PADDLER
SIMON HAMMOND
PADDLER
46
1. Waiting for the wave at 45 degrees
2. Seaward side sweep stroke as wave hits
3. Continue sweep and look towards the shore
SO WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?
Beginners and experts, short boaters and sea kayakers – I’ ve seen the smiles on their faces. From getting to grips with being sideways to a wave, controlling your ride, and progressing to running diagonally across the face of a wave, turning, and even paddle-out take-offs, the sit-on-top is a great way to explore new techniques and maximise your surfing time as opposed to your capsize, swim, and emptying time!
Give it a try; it’ ll put a big smile on your face!
THE PADDLE OUT TAKE OFF, AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE SIT-ON-TOP SEQUENCE ON THE RIGHT.
1. Start by watching the surf for a while and noticing where and how the waves break. You want to focus on the point where a green wave suddenly breaks, creating a real whoomph of breaking white water. It doesn’ t need to be a big wave, just a powerful break.
2. As you paddle out, face the oncoming wave at an angle, something like 45 degrees, but you can play with this. Get ready for the wave to hit your bow. Have your wave-side paddle in position for a big wave-side sweep stroke.
3. As the wave hits, you initiate your sweep stroke by twisting your body to look towards the shore.
4. Get the right wave, angle of attack, and timing of the sweep stroke, and you’ ll be surfing the wave back to shore after performing a paddle-out takeoff. 5. Next, you can play with a beachward pry instead of the sweep and some pre-rotation!
SIMON HAMMOND
Simon is a sea and surf coach, a former World Surf Kayaking Champion, and author of‘ Surf Kayaking: The Essential Guide’.
Simon and his wife Nicola run Shoreline Extreme Sports in Bude. Over the last 25 years, they have been coaching and providing a wide range of PaddleUK awards and qualifications. Simon is a highly qualified PaddleUK coach provider and National Trainer.
4. Facing the beach and surfing the wave
5. Advanced technique replacing sweep with beachward pry