Beaching techniques

[simisteven]

I got heavily dumped whilst beaching on Saturday at Sardina. No harm done and all good fun, but Im wondering about beaching techniques in moderate waves?
I know most of the trick is to observe wave sets and get the timing just right and also know the terrain and know the exact route to beach.
Hopefully I will learn this.
However, once a largish wave catches me from behind my difficulty sets in and I know Im going to get a new view of the sea bottom.
Can any 'wave surfer' give me some tips and/or pics on how to handle this monster and ride it in with some dignity?

 

[iggy]

Here's a clip on how not to.....enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhLtdi7pMNw&feature=related

 

[Malgas]

I am still learning the whole game,and got dumped going out at Sards on Saturday! The best advice I have received about launching was to jump off as soon as you can see the bottom and grab the back handle of the ski and walk it in or let the foamys take you in. You may get speed up to surf it in on some occasions but fishing ski's are generally too heavy and the front ploughs in -and from experience anything and every thing not tied down or fixed to the ski will be lost. The other trick is to lean back as much as possible when the waves come from behind and try to ride it out until you are in the foamy part of the set. But even leaning right back on a big ski is NOT to ride the waves but to survive! Launching is anther story and I find it hard to read the sets, I just paddle like anything and try lean forward when going thru the waves. On the odd occassion you bail; swim back to your ski and get moving again before the next wave hits. Good thing is big waves longer time between waves!

 

[lushwill]

no a pleasant feeling....i was about 5m off shore and then...roller coaster ride. luckily i didnt get hurt but it all happend way to quick.

 

[Malgas]

Ditto and even fixtures that were epoxied on dissapeared, only those bolted down survied- and it was not even a large shorebreak.

 

[Fredster]

You need to try to see where the waves are curling and crunching down with lots of power. You need to move through that area, which is actually usually not that big, as quick as possible, during the gap between the waves, preferably the gap between sets. Creep up on the crunch zone, when what you think is the last wave of the set comes thru under you, tuck in on its back, paddle for all you're worth and let it suck you along on its back. That way you'll be paddling thru the impact area in the lull between the waves or sets. If you are a little ahead and you're going to go over onto the face, you can put brakes on by putting your legs in the water for a few moments and that will retard your speed, then its sprint again.

 

[Kingz007]

This is always a interesting topic, and i often have a few chuckles watching my mates eat sand. i'm def no pro and i often get it all wrong on the best of days. Lately on entry i have discovered that if you dig your paddle in "Deep" (when directing) this seems to counteract wave steer as you catch the wave, paddle in Hard between the sets. Practice practice practice or sometimes when that wave is HUGE the only thing you can do is haha

 

[Fredster]

yea, Kingz, the experts are always on the beach, with their hind-sight - haha! But you gotta make the best decision you can based on what you can see from where you are, and once you committed, go for it.

 

[simisteven]

Thanks for the interest chaps. I will give it a try next time and if all else fails I will follows Malgas's tip of bailing out and hanging on to the tail end .

Fred we seem to wait too long between outings. I am badly bitten by this bug so anybody going out on Saturdays and/or Sundays in PE\area pse advertise.

 

[Beerracuda]

Hope nobody saw the tumble I took. Also used the "hold on the back" method. FAIL! I pulled the ski hard but it pulled back even harder. Down! the falls we went papa, ski, me and all.

At least it wasn't as bad as Danie's wipe out. Danie! where were you when your ski finally decided to come back down to earth.

Maybe we should stick to fishing from terra firma. The more firma, the less terra

 

[Dieter Jones]

I have mastered the victory role, and made peace with the fact that no wave is the same, and therefore always paddle hard, lean back and hold on tight...  I dono about the bailing part, as the next big wave might just clubber you from behind.  I always try to ride the wave, hence I have perfected the "victory role", at least you are out of the crunch zone, no matter how bad the wipe-out.

 

[getafix]

One of the things that I have learn't is that once you have committed yourself, don't back out. He who hesitates, eats sand. We came in on Saturday with a very strong outgoing tide. There was a strong rip and the surf was churning quite heavily. Once I had entered the "zone", I knew that trying to paddle to shore was a no go so off I bailed and allowed myself to get dragged in. There's no shame in bailing.

For me, speed is key, both launching and coming in. Going out you need speed to punch through any waves and coming in you need speed to ride on the back of a wave.

My 0.02 worth

G

 

[Sailfish69]

One trick i have learnt, is yep to lean back hard, but also to ride the wave in sideways, keep your paddle hard into the wave i.e if you are riding the wave to the left, push your paddle into the wave on the left as well, by doing this, the front of the kayak does not dip into the front of the wave. It is a bit of a bumpy ride, but the chances of been dupmed nose first are slimmer. Enjoy the ride chap.

 

[Danie Burger]

Yeah, I had it so bad that the Life-saver swam to me to check that I was ok

I was so glad he came though, cause I was flopping around in the water like a dead fish with the paddle in my hand, so I gave him my paddle to handle and swam ashore.

I did not really need his help, but atleast we know that if we require their help they are there and always watching.

So I would like to thank all the Life-savers who are out there watching EVERYONE in the water.

They don't just save lives, they even helped us carry Gordon's ski back to the parking area

 

[simisteven]

thanks sailfish, I have seen pics where they do this but now you have explained it, it makes sense. I will give it a try ( on a very small wave)
I support Danie's statement about life savers...
thanks to the lifesavers, hopefully they won't have to help us 'Pros" but they do a good job for zero pay, and put themselves in harms way.... a big up to all of them!

 

[Serra Moz]

My 2 cents.... I started of with paddle/wave ski riding in the 80s, basically I apply the same "moves" as mentioned above - eventhough a kayak (mine steatlh supalite) is much bigger than my Macski wave/paddle ski and one has to lay back "harder" it works most of the time, also it depends on the size, type and force of the wave. Use your paddle to control you direction or balance or twist you body to counter the side dump ect.... LOL kind of difficult to describe this. I am sure with some practice you will master it soon.

If you are familiar with the beach all the better. I have even "bailed" well in time before getting dumped in shallow water dumpers - avoid damage to you ski/kayak

Always ensure your tackle + hatches are well secured, no hooks/lures left on rods

 

Serra

 

[Malgas]

I still don't understand the preoccupation with beaching the ski- dosn't this put stress on the boat and leave the potential for hair-line cracks -which I don't want when I am 2k's out from home? I think I will go for jumping out- I never was a good surfer.

 

[Challie]

heh gents there are numerous techniques to make your beaching alot easier.....look out for the new series of DVDs i'm producing in conjunction with Stealth on everything form launching and beaching to paddling techniques fishing and more.......

 

[Serra Moz]

Available when?

 

[KUSAF]

Hi Guys. I normally hang around the carp forums but thought I would give this great sport of kayak fishing a go. Im a bit on the heavy side weighing in at a 120kg. I got a supalite x but found out today that im a bit too heavy for the thing. After a few phonecalls from Mick at Umkomaas he got it arranged for me to exchange to a BFS. Luckily none of my mates were here to see me bail wave after wave as I tried to get to the backline and then only to bail on every attempt coming out. Got the BFS on the rack now and will go and try it tomorrow early. Hopefully its not as rough as I experienced today. Starting to second guess this new hobby but im sure I will get it.

Thanks for the tips here. I hope I can remember them when in the situation.