RKCCRKCC usually puts on a few surf trips throughout the year. I am also talking to members of the surf club for those particularly interested in taking out boats in the surf. Keep an eye out for dates and details of any trips.
Guide to Surfing
Surfing is a fast and dynamic form of kayaking. Whilst rivers in the UK are running dry in the summer time, the ocean continues to provide some interesting paddling experience. We are all familiar with the way that surfers use boards to surf on the waves, and surfing in a kayak isn't much different. This page is designed to introduce you to the basics to kayak surfing to get you out on the ocean waves and having a good time. I will break down the skills into 3 stages, but first a quick mention on kit.
Starting with the all important boat, most suitable boats are those with flat hulls and a decent rocker profile (It is worth getting advice from club members before a trip). A set of whitewater paddles, spraydeck, BA and helmet are also necessary. The clothing you wear will depend on the season and conditions. Do bare in mind that the saltwater can damage most of the kit (particularly any exposed metal) and suncream can degrade the latex seals on drycags. Make sure all kit is rinsed when you come back home.
Stage one- the paddle out
Firstly, you need to launch into the water. Harder than it sounds, you want to be near to the water deep enough to paddle though not so deep that the boat floods when a wave hits. Then just push yourself into the sea (or better still, get a friend to drag you out). The paddle out can be a rather exhausting process as the waves try to push you back to the beach. Make sure you face into the waves and put in a few strong strokes to get through the wave. Although your aim here is to get beyond where the waves are breaking, it may help if you practice on some of the smaller broken waves in shallower water.
Stage two- Catching the wave
Having spent the last while avoiding letting the waves take you in, you now want to make sure that's exactly what you do. Sat beyond the waves or "out back" keep an eye on the waves in the distance to spot the bigger ones. Also see where the waves begin to break, this is where you want to be when one of the bigger waves comes in. So when there are no waves between you and the wave you want to catch, you want to paddle back towards the beach as hard as you can into the area where the waves are breaking. As the wave catches up behind you, continue paddling and lean back into the wave, lifting the nose. You should feel when the wave is propelling you at which point you can stop paddling.
Stage three- Riding the wave
As the water moves under your boat, it will want to pull you under too. To prevent this make sure that the edge nearest the beach is being lifted (ie lifting the knee on that side) or indeed when you are facing the beach you are leaning the entire boat away from it. Big sweep strokes on the side of the wave will help to point you back towards the beach. Once the wave has reduced in size, try and point your boat back out to sea and paddle through the wave to start again.
On a safety note, follow a few simple rules:
- Never paddle alone
- Watch out for changes in the tide and for dangerous currents- try to stay within a set area.
- Follow instruction from lifeguards at all times.
- It is worth also noting that surfers are alot squishier than your boat, so avoid them if you can as they will come out hurt and you'll ruin our reputation. Instead, keep to yourself and realise you can catch waves alot smaller and with alot less effort than they can. That will irritate them enough.