it's good you chose a day when it has small surf, hahaha. As a beginner, I must have a different perspective on what is rough and calm. You know one thing I always notice in surfing videos and that is the turning from upwind to downwind is alway missing. That turn is the one thing I am the most interested in seeing, as the wave catches and speeds the ski up before you have turned all the way.
LOL, that's because videos of us wobbling through a turn in big bumps aren't very fun. :) We have actually talked about that scenario a bit...sounds like a good idea for a video...
That would make for a good video. It would be a wobbly, turn and then insta “permagrin” because the ski becomes very stable with the downwind swell and wind pushing you!!
I try to not be hesitant when turning- a couple of powerful strokes on the opposite side of the direction I turn [alternating with balancing strokes on the other side], leaning onto the wave. Once I'm past 20-30 degrees on the wave, I can resume equal power paddling on either side- the wind will help me turn too then. After ~100km in my new Think Uno, without flipping, I realized why- my experience in the old Evo helped in the way that I avoid one mistake I see in videos where people a flipping- the boat tilts, the paddler tries to counter by leaning on the opposite side while the paddle is on that side too. That is the big mistake- the support comes from the water and you have to have the paddle in on the side you're leaning towards. It seems so obvious- when losing balance on land one tries to lean on the closest solid object on that side [e.g., a wall] rather than shifting the body hoping to change the center of gravity [that would be rather funny...]; and yet in the water, the mind plays tricks...
I live a mile from the northern end of the ICW, Manasquan Inlet, and with the boat wakes and swell reflecting and intersecting off the jetties, gotta say a beach launch looks easier and safer. And the maelstrom where the inlet meats the open sea makes even forty-foot power boats struggle. If I take a swim in front of one of those, not sure what they could do!
A couple of our local inlets are similar...we've become very particular about when we paddle in those spots, and also when we launch off the beach. With the option to paddle ICW on the rough days, it's just not worth breaking up an open ocean ski in the rough stuff (or worse yet, breaking one of us). :)
Your positive comments and constructive feedback are an important part of why we do this Paddle Channel thing...to help us get better, and to hopefully help other folks improve and enjoy paddling all the more. Thanks for that!
I agree about Rod’s improvements!!! (Not that I am an expert). I think a small part of Rod’s improvement is due to going back to a 0 degree feather on the paddle. I know I just opened a big can of worms with that comment but Rod has shared with me that his wrist does not hurt anymore and in my opinion it really helped his technique. To be clear, I have a LOT to learn and I am by no means an expert on technique. I am truly having fun learning the sport. I do find it interesting that watching videos of experts like Oscar, Ivan, David, Jasper, and the pro tour show various styles of paddling. Each one is a little different with some basic fundamentals. Much like swimming or running styles. We all have different lengths of legs, torso, arms, etc... so we will all have a unique movement pattern so long as certain paddling fundamentals are incorporated. Getting back to the paddle itself, I have preferred the 0 degree feather on my paddle from day one and I have stuck with it after listening to Oscar explain why he teaches it. It seems to make sense to me, especially for ocean paddling and bracing quickly. Do you think that feathering the blade is simply a carry over from past coaches passing it down from generation to generation?
Good vid, Barry! One thing to clarify -- it IS okay to hesitate between sets if there's an outer bar with breaking waves when going out. Sometimes I get started going out, but take it easy between waves until the big ones have passed before heading out over the outer bar.
Which inlet is used for the Surf to Sound race? All I remember for the November 2019 race was heading out past the jetty into some pretty gnarly waves. I never fell out of my ski so many times in one day before. It was a humbling experience. Can't wait for the Carolina Cup 2021.
You can see the differences in Paddling style, Barry high top hand with Rod preferring much lower. Its is also advocated by some that when you punch through a big wave to then actually brake with your paddle just over the crest to reduce tendency to become airborne, as that is a risk of snapping a ski when it comes down. So you plant the catch Just over the peak, pull yourself over but just hold the blade in the water as a brace for a split second before exiting it. Then giving it some stick once the nose is back down
Good stuff! Some folks also advocate hitting breaking waves (or just before it breaks) at a slight angle to avoid stressing the ski. We're gonna try your approach and see how we do!
@@rodclayton in my opinion it is more of an individual choice, I find the chest-high paddling work best for me, so if it feel good dont change it. I think it might be related to the relative length of the arms Vs. the body, but didnt check this one yet.
Great advice about planting the catch just over the peak then holding the blade in the water for a bit. Definitely something to work on. Thank you for this.
Hi guys. After some advice please. I currently have a sot kayak and am confident out at sea etc. I took both a v5 and v7 epic rotomould out . These are same price. So I don't know how to choose as love them both. I did fall out a bit more on the v7 but am new to a surf ski. Thanks for any help.
Hey Craig. It's hard for us to offer good advice on this from afar, because surfski selection is highly individualized. It's going to come down to what you are seeking the most, stabilty, or a bit of sleekness. I can tell you that, given the choice of those two boats, WE would go for the V7. If you're comfortable with falling out and remounting and you want to push your skills a bit, the V7 might work well. If you prefer to stay in the boat and have that great stability, then the V5. For downwinding and that type of paddling, we would go for the more sleek V7, but we have a very experienced friend who downwinds in the V5 and loves it. So in the end, you really can't lose -- it's like trying to choose between your two favorite ice cream flavors...both are good!
Hi Guys, my name is Mark Fyvie, I am moving from South Africa to the research triangle area with my family and thinking about getting back into paddling (I used to be a competitive marathon K1/K2 paddler we did a lot of training on skis in Durban and Cape Town and did the odd surfki race but not one of the big ones out there). How difficult is it to get a group of guys together to do a weekend paddle if you live in RT area? Where is the sufski scene based? I figured I would buy a ski here and put it in our container and train on the lake near the house we bought and get on the sea on weekends. Assume Wilmington is where most people paddle. Is there a surf-lifesaving club there? Never seen skis in USA but is a big scene alongside surf-lifesaving here. Similar to Aussie.
Hey Mark, welcome in advance! Epic has a new dealer in that area, so you might want to look at www.epickayaks.com/dealers and contact Mark at Craft Performance. He can probably steer you toward a group in that area (or maybe help you create one!). Unfortunately, there isn't really a surfski scene in NC right now, but it's definitely becoming more popular. There are also some OC1 paddlers in the area -- Mark might be able to point you in their direction as well. Our friend Jodie, who is often in that area, might be able to offer some advice, if he reads this comment. There is more a paddle scene in Wilmington -- still not too many surfskis, but a lot of OC1's. Give us a shout when you're in the area! We love to hear about paddling in Durban and Cape Town (bucket list destinations for us).
Leashes are always a pain, as a surfer of 50 years experience I have learned to buy the strongest leash, inspect and replace frequently, look at the SUP leashes or go to proper surf shop, they may be fairly rare in North Carolina . It is imperative to always fall seaward and swim out to sea to take up slack and get rid of tangles this prevents leash burn, whipping and shock loading, next bring feet together and hands overhead to create least water drag, after weight is taken by leash, slowly unfold into sea anchor shape to slow up. Surfers often drop or dive into face and get blown out the back, the main thing is to get the hell away from your craft.
I have seen lots of videos of people headed out for a downwind paddle and a lot of places seem to have a cove or a protected place to launch. We have just one protected inlet in our area which means 99% of the time we have to paddle out through the surf to take advantage of downwind conditions. Do most of you guys and gals have a protected place to enter and exit the ocean or do you have to go in and out of the surf zone?
Hey, George, thanks for that comment. We've found this to be a "situational call" -- in this location, wearing the leg leash out through the surf zone is preferable to having the Fort Fisher rocks turn our skis into carbon confetti should the craft get away from us. We'll also advocate wearing the leg leash out through the surf zone if swimmers are in the water near our launch point -- better for us to struggle with the leash than for our surfskis (or OC1s) to mow down swimmers in the shallows. Good point of discussion! Maybe some other paddlers will weigh in with their comments/experience/viewpoints on that.
@@ThePaddleChannel I think one of the issues with leg leashes in breaking waves is the power of big waves breaking can snap many leashes, probably best before they snap a leg.. but as you say if loosing the ski means it running into the rocks its a judgement call
I do not like the leg leash. It breaks and your legs get tangled in it when you go over. Myself and others will use a carabiner on the shoulder strap with a cord to the foot strap. East to release and never breaks. Mocke brothers have been seen wearing bith methods of attachment to the boat. On the catch the paddle should go in at a 45 degree angle to the water so on the beginning of the stroke you can lean into it. That is what gives you stability in rough water.
@@b1lyb we''ll have to try that out. A couple of weeks ago my leg leash hog-tied me in the impact zone...it made getting out interesting for me, and especially interesting for the folks on the beach... :) Thanks for that info!
it's good you chose a day when it has small surf, hahaha. As a beginner, I must have a different perspective on what is rough and calm. You know one thing I always notice in surfing videos and that is the turning from upwind to downwind is alway missing. That turn is the one thing I am the most interested in seeing, as the wave catches and speeds the ski up before you have turned all the way.
LOL, that's because videos of us wobbling through a turn in big bumps aren't very fun. :) We have actually talked about that scenario a bit...sounds like a good idea for a video...
That would make for a good video. It would be a wobbly, turn and then insta “permagrin” because the ski becomes very
stable with the downwind swell and wind pushing you!!
I try to not be hesitant when turning- a couple of powerful strokes on the opposite side of the direction I turn [alternating with balancing strokes on the other side], leaning onto the wave. Once I'm past 20-30 degrees on the wave, I can resume equal power paddling on either side- the wind will help me turn too then. After ~100km in my new Think Uno, without flipping, I realized why- my experience in the old Evo helped in the way that I avoid one mistake I see in videos where people a flipping- the boat tilts, the paddler tries to counter by leaning on the opposite side while the paddle is on that side too. That is the big mistake- the support comes from the water and you have to have the paddle in on the side you're leaning towards. It seems so obvious- when losing balance on land one tries to lean on the closest solid object on that side [e.g., a wall] rather than shifting the body hoping to change the center of gravity [that would be rather funny...]; and yet in the water, the mind plays tricks...
I live a mile from the northern end of the ICW, Manasquan Inlet, and with the boat wakes and swell reflecting and intersecting off the jetties, gotta say a beach launch looks easier and safer. And the maelstrom where the inlet meats the open sea makes even forty-foot power boats struggle. If I take a swim in front of one of those, not sure what they could do!
A couple of our local inlets are similar...we've become very particular about when we paddle in those spots, and also when we launch off the beach. With the option to paddle ICW on the rough days, it's just not worth breaking up an open ocean ski in the rough stuff (or worse yet, breaking one of us). :)
Rod. your right arm movement has improve since a few months ago... good job!
Been working on it -- 'still have a ways to go, but it's getting better. Thanks for the tips and help!
Your positive comments and constructive feedback are an important part of why we do this Paddle Channel thing...to help us get better, and to hopefully help other folks improve and enjoy paddling all the more. Thanks for that!
I agree about Rod’s improvements!!! (Not that I am an expert). I think a small part of Rod’s improvement is due to going back to a 0 degree feather on the paddle. I know I just opened a big can of worms with that comment but Rod has shared with me that his wrist does not hurt anymore and in my opinion it really helped his technique.
To be clear, I have a LOT to learn and I am by no means an expert on technique. I am truly having fun learning the sport. I do find it interesting that watching videos of experts like Oscar, Ivan, David, Jasper, and the pro tour show various styles of paddling. Each one is a little different with some basic fundamentals. Much like swimming or running styles. We all have different lengths of legs, torso, arms, etc... so we will all have a unique movement pattern so long as certain paddling fundamentals are incorporated.
Getting back to the paddle itself, I have preferred the 0 degree feather on my paddle from day one and I have stuck with it after listening to Oscar explain why he teaches it. It seems to make sense to me, especially for ocean paddling and bracing quickly. Do you think that feathering the blade is simply a carry over from past coaches passing it down from generation to generation?
Good vid, Barry! One thing to clarify -- it IS okay to hesitate between sets if there's an outer bar with breaking waves when going out. Sometimes I get started going out, but take it easy between waves until the big ones have passed before heading out over the outer bar.
Good point.
Yes Rod. That is exactly what you should do.
awesome video, thank you
Glad you liked it!
Which inlet is used for the Surf to Sound race? All I remember for the November 2019 race was heading out past the jetty into some pretty gnarly waves. I never fell out of my ski so many times in one day before. It was a humbling experience. Can't wait for the Carolina Cup 2021.
That is Masonboro Inlet. I was in an OC1 the last time. I bet it was super challenging in a Surfski. Props to you!!
You can see the differences in Paddling style, Barry high top hand with Rod preferring much lower.
Its is also advocated by some that when you punch through a big wave to then actually brake with your paddle just over the crest to reduce tendency to become airborne, as that is a risk of snapping a ski when it comes down. So you plant the catch Just over the peak, pull yourself over but just hold the blade in the water as a brace for a split second before exiting it. Then giving it some stick once the nose is back down
Good stuff! Some folks also advocate hitting breaking waves (or just before it breaks) at a slight angle to avoid stressing the ski. We're gonna try your approach and see how we do!
I have some pretty jacked up shoulders, which could be why I prefer that lower style. Or I could just be lazy... :)
@@rodclayton in my opinion it is more of an individual choice, I find the chest-high paddling work best for me, so if it feel good dont change it. I think it might be related to the relative length of the arms Vs. the body, but didnt check this one yet.
@@chenkarp well now I'm self conscious about having T-Rex arms... :)
Great advice about planting the catch just over the peak then holding the blade in the water for a bit. Definitely something to work on. Thank you for this.
Hi guys. After some advice please. I currently have a sot kayak and am confident out at sea etc. I took both a v5 and v7 epic rotomould out . These are same price. So I don't know how to choose as love them both. I did fall out a bit more on the v7 but am new to a surf ski. Thanks for any help.
Hey Craig. It's hard for us to offer good advice on this from afar, because surfski selection is highly individualized. It's going to come down to what you are seeking the most, stabilty, or a bit of sleekness. I can tell you that, given the choice of those two boats, WE would go for the V7. If you're comfortable with falling out and remounting and you want to push your skills a bit, the V7 might work well. If you prefer to stay in the boat and have that great stability, then the V5. For downwinding and that type of paddling, we would go for the more sleek V7, but we have a very experienced friend who downwinds in the V5 and loves it. So in the end, you really can't lose -- it's like trying to choose between your two favorite ice cream flavors...both are good!
Hi Guys, my name is Mark Fyvie, I am moving from South Africa to the research triangle area with my family and thinking about getting back into paddling (I used to be a competitive marathon K1/K2 paddler we did a lot of training on skis in Durban and Cape Town and did the odd surfki race but not one of the big ones out there). How difficult is it to get a group of guys together to do a weekend paddle if you live in RT area? Where is the sufski scene based? I figured I would buy a ski here and put it in our container and train on the lake near the house we bought and get on the sea on weekends. Assume Wilmington is where most people paddle. Is there a surf-lifesaving club there? Never seen skis in USA but is a big scene alongside surf-lifesaving here. Similar to Aussie.
Hey Mark, welcome in advance! Epic has a new dealer in that area, so you might want to look at www.epickayaks.com/dealers and contact Mark at Craft Performance. He can probably steer you toward a group in that area (or maybe help you create one!). Unfortunately, there isn't really a surfski scene in NC right now, but it's definitely becoming more popular. There are also some OC1 paddlers in the area -- Mark might be able to point you in their direction as well. Our friend Jodie, who is often in that area, might be able to offer some advice, if he reads this comment. There is more a paddle scene in Wilmington -- still not too many surfskis, but a lot of OC1's. Give us a shout when you're in the area! We love to hear about paddling in Durban and Cape Town (bucket list destinations for us).
Leashes are always a pain, as a surfer of 50 years experience I have learned to buy the strongest leash, inspect and replace frequently, look at the SUP leashes or go to proper surf shop, they may be fairly rare in North Carolina . It is imperative to always fall seaward and swim out to sea to take up slack and get rid of tangles this prevents leash burn, whipping and shock loading, next bring feet together and hands overhead to create least water drag, after weight is taken by leash, slowly unfold into sea anchor shape to slow up. Surfers often drop or dive into face and get blown out the back, the main thing is to get the hell away from your craft.
Great advice, thank you for sharing!
I have seen lots of videos of people headed out for a downwind paddle and a lot of places seem to have a cove or a protected place to launch. We have just one protected inlet in our area which means 99% of the time we have to paddle out through the surf to take advantage of downwind conditions. Do most of you guys and gals have a protected place to enter and exit the ocean or do you have to go in and out of the surf zone?
Do not wear your leg leash until out of the wave impact zone...no no.
Hey, George, thanks for that comment. We've found this to be a "situational call" -- in this location, wearing the leg leash out through the surf zone is preferable to having the Fort Fisher rocks turn our skis into carbon confetti should the craft get away from us. We'll also advocate wearing the leg leash out through the surf zone if swimmers are in the water near our launch point -- better for us to struggle with the leash than for our surfskis (or OC1s) to mow down swimmers in the shallows. Good point of discussion! Maybe some other paddlers will weigh in with their comments/experience/viewpoints on that.
Interesting George. Is it very crowded where you paddle? Are there rocks or other hazards to consider?
@@ThePaddleChannel I think one of the issues with leg leashes in breaking waves is the power of big waves breaking can snap many leashes, probably best before they snap a leg.. but as you say if loosing the ski means it running into the rocks its a judgement call
I do not like the leg leash. It breaks and your legs get tangled in it when you go over. Myself and others will use a carabiner on the shoulder strap with a cord to the foot strap. East to release and never breaks. Mocke brothers have been seen wearing bith methods of attachment to the boat. On the catch the paddle should go in at a 45 degree angle to the water so on the beginning of the stroke you can lean into it. That is what gives you stability in rough water.
@@b1lyb we''ll have to try that out. A couple of weeks ago my leg leash hog-tied me in the impact zone...it made getting out interesting for me, and especially interesting for the folks on the beach... :) Thanks for that info!