Re: [Paddlewise] Outside vs. Inside Edge for Turning in Surf

That's why short sea kayak's were invented! Well, not really. But they do 
tend to allow a bridge between the two extremes. I'm out of order here on 
the thread at the moment as I need to catch up on the posts, but I do know 
Duane has a variety of sea boat lengths. Not sure if he's mentioned that.

I know surfing big winter seas in the surf zone is an awesome experience 
with tangible thrills, skill development, and it's own ethos, but really, 
the short sea kayak rules for truly enjoying carving up the moments. What I 
find is however, somewhatt commensurate with Duane, but when I do get bored 
in a white water kayak, I sure wish I had a proper surf kayak with fins or 
even a sit-on-top surf specific kayak.

I've watched some pretty amazing paddlers out at Long Beach and it it 
amazing to watch them run through the hard-won maneuvers - one's that to do 
well and make look effortless probably are beyond even many of us gristly 
Paddlwisers (if only because we spend so much time in our sea kayaks, other 
that you surf-ski types shredding the miles). Live and let live.

Doug Lloyd


> Duane said :
>
>> I think if anything, this debate has shown how little time most people 
>> spend in the surf with a sea kayak. They just grab a whitewater or surf 
>> kayak instead. I always felt that beyond bracing, surfing a short kayak 
>> does little to improve your sea kayak surf zone skills. If I surf a short 
>> boat a few times, then go out in a sea kayak, I'm lost for a bit before I 
>> re-adjust. A short boat and long boat in the surf are two different 
>> games. It's much more difficult to handle a sea kayak in surf. Surfing my 
>> surf boat is so easy it almost bores me.
>
>   Your kidding, right? Surfing a sea kayak is like driving a pickup truck 
> on a winding mountain road. Sure it will get you where you're going and 
> you can carry a lot of stuff with you, but I would much prefer the sports 
> car. Why do you think we don't see any "sea kayak" surf contests? Probably 
> because the judges couldn't stay awake :-)
>
> 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/
***************************************************************************