The PaddlerUK magazine September 2015 issue 4 | Page 54

PADDLERUK 54 Eager to get into the water, we quickly checked in to our onsite pod, changed and headed for the lagoon for our four hour slot. The time had finally come, we were sat in the lagoon, which was completely flat at this point, wondering where the wave was going to appear from, and if we would be given any indication of when the wave would start.There was no siren or any other alert. We saw the top of the plough slowly move backwards away from us, then all of a sudden, at an increased pace, it changed its direction and started moving forwards towards us. This jacked up a wave right in front of us which we paddled for and took off on.The emergence of the wave from nowhere was such an impressive sight. Left high and dry Now heading towards the outside of the lagoon which is fenced, I was keen to get off the wave so threw myself into a roll to pull off but found myself in ten to twelve inches of water. Minus some skin from my knuckles, I was still on the wave making a beeline for the fence, with fins dragging over the mesh bottom of the sides of the lagoon. I ended up hitting the fence, and was left high and dry with the water disappearing back down into the lagoon. Looking over to the other side of the lagoon, I saw that Jack was high and dry on the other side. Chris, however, was grinning from ear to ear on the advanced peak. With only one surfer per peak we continued to take turns on the advanced and intermediate peaks. After several sets of fins being worn out The emergence of the wave from nowhere was such an impressive sight the beginner bay. At this point we decided that we would be unhappy for our demo boats to be used on the intermediate wave, as the boats were being were taking a battering. Inexperienced surfer We also considered that the more inexperienced surfer would be potentially using the intermediate wave and could cause themselves some serious pain and damage in the boats due to the dangers of the shallow water and possible lack of control. Surfing the advanced peak was a whole different experience. Whilst it wasn’t the two-metre barrelling wave that we expected, it was a fast fun wave. Due to the nature of the wave, pulling you to the side of the lagoon, you constantly try and stay in position and in front of the white water. Anything but the fastest of boats would struggle to get out of the white water and back into the green. Like many static and consistent features, the wave has its sweet spots and the more you surf it, the sweeter the spot becomes.The usual bottom turns, cut backs and top turns are all achievable on the waves. It gives you the ideal platform to analyse your own and others’ surfing techniques and styles, and the opportunity to practice and improve the same moves in the same spot on the same wave until you get it dialled. Whilst the Wavegarden is not a substitute for an ocean wave, it is nevertheless, a fantastic and consistent facility that can only improve your surfing. Like many static and consistent features, the wave has its sweet spots and the more you surf it, the sweeter the spot becomes. Chris was on the main peak near the pontoon, Jack was in the middle of the lagoon where he thought the intermediate wave would appear and I was the other side of the lagoon looking for the other intermediate wave, with the guys from Wavegarden on the main peak. It became apparent quite quickly that I was too far over, cruising around the white water, looking for intermediate wave. Unfortunately, the wave was very similar to that created by a river bore, where the white water pushes you out towards the sides. I quickly realised that this was not the place to be in a surf kayak. by the mesh at the sides of the lagoon, we soon realised that you could surf the intermediate peak as long as you stayed out of the white water. However, the wave didn’t take shape until three quarters of the way down the lagoon, where it got fast and hollow and rolled over into