Surfski Knowledge Base

Reflections on today's downwind paddle…..
David Scherrer
05/23/17 #21365

Its is interesting, is it not to try and figure out just what may work as far as keeping an eye out for our fellow paddlers on these downwind excursions? I know that personally we have over the years, attempted to create some sort of safety net..in very numerous forms. But reality creeps in and awakes me to the fact that in the rolling, bucking sea saw seas it really is every man (person) for himself. Be as well prepared as you can, and that's it. Today we had the best intensions, but our paring eventually got separated. There was just no way to spot someone on a horizon of whitecaps, while you yourself are dialed into dealing with your immediate surroundings. The best we can expect is after the rollercoaster ride, we meet on the beach and if then someone is missing we get on the horn. In conclusion I believe its futile to try and pair up, and check in with other at various stages of the downwinder. But thats OK. Comments?

David S.

Larry Goolsby
05/23/17 #21366

David….You can only partner up with someone that is equally keen on keeping an eye on you. Reivers and I have partnered for years; we stay close in the big stuff and we keep each other in sight. We are often so close to each other that we chat. If one of us gets ahead, we slow down and wait until visual contact is made. I have tried partnering with others and I end up looking at their backside, knowing that they couldn't possibly know my position. Some paddlers will agree to buddying up, but once the paddles hit the water, they just head off by themselves.

LG

duncanhowat
05/23/17 #21367

With a solid group that we had today I felt good about how it was going. Until Medler and I weeded out with that cursed Epic surf rudder. But man that run from MP to harbor was special for the bay, 75 deg and good line up. Couldn't figure where you and RD were ,knowing only a equipment failure would have slowed you down, then found out you thought Kirk was Mark and waited for him. Mark was flying right along ' Of course DJ was given a 10 min penalty for being late, and then he would have been sweep, but as you said, those tall white caps prevented you from seeing much.I think most ended up around someone and were tracking their general speed group. All in all tremendous run. D

Reivers Dustin
05/23/17 #21368

amen brother. Of course long ago we mostly paddled by ourselves. I remember Mickey B. flying by me in the middle of the lake or ocean or wherever. He would stop and check on me, I find out he's half-way through a 14 miler and it was 7:00am. Nobody knew what a leash was, VHF was for TV channels.

After those two touring paddler guys died (I had just spoken with them) I felt not so good. There've been quite a few rescues and ride-besides since then. The lose of Bip was a shakedown for everyone. And LB was closer than most of us. Deep Cove website has some really excellent rescue videos. I prefer the ride-behind rescue format (DeepCove prefers tow behind) but my method only works if both paddlers are really skilled. All of this is shabby shit when it gets rough. Just pray someone is close by with an OC boat. Surfski is a really crappy rescue platform. For some reason I have helped quite a few paddlers (and no I didn't either push them over!). I got pretty good at it, but somewhere in there I recognized how weak my shit really was when doing rescues. I don't suggest it. Get a radio because I'm not a good last resort. I remember at one of the San Francisco races saving a guy. He was “windowshading” as I pulled up to the nose of his boat. I locked the nose until he was stable. He looked at me funny, like, “you must be crazy”. Then he took off faster than me without a word. I've never seen him since.

If you're going to partner, you have to commit. It will only work if you have really similar skill levels. For some reason LG and I match up well. I've tried with others and it sucks. It's not just speed on waves, but it's also seeing routes the same as each other. And like you found David, more than 10 yards apart is gone baby gone. If your buddy dumps when you've caught a screamer, you'll never be able to see them when you finally look back. When I've been with a less skilled paddler and chosen to ride along for safety watch, I die by inches. I'm not working, not making body heat, don't have rhythm for balance. It's just hell.

All of this is the reason I like to be last in the train on downwinders. Like today. I circled back two or three times so I could be last ducky in the water. It was a great plan until I tracked others too close to the wall. Then, like them knuckleheads, I was stuck in survival mode until we got past the cross-chop.

Really great topic. Must read for newer paddlers. You've got to grow your skills and it won't come from flat water.

rd

John Rybczyk
05/23/17 #21369

First, it's good to know that a few of you got some of the good stuff today. I saw the waves from work, but couldn't get away for a surf. When I HAVE seen paring up work (and it's probably when it's most important that it does work) is when an experienced paddler agrees to pair up with newer paddler and deliberately hangs back with the inexperienced paddler. Even then, if it does hit the fan, there's often not much we can do in terms of rescue other than to call in the cavalry and keep an eye on the one in trouble until the cavalry arrives.

johnr

David Scherrer

05/23/17 #21370

I agree with you John R…Always a good idea to team up with a intermediate level paddler on a rough downwinder. Alas, when pretty much everyone is on the same level, and hauling down runs in big water then I'm afraid it is everyone on their own (and the devil take the hindmost).
D.

Nicholas Cryder
05/23/17 #21371

I missed the party van this morning, but did make some time to take a new guy some of you guys have met, Josh who has shown a lot of potential and is developing fast. The wind was more southerly and still kicking, we had a great time.

Bellingham Bay Spring Downwind Paddle

I paddled a V8 pro because I wanted to surf next to him and talk technique (I talk with my hands), and if things were rougher then we expected that extra stability makes a rescue way more feasible. The leap frog system is great for staying in contact, provided you have enough skill to get your ski turned around for a visual on your buddy.

There are other days when I'm in race mode, and paddle with folks of the same mind and skill set who I won't have to think about (unless they are beating me…), and even then we typically make a point to sync up at least once on a longer run.

If you want to go out on a day that pushes your skills (great!) do it with someone way better than you in a focused way where you'll get the one on one benefit (vs a group paddle). Austin is a great resource and does terrific technique sessions and coaching. I can't think of another sport where elite pros at his level are available in this kind of capacity. Pretty awesome.

Adam Resnick
05/24/17 #21373

I was out for my lunchtime walk, on the Taylor>Boulevard walkway, and I saw y'all paddling by. I thought “Looks like fun. Those guys are pretty well separated. I can see the orange vest better than the other ones”

From a visibility standpoint, to my eye, the orange pfd was #1, green #2, non-dayglo #3. The difference between #1 and #3 was very obvious: The orange paddler was pretty obvious and the non-dayglo was hard to pick out.

I attached a much-cropped photo of two of you in action. There may be a third in there somewhere.

It looked like a lot of fun.

-Adam