out of control surf kayaks

Scotty, I definitely inhibited his line when I dropped in on him in this instance. I was saying that prior to this one occasion I had never dropped in on anyone in that way.

 

Like any craft, it comes down to the ability of the captain. Kayakers in the lineup don't bother me as long as the people in them know what they are doing, although I tend to be much more tolerant of someone in a small whitewater boat than on a true sit-on-top kayak because they tend to know what they're doing. There used to be a couple folks down here in WB back in the day (early to late 90's) when I worked for the Ships Store who would shred when it got good. I'm talking about barrel rolls, nose-pick 360's, reverse floaters to a 7 point windmill in the flats, etc--absolutely sick. We actually ran contests for a couple years. Guess the big difference is those folks found their own spot whenever it was crowded since most of them also surfed.

 

sounds like the whole incident was an honest mistake and the fact that the dude came up and apologized was pretty legit. for me, it would have ended there. its when somebody drops in or hits you,etc and they dont give you some sort of acknowledgement or apology that you have every right to blast them. thats just me though.

 

Just happened to me the day before yesterday in RI, I caught my first crappy wave, went right, and had to straighten out to avoid the kayaker paddling out. I paddled back out and stayed to the far left of the crowd to be on my own and he lined up next to me. Another wave came and we both went for it (I felt I had the peak), I made my bottom turn and there he was going straight. I barely straightened out to avoid the collision and that was that. I was annoyed but didn't feel like it was worth a confrontation.

Later a bigger set came rolling in and another surfer came paddling behind me from way over to snake the wave, didn't even consider my position, turned and went for it. I waited patiently in that spot and was set up to get the shoulder just to the right of the peak but now had to turn and paddle my ass off to get over the wave and avoid getting hit. After I got my body out of his way I slowed down my paddle hoping my tail was sticking out screwing up his line.

If I have a point it's that I am a little more forgiving about someone not knowing whats up and possibly causing a collision than someone who is experienced doing the same.

 

I see a lot of this stuff on here. This guy sucks that was a jerk. Most times its true but really...who cares? Its just surfing. There is no reason to get so worked up about it. If others bother you for one reason or another surf away from them. Or just chat with them in a non threatening manner and it will work itself out. No one is out there to ruin your session, everyone wants to surf theres plenty of ocean. Theres just so many things wrong in the world, to get yourself so worked up over surfing is just misplaced. If the lineup is crowded surf somewhere else or get there earlier or go later. Its just as bad to scream at someone over an ettiquette issue as it is to run somebody over in a plastic boat.

 

and what happens when your little chat doesn't work? paddle away with your tail between your legs? Go read the surf rage thread. it's not pretty, but getting aggro when someone just won't get it WORKS.

 

It's the rider, not the craft. Unless you're talking about that experienced rider who lost control of his craft since he apparently can't afford a $15 leash after dropping $300-800 on a board.

We were all kooks one day (or still are, in my case). Learning to operate a craft is personal, learning proper line up ethics is a group thing.

 

I have been run over by everything from my best friends on bodyboards to tourists in rowboats. One thing everyone needs to realize is a crowded line up is a dangerous zone no matter how good you are at surfing. Going over the falls in a crowded line up or taking a set on the head is as dangerous on a shortboard as it is on any type of water craft. If I am getting tossed or getting closed out on, I could care less about who is in front of me, I will always blame myself if I'm paddling out and get hit. **** happens, if your not dead laugh it off and go on your way.

 

I used to ride waves on an ocean kayak frenzy until my friends forced me to be a regular surfer. I agree that it's all about the pilot of the craft, but I knew as a kayaker that you can't really turn (at the the frenzies) if a surfer is ripping down the face of a wave. I tried to stay away from line ups of surfers who weren't happy when they saw me paddling out. Fortunately in Strathmere there is always plenty of space for everybody.

As a board surfer I now I am not happy when a kayaker wants to hang in the lineup of surfers. This lady last summer kept paddling her kayak right in front of us just to say FU. So being on both sides of the fence I feel that kayakers should surf their own spot or stay on the edge of a lineup.

 

It's unfortunate that these guys seem so reckless in the water. Perhaps it's a lack of center fin, cause from my experience they usually seem to just slide down the face.....hope I don't jinx it but I haven't seen any out in the water for a while....

 

There are one or two guys that ride these in lineup pretty often. http://www2.swaylocks.com/forums/sit-down-paddle-surfing

Anyone else familiar with these?

 

Back in the 1980s my neighbor in Bethany Beach, Delaware was a "sponsored" (whatever that meant..it seemed like he was always traveling on someone elses dime) Wave Skier who had been to Oz, Fiji, Mundaka, South Africa...whatever. He ripped and was fearless on that thing. It was about 7' long, maybe 6" thick, had a single fin and you sat on it. I tried it few times in waist high waves. Being so small it was kind of unstable when you were sitting still, but pretty easy to get the hang of once you started paddling it into waves.

 

maybe this was the complaint of the massachussan gws....

 

Good call baddy...and everybody feels bad for those dumb a$$ girls.

 

they're (obviously) good copy.
wonder if they can parlay it into $$$$$.....

 

I have surfed with them before and had no probs ,'because it's the south and everyone shreds here