AS THE WAVE HITS, ROTATE YOUR
BODY TO REDUCE IMPACT. PHOTO: JEFF HERMAN
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Skills all
SURF’S UP!
A surf launch can be equal parts chaos and comedy. Big waves, powerful cur- rents and rolling whitewater can flip and toss a kayak angler. No worries. Here are seven tips to get you through the impact zone.
BE PREPARED Prepare
gear before leaving the
beach. Tie the anchor down to the kayak and secure the rope with twist ties. Use bungees to lash down tackle trays. Stow rods and reels below deck. If they won’t fit in your hatch, remove the reels and strap the rods flat to the deck with bun- gee cords. Don’t leave the rods sticking up where they can break.
M Y Y Y
SIZE IT UP Before charging the surf, stand on the shore with the paddle in one hand and the bow handle in the other. Take time to assess the wave pattern by looking for lulls between sets of larger waves. When you spot a lull, charge through the shore break. Don’t underestimate these first waves, they are powerful enough to flip the kayak and knock you down. Once you reach waist deep water, jump in the kayak and start to paddle.
STRAIGHT SHOOTER Always keep the kayak pointed towards oncoming waves; sitting sideways in the surf zone can spell disaster. If you get caught parallel to the breakers, all is not lost. Keep the boat upright by leaning into the oncoming wave and extending the paddle to press the blade on top of the whitewater (get the lowdown on how to brace in the Spring 2012 issue,
www.rapidmedia.com/0062). Leaning into an oncoming wave may seem coun- terintuitive, but it is the only way to keep your sunglasses dry.
38 PADDLING MAGAZINE || December 2013
PUNCH THROUGH BREAKERS LIKE A PRO
TIMING IS EVERYTHING When approaching a breaker, aim the kay- ak either at the whitewater after the wave breaks, or hit the shoulder of the wave ahead of the peak. While paddling up the face of the wave, lean back so the bow rises. At the crest of the wave, lean forward to bring the bow down on the back side.
OH $#IT! To make it through the crest of a breaking wave, paddle like hell. Not only will pad- dling maintain forward momentum, but pulling a blade through the water actual- ly increases stability. In the impact zone, shield your body by rotating a shoulder forward and tucking your head to reduce exposure to the oncoming wave.
SPIN CYCLE If the kayak flips, get out of the way. There’s no way to stop one hundred pounds of gear and plastic from churning in the surf. Once the wave has passed, flip the kayak upright and swim around to the stern. Stay on the deep-water side and let the waves wash the kayak into the beach while trying to keep the stern facing into the whitewater. Don’t try to fight the boat in the washing machine—you won’t win. Once back on the beach, assess the dam- age, empty the water and decide if the conditions warrant a second attempt.
PLAY FOR PRACTICE It takes practice to master the surf launch. Before jumping in a loaded boat and attempting to charge the surf for the first time, learn to time the waves, punch through breakers, side surf and recover from a wipe-out in an empty boat. Spending time learning to surf launch might save your gear, your dig- nity and your hide. —Jeff Herman This article first appeared in Summer/Fall 2013 issue of Kayak Angler.
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