>>My days of speciality kayak surfing are behind me (they were done in displacement hull boats such as the Dragonfly II if that sets the time for some folks.) We didn't ride with all the style and control of the boarders, but I do seem to remember we got way more rides, since we were able to "break out" faster and through bigger waves. Baring mechanical assistance (boarders sometimes get tows from Jetskis to get out through the really big breaks), would you say it's still true that modern surf kayaks and waveskis catch more waves than boarders? I'll agree with this (at least for the paddlers who are not wasting all of their time swimming to shore). And it's also easier for paddlecraft to reach waves which are breaking some distance from the beach then it is for the boards. So the paddlecraft in the surf are not without some certain advantages. I believe, however, that what gives the boards the edge as far as sheer performance is not so much in the design of the craft, but more the result of them being able to quickly and radically shift their weight during the course of a ride. In the paddlecraft we can attempt to lean some from one direction to another, but it's just not quite the same thing. Happy New Year to all! Scott So.Cal. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.298 / Virus Database: 265.6.7 - Release Date: 12/30/2004 *************************************************************************** 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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