(Facebook discussion in Surfski Kayak group)

Tim Whitehead
Hey all, does anyone have any good tips on how to turn the surfski around in choppy seas? Where we live we often have offshore winds so I head out against it and then come back in at pace, the problem is when I’m way out to sea and turning to come back! My current technique is just to turn as quick as I can with very little style!

Ike Carberry
Keep paddle rate up and just do a big arc

Kimberly Riggle
Good question, I have not mastered being side on to waves myself so hopefully someone has good tips!

Khun Didi
a surfski has a long waterline and nothing else to turn than use your rudder. As said Ike Carberry just go a big arc. An overturned rudder can even make the rotation harder with turbulences. 30 degrees on each side is enough.

Gary Cziko
I also usually have to paddle upwind first off Los Angeles to get some downwind coming back. Often I just stop, put my feet out in the water, take a break, drink some water and before I know it the wind and waves have turned me around and I and ready to paddle back!
Now that’s not going to help you win any races. So I also spend some time paddling in crosswinds for when I want to turn around without stopping. A gentle arc as Ike Carberry mentioned. In big seas, I will try to time the crosswind (bean seas) part of the turn when there is a lull in the waves.

Schalk Iewan Van Zyl
“When in doubt legs out” mocke paddling.
What you can try is legs out and then turn using the paddle.
Or even one leg out on the side you want to turn and then turn using your paddle stroke on the opposite side.
Another option is you take a stroke on one side and then brace on the same side(to keep balance not paddle backwards) then take a stroke again… the forward stroke turns the ski and the brace gives you comfortable balance.
Take your time dont rush and show us how you improve. Try a few things see what works for you.

Tom Supakorndej
Paddle speed matches the incoming swells. If a swell hits you from the left - paddle the right at the same time. As the swell leaves - paddle the left.

Ross Heald
The first 90 degrees is the easy bit. Get used to paddling across (parallel to) the swell/chop and then look for the swell you are going to turn with. . Then paddle like he'll 😀

Ross Heald
Ps. Keep the same brace pressure on the footplate as you turn that you would normally use when paddling. .

Tommy Yonley
Lots of good tips here. Close to shore (within your swimming distance) practice lots of 360 turns to gain skills and confidence.

Thorsten von Eicken
There is almost always some flatter water between sets, time to turn then.
Pick up some speed before turning, don't stall and then think “oh, I should turn”.
When the bow goes up over a wave put in a strong stroke on the outside of the turn to swing the surfski around.
Time in the bucket: eventually it'll be a total non-issue…

Khun Didi
turn on the summit of the swell as the long hull offers less resistance with a reduced wet surface

Tim Whitehead
Author
Great advice, thanks all, better get out there tomorrow and give it a go!

Leif Davidsson
Instead of trying to turn quick keep the speed and make a long wide turn.

Jordon Clauson
It sounds like you need a more stable ski. (Or work on your balance by paddling side on, in some chop/swell)
Otherwise when you turn you need to lean into the swell.
Allow the swell/chop to push the nose of your ski around.

Antonio Jiménez Rodríguez Del Valle
Práctica palear de amura al viento (practice shoveling blackberries into the wind?) (Ed. Actually this means practice tacking into the wind)

Anthony Rodier
I have found leaning back while paddling lifts the nose a little and reduces turning radius. Timing it with the helps too

Mark Bellamy
Glad. to see this is a common problem, most of my paddling is rivers, so really notice this on the odd sea trip

Keith Gourlay
Problem is we paddle ins and outs. Which means 98% practice heading directly into or into waves and only 2% turning across. Hence our ability to handle a perpendicular to waves is always superior to broadside. Even as ability to handle bumps increases. Always playing catch up.
Traditional method of learning wave handling is practice lots of figure of 8s.
Stalling out 3/4 around the turn is the issue, then a waves comes and kicks the nose around and your outer sudden brace goes into the trough providing no support

Chuck Conley
Lean the boat over opposite the direction you wish to turn (edging). So edge left if you want to turn right. Focus on putting the turn effort when your boat is on the crest of the swell. With both ends out of the water she'll turn much easier.

Stanley Brooker
If you can surf the small waves nearshore, and can do this regularly, it really helps you learn how dynamic the balance of the surfski is, with little risk.
Getting comfortable on the little waves, you can gradually deal with bigger swells, until you’re comfortable in swells that are over your head when catching a run.
The side chop won’t be an issue with practice, either.
Good luck.

Barbara Kossy
Time the turn so you're on top of the wave. In chop the long ends of a ski can get caught in a short set. On top the ends have more room. Use your secondary stability and lean.

Ian Smith - Selkie
Admin
Barbara - you beat me too it. This is a good option that I used in sea kayaks and now in skis. Time it well with a good sweep stroke on the top of the wave. to spin the ski whilst less length is actually in the water. You need to be confident in putting weight on the brace for leverage.

Mike Stafford
Lots of answers from folks with Skillz; here's one from a newby that had a similar scenario recently in a high wind/large wave environment. First, I made darn sure I had proper immersion protection & good re-entry skills beforehand. Second, in conditions that were beyond my ability to handle “the right way” (ie, all the leaning/bracing/timing tips you're reading here), after the first 45 degrees or so, I put my feet out. Instantly everything was easy & turning the last little bit was no big deal. FWIW…

Ralph Dismukes
Get a stable boat and it is alot easier. Amazing how much confidence you gain from having a stable boat.