Surfski Knowledge Base

Incident Report
michael.medler@…
04/03/15 #17137

Today I was involved in an educational bit of swim practice while surrounded by Ancient Murrelets. The setting was directly west of the tunnel while we were on a classic Duncan-trailer eight-person down-winder from Larrabee to Marine Park. We were riding the leading edge of a front and the waves basically kept building from the south the entire run.

For a few weeks, I have been enjoying learning to paddle a V10 in bigger water rather than my beloved Huki R. Today was no different. I was having a great time trying to see if I could get it moving faster on the waves and experimenting with cutting tighter line on the waves. After about 30 minutes I started to try some interval sprints on the waves. The result was a quick dump.

Remount #1 went off quickly enough from my weaker side, which involved banging a 3 month old titanium hip (ouch). Once sidesaddle the boat moved to beam really quickly as I messed with foot straps and tried to get the bum leg into the boat. Before I could get the blade into the water I was over again. The next three tries involved similar curfufles with hats and paddles floating away in different combinations, while I hand paddled around for a few seconds between swims. By that time, my pulse was over 200 and the big nylon underarm vents in my NRS neoprene shirt were working very well to assure maximum core chilling.

At that point I decided to just climb up and lie on the boat to try to regain my breath and composure. This is when the Muruelets sprang into action. Bob M. swung around in his OC and rafted up with me, and Mark W. grabbed my paddle, which was floating lazily just out of reach, and joined me on the other side. Despite the rough water, we were able to chill as a raft long enough for me to catch my breath and get things lined up. Meanwhile, David S. kept up his usual sage advice and upbeat encouragement from a safe distance from the mayhem. Once all my foot-strap, heart-rate, and paddle issues were just right, we de-rafted and I insecurely stumbled the last mile to MP in perfect waves.

While this was all playing out, Duncan et al. called the Coast Guard and chased down a sailboat that was watching this all from a few hundred feet away. It turned out that the sailboat was running without an engine and was unable to assist. The Coast Guard did show up just as we all made it to MP.

Observations:

1. I love you guys.
2. Missing your 4th remount in April sucks when your fat boat is sitting the garage.
3. Don’t have a weak side for remounts.
4. New metal body parts may not be 100% when put to the test.
5. Dress for a 30-40 minute swim.
6. Radios, Radios, Radios.
7. My bear-like body would have been OK in the water till the CG got there, but maybe not much longer.
8. I will not give Bob flack for bringing his OC instead of his new ski.
9. An assist from a group is possible but still tricky at best.
10. That water is damn cold.

Thanks for all the help today.

John Rybczyk
04/03/15 #17138

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

duncanhowat
04/03/15 #17139

Very nice post Michael, very honest and analytical. That was a very nice run with the wind and waves almost perfect. Always gotta be ready, and the group stayed together nicely, re-group at gov's and away we went. The one thing we could practice is to raft up to someone who might have a issue and stabilize their boat while not going in ourselves. In conditions. Start in flat water to figure best way then apply it. D

Michael Gregory
04/03/15 #17140

Welcome back Michael:) Good list you put together. Sounds like your mates were very helpful. Once again, the best preparation for unscheduled swims is practicing remounts in controlled conditions. For example, just off marine park with help standing by. Test operation of radio/phone at the same time. Figure out how your leash holds up in the wind. Figure out what angle to the wind is best for remount on your boat. Everyone gets to take a swim off their ski sometime. Practice remounts now and be ready for the inevitable.
Mike G (the voice of experience:/)

Reivers Dustin

04/03/15 #17141

No broken bones? boring. Well, I guess man-made body parts did put some extra spice in the recipe.

After shuttle, I got stuck behind trains (two for some reason took turns blocking the road). So I waited quite a while at MP and watched. Based on wind gauge thought you boys would blow in pretty fast, but this explains it. Locust shows over 30 mph so it was a hooraah downwinder for real.

For rescue work: O.C. boats totally rule. I'll never forget Boatman hauling my kid back to beach when Lk Whatcom was barely thawed. (She is a skinny stick and this could have been bad.)

further discussion:
I've had best results making a “T” at front of troubled boat, then lean over and lock the nose of the boat with both arms. Then the paddler can be barely functional and still get out of the water. I can hold the boat upright really strong (can't do this from the side or rear of the boat). Doing this needs paddle leash.

So: one leash or two? If one: paddle-to-boat vs. body-to-boat? In the worst rescue I've been on, paddle-to-boat was a wonderful thing. Even though it was blowing 40 with a threat of lost grip, it was wonderful. On the other hand: JD doesn't like paddle-to-boat and I give big cred to gorge players. Dean has a trained grip on his paddle so he wants tied to boat. I'm not sure yet, but need to pick one method and give it the force of habit.

rd

“akaredracer@yahoo.com
04/03/15 #17142

Thom P. recently taught me and Kim how to help brace a ski with an OC. Made total sense when he told us what to do, but we wouldn't have figured it out as quickly without his guidance.

Could the same be said for a ski helping an OC? It's a different remount, usually easier, but if an OC'er gets tangled up in a leash in cold water and starts getting pushed around in the waves, it is possible they could need help. Well…maybe not the rest of those guys, but I might.

Anyway… I agree with the idea of practicing 'rafting up', regardless of boat. We were glad we could help when it was needed.

-Michele.

MARC ROBERTA WHITLOCK

04/03/15 #17143

Although it's never fun to be on either end of a rescue,having now experienced both sides, I did learn we are capable of retrieving paddles and rafting together in rough conditions. Two rescuers seemed the better option than a single buddy, but requires we do like today and keep many relatively in touch. I find it rather easy to end up paddling alone without an effort made like today to keep each other in reach. Michael is a strong paddler, but even he needed to regain himself after working in the cold water. Rafting up gave him the time. I was impressed how well he handled the bigger waves that we surfed after separating.

Marc

David Scherrer
04/03/15 #17144

I'm good at barking orders ain't I ?… Under the circumstances I believe things went pretty well…..once Mike decided to settle down and lay over his boat, rest a while, then we could regain our composure. Great and I do emphasize great, that ol Bob was on an oc-1 today and riding sweep. Perhaps we should try and make that a configuration for future epic downwinders. oc's as rescue boats work very well indeed. Later paddling out to the coastes to let them know we had things under control I witnessed friendly acknowledgment, as they threw the 400 hp quick response craft in neutral. I was surprised and pleased to see how quickly they showed up..within 10 min. Exciting times on the Bay.
D

Dean Bumstead

04/03/15 #17145

My grip on the bike wasn't as good. Went over a drop called Clavicle Hill here in Saint George Utah following Devon. First day of course. Now have a dent in my helmet, a couple abrasions, and a very sore left arm that I may get xrayed after dinner. Hiking Zion tomorrow and maybe the next day too.
Paddle on,
Dean

Reivers Dustin
04/04/15 #17147

mebe we could rename a certain section of Fragrance Lk rd “scapula crapper”.

rd

Michael Gregory
04/04/15 #17152

Following Devon down Clavicle Hill? Hmmm. Ok, I'm not sayin anything;)

Dennis Mowry

04/05/15 #17153

Another one bites the dust, update. On one of the last rides coming down from fragrance, over 6 weeks ago, I took a spill, banged my elbow and hip, got up and dusted myself off, no big deal. The two weeks later did the first weds night race and the next day I noticed my elbow had swollen up to a mushy balloon. Bursa filled with fluid. After continuing to the paddle in the waves it go worse. I tried to soak it which helped some then would go paddle and it would get pretty hard and bothered. Eventually went to the doc who drained it, put in some steroids and told me to lay off the paddling for a week to 10 days which means I'm missing all these nice wave reports. I tempted to go but the doc said it could become chronic and take a long time to heal. The mountain biking seems to have a higher risk reward ratio than kayaking. Falling out of the boats, even being rescued, seems more an injury to the ego compared to the potential of even a small spill. I hope to be back soon, hearing the reports are the worse part of the recovery.
DMow

lbussinger@…
04/05/15 #17154

The first thing I do with a new boat is cut out the foot strap. If it's tight, then you can't get your foot back under the strap and puts you at risk. Great job rescue team.
Larry B

Brandon Nelson
04/05/15 #17155

Larry, I agree with you on the foot straps. I've never had them in any of my skis. What is the point of the straps, exactly?
Brandon

Dean Bumstead

04/05/15 #17156

I guess that's three of us now. Hit the ground hard going over a drop on Clavicle Hill here in Saint George, UT, following Devon of course. Same elbow (radial head fracture) I broke three or four years ago colliding with Devon on bikes. Umm…. The good news is the light cast has my arm angled just right for paddling. The bad news…..I can't get it wet.
Dean

lbussinger@…
04/05/15 #17157

Since the boat is a big kite and the waves can pull a boat out of your hands, I always do body to boat with the belt leash tied behind me to keep cords out of the way. In narly conditions I also do paddle to BODY so that I can drop the paddle and use my hands if necessary.
Larry B

Nicholas Cryder
04/05/15 #17159

I like em really snug, and in my very short and very swimmerly paddling career have never had a stuck foot. They make a big difference in hip rotation and power transfer.

OPS

04/05/15 #17158

Lots of good reasons!
You really need a foot strap on a big steep downwind like the Gorge or US surfski champs , or going into breaking waves . It's also a good secure place for your leash, and something to hold onto when getting back on your ski
Patrick Hemmens

fennmako

04/05/15 #17160

I absolutely could not paddle without straps. Increases stability significantly. Boosts safety. Simon

Brandon Nelson
04/05/15 #17161

Well there you go, shows you how much I must be leaving out of my game by not having straps. I remember trying to paddle out through big storm swells by the Mokes a few winters ago, and getting stripped off the back of my ski. I can't remember if that borrowed boat had foot straps or not.

I've never had them on the Gorge, even on the biggest days, and never thought twice about it. But again: I know the pros all use them, and they wouldn't if they didn't have significant advantage. I'll give them a try and see what they add…
B

OPS
04/05/15 #17162

Brandon

Darn I shouldn't have told you . Now you going to be way faster downwind!

Patrick

Steve Scoggins

04/05/15 #17163

Brandon Nelson with a horsepower upgrade. Should be fun to watch….for about five seconds if you're feeling particularly strong at the start. Maybe Dean will sell his mountain bike and invest in a quality drone so we can watch Brandon go.

Steve

Michael Gregory

04/05/15 #17164

First time I sat in a V10 Greg B suggested I “snug the straps, not too much.” Now I can't imagine paddling without them. Oh, if, by the odd chance, one is to capsize - I leave my feet in the straps, for a moment til I grab the straps with my hand and then begin the remount. Keep that ski close y'all:)

David Scherrer

04/05/15 #17165

Wow, quite a noodle you are MG a virtual Yogi!

D.

Reivers Dustin
04/05/15 #17166

After US Champs and Gorge experiences I bought some footstraps from Jude, but things are too corroded on the old boat to install them. Even though I don't have much experience with them I can see value. However. Kathleen P gave me a chance to try her brand new Huki Special some years ago and it had foot straps. There were some issues. Goolsby and I did its maiden voyage on a downwinder from Larrabee that became somewhat nuclear. Here were some of my issues:

-I had not realized that the wonderful Huki Special I had paddled before had been fitted with a big 9-inch surfing rudder (this was in S.F. bay). That big surfing rudder really changes the personality of a boat. Kathleen's had the 8-inch weedless and it just didn't grab big water the same.

-this boat had never been wet and the mold-release wax was still thick. Very slippery seat.

-The footstraps were mounted for Kathleen which put them just below my knees. I could move footbrace, but the straps were fixed and a bugger to get my feet under. This preyed on my mind for the whole ride. I kept thinking that if I fell down in that big stuff I would have a nightmare getting both feet worked back into position. I think very few boats were made with the fixed position footstep idea for this reason.

I think proper footstraps are one more layer of connecting paddler to boat. Even just for hand-hold since there isn't lots to get a grip on with these boats.

Back on the paddle-leash vs body leash thing. Two leashes scare me. I like the idea of being able to let go that a paddle-leash gives. Reasons: 1) use both hands for other things, 2) tangled in a gill-net where there is current, 3) approaching vessel where swimming is desperate requirement. Note: this only works if I know I can't accidently let go. (Yes, I know - item #3 is probably fantasy logic. But, you might just check with Kim C. about being dragged behind a surfski).

rd

Dennis Mowry
04/07/15 #17172

I also like the straps, snug. When remounting you can slip one foot under and the other on top until you get a better chance to put the other one in. Or even both on top. I broke one off in the surf in Maui and it was weird paddling without it. Some say attach the leash to the foot brace rather than the strap.

Essential equipment for kayaking: PFD, radio, leash to the boat, paddle leash. Foot strap?

Essentials for MBiking: Helmet, gloves, elbow pads, chest protector, neck brace, shin guards.

Jim Buchanan <pharm_man001@…>
04/08/15 #17178

Memories of a blustery September down winder 3 years ago with John. R. I went for a swim and I began my folly of failing remount after remount. Swimming with the boat for a minute or 3, then more attempts. John had the presense of mind to call the Coast Guard. Of course they arrived just as i finally nailed my remount. I did have a radio on me but the battery was dead - which means worthless. At least I was dressed for the weather and my partner thankfully had a functioning radio.

Cheers from PDX.
Jim

Dan Harris Challenge up next, Sunday April 26th.
John Rybczyk
04/06/15 #17171

After reading these many posts over the past couple of weeks, I'm convinced that the the best way to win a surf ski race around here is to give mountain bikes to all of your competitors about a month before the race. However, as race director, I'm also worried that at this rate there won't be anybody left to race. If you do manage to keep the rubber side down over the next few weeks, the Dan Harris Challenge is ON for Sunday, April 26th, 10 am start, Boulevard Park. We'll have long course and a protected short course.