Very good advice. In mild surf It is also possible to get into the kayak in knee deep water, scoot out past the initial waves, put the skirt on. Then when in open water pump out water with the pump down the side.
I would have to agree with Ciaran on this one. Although a low brace is typically preferred because many say it is safer than a high brace. In my experience a low brace only works up to a point. If it is a bigger wave I have found that I can lean way over almost to the point of being upside down so that the wave does not flip me. It is imperative that you keep your elbow locked to your side but is much more supportive than the low brace and allows for a much greater lean into the wave. In this video I screwed up the first smaller wave and thus got caught by a larger more powerful wave that was breaking over me, a low brace would not have allowed me to avoid getting flipped towards the beach. The brace takes place at 3:28 in the video.
Kayak Life I prefer a high brace, elbows low. More power from the power face and set up to roll back up quickly if you all of a sudden lose the upward force from the wave. Low brace is good for steering initially, but as soon as you get turned sideways go to a high brace wave side. Again, protect your shoulders by keeping elbows low!
Ciaran Lesikar what do you mean more power from a powerface? I get what you are saying but essentially you are suggesting to put the paddlers body weight into the paddle and thats not correct. The other thing is the shaft held near the boat will get the lever closer to the boat. I have been inside over head surf with low brace. It allows you to rise up in the soup vs sitting down in the seam side surfing. There is no different in power between a low or high brace if you mechanics are good. Also no difference in speed to a roll. Both require wrist adjustment.
Kayak Life I can’t argue with that. I agree that there are definitely pros to both. I personally prefer high brace though. While you may want to keep from leaning weight on paddle, in a rough break I’d rather put weight on a high brace than get knocked over using a low brace. That’s me though, I’m sure if you are more comfortable with a low brace than probably better for you. Only point I was trying to make is both have strengths not trying to disagree.
Ciaran Lesikar if you commit your weight then the boat will bounce up and down the pile. Essentially you are not in control. Try leaning forwards and into a low brace. Rotate your knuckles to adjust the blade which will rotate your boat on the pile so that you can exit or drop back in. If you maintain a high brace you will likely side surf for a great distance. I have video of getting closed out by s 4-5 ft wave and I only used a low brace to come out of it.
Very good advice. In mild surf It is also possible to get into the kayak in knee deep water, scoot out past the initial waves, put the skirt on. Then when in open water pump out water with the pump down the side.
thankyou for the tips! You just earned yourself a subscriber! 😁👍
Excellent tips on how to enjoy surfing in a sea kayak! :-)
i’m gonna try it right now, thx for the tips
I would have to agree with Ciaran on this one. Although a low brace is typically preferred because many say it is safer than a high brace. In my experience a low brace only works up to a point. If it is a bigger wave I have found that I can lean way over almost to the point of being upside down so that the wave does not flip me. It is imperative that you keep your elbow locked to your side but is much more supportive than the low brace and allows for a much greater lean into the wave. In this video I screwed up the first smaller wave and thus got caught by a larger more powerful wave that was breaking over me, a low brace would not have allowed me to avoid getting flipped towards the beach. The brace takes place at 3:28 in the video.
Excellent information and wise advice. thank you
awesome video
Sideways surfing....yea been there. And ended up capsizing with all my expedition gear sometimes....then swimming in with kayak... lol
ouch! Hope it was warm!
Great information.
Who stabilizes your friend's kayak and pushes it out when the time is right?
You need a friend that doesn't need stabilizing (i.e., a guide level friend).
From 2:06 to 2:14 : how to break your rudder by not retracting it while surf landing. :)
Otherwise, good vid.
2:19 Whaaat? Stop the surf?
No way! :-)
Nice hair! 😜
Would recommend a low brace while side surfing.
Kayak Life I prefer a high brace, elbows low. More power from the power face and set up to roll back up quickly if you all of a sudden lose the upward force from the wave. Low brace is good for steering initially, but as soon as you get turned sideways go to a high brace wave side. Again, protect your shoulders by keeping elbows low!
Ciaran Lesikar what do you mean more power from a powerface? I get what you are saying but essentially you are suggesting to put the paddlers body weight into the paddle and thats not correct. The other thing is the shaft held near the boat will get the lever closer to the boat. I have been inside over head surf with low brace. It allows you to rise up in the soup vs sitting down in the seam side surfing. There is no different in power between a low or high brace if you mechanics are good. Also no difference in speed to a roll. Both require wrist adjustment.
Kayak Life I can’t argue with that. I agree that there are definitely pros to both. I personally prefer high brace though. While you may want to keep from leaning weight on paddle, in a rough break I’d rather put weight on a high brace than get knocked over using a low brace. That’s me though, I’m sure if you are more comfortable with a low brace than probably better for you. Only point I was trying to make is both have strengths not trying to disagree.
Ciaran Lesikar if you commit your weight then the boat will bounce up and down the pile. Essentially you are not in control. Try leaning forwards and into a low brace. Rotate your knuckles to adjust the blade which will rotate your boat on the pile so that you can exit or drop back in. If you maintain a high brace you will likely side surf for a great distance. I have video of getting closed out by s 4-5 ft wave and I only used a low brace to come out of it.
Kayak Life sounds great, I will definitely try that. Thanks for the tip!
Serious business there.
Really, choose a sloping beach?