try to use a low brace as much as possible and save the high brace
for the really big and rough ones. All you have to do is edge the boat as
far as you can, spear you blade into the wave and increase your lean. As you
feel the wave letting you go, straighten up and when you can, straighten the
boat and keep paddling in. As you know, the low brace is much gentler to
your shoulders and makes you less prone to shoulder injuries.
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From: PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Surf advice - was ' How was 2004?'
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 08:30:02 +1100
Josh said:
>Peter, it depend on the type of beach you are surfing into.
>First, one should think twice about surfing a sea kayak in
>surf that high.  That is about the limit.

Steve wrote:
>I also try to use a low brace as much as possible and save
>the high brace for the really big and rough ones.

G'day,

You're right Josh. My aim is to land on beaches safely, though people tell
me its not easy to learn to do this without playing in the surf. It's quite
restrictive to limit oneself to one metre waves or to beaches without rocks
over here, where there are a fair number of surf beaches, so planning the
landing phase of a trip can be a fairly serious business.

One meter waves aren't really a problem for me unless they are dumping on
the beach and I suspect that two metre waves will be forever beyond my
capacity. But at the moment I can more or less guarantee to be trashed in
any wave over 1 metre. Either I don't lean far enough or more usually I
don't recover properly from the lean. At the moment I make my best endeavour
to come in slowly and backpaddling to ride on the back of larger waves. But
this is not always possible.

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? Is it the size of the wave or some other
characteristic such as the power of the wave? Some of the better surfers in
our club are able to readily distinguish between waves of the same size with
a lot of power from those without much power - I don't know how they are
able to tell the difference.

All the best, PeterO
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From: <kiayker_at_sbcglobal.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Surf advice - was ' How was 2004?'
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 16:00:57 -0800
 >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? Is it the size of the wave or some other
characteristic such as the power of the wave?


   Personally I have never much cared for the broached landing technique.
Going into a broach to land has always been a method of last resort in my
book. The problem with coming into the beach in a broach is that you are
pretty much at the mercy of the wave. You can't stop, and you really have
very little control of your boat. If a rock or a person or another kayak is
in your way then your going to hit it, and there is not a whole lot you can
do about it. I have always preferred landing behind the wave. That is you
follow the wave in, just behind the crest, and let it break in front of you.
Then you can ride your boat up over the sand on the water that the wave has
just deposited on the beach. When the water draws back out to sea you should
find yourself sitting high and dry on the sand. By coming in behind the wave
you are in control. You can even stop and back up if need be. Whenever I am
landing a loaded boat I will come in behind the wave.
   As for bracing in the waves, it is imperative that the elbows be kept in
close to the body when doing this in order to prevent shoulder problems.
While it may looked really dramatic to fully extend your arms and your
paddle during a high brace in a large wave, to do so is asking for an
injury. So when do you use a low verses a high brace? It depends on the
height of the wave. You want your paddle to extend horizontally into the
wave. That is, you should not be reaching up into the wave, or reaching down
into it either. So on a small wave rather then reach down to the wave with a
high brace you will use a low brace to extend your paddle horizontally into
the face of the wave.  On a larger wave rather then reach up into the wave
with a low brace you will instead switch to a horizontal high brace.
   Bracing on a wave, even a really huge wave, actually requires little in
the way of strength or power. It's all finesse and technique, edge control
and balance.

Scott
So.Cal.
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From: Steve Holtzman <sh_at_actglobal.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Surf advice - was ' How was 2004?'
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 16:56:02 -0800
Scott said: 
> The problem with coming into the beach in 
> a broach is that you are pretty much at the mercy of the 
> wave. You can't stop, and you really have very little control 
> of your boat. If a rock or a person or another kayak is in 
> your way then your going to hit it, and there is not a whole 
> lot you can do about it. 

That's what I used to think before a professional instructor showed me how
to maintain control of the boat so that I could move it towards the bow or
stern which moves you either left or right in relation to the beach.

If you can stay right behind a wave, that is obviously the best way.
However, waves travel a lot faster than you can paddle. You aren't surfing
it if you are behind it, and frequently waves travel in pairs. There is a
good possibility you are going to find yourself on the face of a wave at
some point, and that is when you will either broach intentionally, or the
wave will do it for you. I just prefer to do it on my timing, rather than
the wave's.

Steve
Southern CA.
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From: Steve Holtzman <sh_at_actglobal.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Surf advice - was ' How was 2004?'
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 13:54:29 -0800
> -----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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From: <cholst_at_bitstream.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Surf advice - was ' How was 2004?'
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 11:43:04 -0600 (CST)
> PeterO wrote
> what do people suggest are the key things to remember in surf thats bigger
> than 1 meter?

Carry a longer measuring stick.

(Sorry.)

Actually, how many paddlers have ever measured the distance from the
waterline to their eye level? This is the height of a wave that will just
touch the horizon. For me it's about 27 inches, as I recall.

Chuck Holst
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From: Matt Broze <mkayaks_at_oz.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Surf advice - was ' How was 2004?'
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 17:24:45 -0800
Steve wrote:
>>>>>As you know, the low brace is much gentler to
your shoulders and makes you less prone to shoulder injuries.<<<<<

I find it much easier to let go of a high brace that is overpowered by a big
dumper than to let go of the paddle with the wave side hand from a low
brace. A friend of mine tore his rotator cuff low bracing in surf when the
upwelling water in the broken wave pushed his hand up and back (and into the
V between his thumb and forefinger so he couldn't let go). If you don't let
your elbow get far from your body during a high brace and keep your hands in
front of your body you should have no shoulder injuries with a high brace in
surf. The high brace is a much stronger brace as well. The trick is to be
willing let the paddle go with the in wave hand if the upwelling is so
strong you can't hold your elbow into your side at any time during the
brace.

About 4/5ths of the way through the "Paddling" manual in the "Manuals"
pick-list of our website there is long section on paddling in surf. (I see
that I need to work on it some more as that section has mostly turned into
boldface type again. MS FrontPage writes such garbage code that formatting
mutations happen occasionally and so I'll have to struggle with HTML again
to try to fix it when I next get the chance.)

Matt Broze
www.marinerkayaks.com
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