The Intro Session Re-Cap

During the Intro session we explained some critical information in a very short space of time.  We introduced the surfski, showed you a paddle and how to use it; we highlighted two very important pieces of safety information and then continued to explain most of the Ocean ABC.  One of the topics we would not have covered in sufficient detail (or at all) would’ve been paddling in and out through the waves.  This will be explained during one of your subsequent sessions but is also explained in this booklet with a fair amount of detail.  For now, here is a bullet point list of what you should know:

1. The Surfski and its steering
2. The Paddle: how to hold it and use it
3. Safety 1: Never have the ski side-on to the waves
4. Safety 2: How to get on and get back if you’ve fallen off
5. AWARENESS:  Of the ski (not side on), Of the wind and the waves, Of other paddlers
6. BALANCE: The way to stay on using Eyes, Body and Paddle
7. CONTROL: carrying the ski, paddling in an out through the waves and safety offshore

These headings represent everything you need to know about surfski paddling.  Any aspect you may face can be covered fewer than one of these headings.  After working through them, all you’ll have to do is remember them and apply them.

The Surfski.

The surfski is a sit on top paddling craft.  Surfskis are generally narrower and longer than kayaks making them faster and a little less stable.  Their design allows them to be used in any ocean conditions especially riding ocean swell with a following wind.   This makes surfskis the most versatile of paddling craft as you can go further, faster and have much more fun!

Steering:  The pedals and the rudder

The surfski is steered by means of a rudder system using foot pedals.  You push the left pedal to go left and the right pedal to go right.  What’s very important here is that you need to be going forward for the steering to work.  This takes some getting used to as you’ll find you push while you’re taking a stroke so the ski snakes its way through the water.  Try to focus on pushing on your heels while paddling and only pushing the pedals when you want to turn.

Most surfskis have an “under stern” rudder as opposed to a “kick-up” rudder.  With a kick up rudder you generally don’t have to worry about it in shallow water, however with an under stern rudder you can’t paddle in water shallower than the depth of the rudder.  You also can’t sit on your ski on dry land without having a hole for the rudder to fit into.  The reason surfskis have under stern rudders is that this makes them much more responsive and maneuverable.  This is known as directional stability and is very necessary in open ocean conditions and when catching waves.  Practically what this means is that you should:

1. Be aware that you have a rudder sticking out the bottom of your ski.  When carrying your ski it could hook onto things, or people
2. In the shallow water you want to be deep enough that it doesn’t get caught in the sand.  This could bend your rudder.  Thus, go in at least knee deep before getting on and don’t ride all the way up the beach

Selecting and setting up a surfski

When selecting a craft there are a couple of things you need to consider.  Your main priority is to feel confident in the surfski.  Te most important factor in selecting a ski is stability.  Never sacrifice stability for speed.  If you have a very unstable surfski you will not enjoy your paddling.  It is better to have a more stable surfski than it is to have a faster surfski.

Stability is determined by the depth of the seat bucket and the type of hull.  A narrower rounder hull is less stable than a flatter wider hull.  A deep seat bucket is more stable than a shallow seat bucket.  Sometimes a deeper bucket with a narrow hull is still relatively stable.

Leg length:  Make sure that your leg length is neither to long or too short.  Your perfect leg length will give you a bent knee that doesnt touch the ski but which also doesnt allow you to completely fit a full fist under your bent knee.

Comfort: There are a variety of skis each with a slightly different seat.  Your comfort in the seat will greatly affect your paddling ability as well as your stability.  Make sure that you are comfortable in your surfski.

Bung hole

The Paddle

With surfski paddling we use a double sided paddle meaning there is a paddle blade on either side of a paddle shaft.  The paddle blade is in the shape of a wing thus we call the paddle a wing paddle.  You use the paddle to make the surfski go forward by taking a forward stroke.   It is essential that you use the paddle correctly by:  having it the right way up, having your hands in the correct position and pulling it through the water the right way.  Using the paddle correctly is one of the essentials in having good balance. 

How to hold the paddle:

The paddle is the right way up when the curve of the wing is on the top and the sharp edge on the bottom. Many people get this very wrong so don’t worry if you thought it goes the other way.  Most people forget though so always, before you start paddling, make sure your paddle is not upside down.

Where to hold the paddle.

If you put the middle of the paddle on your head and hold the shaft at equal distances from the blades then your elbows should be at a 90º angle, or just inside of 90.  This allows for the optimum balance of reach and power.  If the angle is larger than 90 then you loose reach.

How to take a stroke.

The stroke happens by placing the blade in the water as far forward as possible and then rotating your upper body and keeping your arm in a semi locked position.  At the same time you use your legs to push down on your heels.  The stroke is made up of 4 stages:  the catch, the stroke, the exit and the recovery.  These will be explained in more detail in subsequent paddling sessions, for now try to remember some key pointers:

1. The stroke is all in front of you and you never pull the blade past your body.  Once your hand gets in line with your knee you should take the blade out of the water.
2. Straight arms:  try and keep your arms straight and semi-locked at the elbow
3. Using your back and rotating:  use your back muscles to pull the paddle and not your arms, try to keep your shoulders parallel to the shaft of the paddle
4. Pull the blade away from the ski and not next to the ski.  Follow the wake from the bow at about 45º.  Don’t pull the blade towards you or right next to the boat

Nose line, eye line

When you’ve taking a stroke the hand that is in the air and going forward should run parallel to your eye line while the paddle blade should NOT cross over your nose line to the other side.

Safety Number One:  NEVER SIDE ON

There is only one time when the surfski can cause damage or serious injury and that is when it is in a side-on position to the waves and the wind.  This is especially true for the waves. 

The surfski has a big surface area and even the smallest, tiniest of waves can exert a lot of power onto the surfski.  If the ski is in a side-on position and you are on the wrong side of the surfski, then you are in risk of getting hurt and the ski is in risk of getting damaged.

Always have your surfski pointing DIRECTLY INTO the waves and the wind.  If it is side-on to the wind or the waves then it is in a dangerous and highly uncontrollable position.  One of your biggest priorities is to keep your ski perpendicular to the wave or wind movement.

Sometimes it’s inevitable.  Of course, the reality is that you will end up in a sideways position with your surfski sometimes.  When that happens you need to firstly be AWARE of it, secondly try to FIX IT and if not fixed it then you need to AVOID it.  If you get into a side-on position and can’t get the ski perpendicular then you need to make sure that the surfski is not going to get washed into you.  Get in-between the wave and the surfski i.e. that the ski will get washed away from you and not towards you.

Being side-on happens often when catching waves.  While you are still working on your skills you will often slew/broach/go-skew when catching a wave.  There is a method to control the ski when this happens covered later on, but for now what you need to know is that if you fall off you should try to fall towards the wave, not away from it.

Safety Number Two:  Getting back on

There is a technique to getting onto the surfski.  It’s essential that you are able to get back onto your surfski as this greatly increases your confidence while paddling.

The Starting Position for getting onto your surfski, whether in the shallows where you can stand, or in deeper water, is the same.  You need to be next to your ski with your paddle across the top of the surfski over the foot straps.  One hand holds the paddle shaft and foot strap closest to you while the other hand holds the other side of the surfski next to the seat. 

The reason the paddle is across the ski is because if it is alongside/parallel to the ski, you will be sitting on top of it when you swing your leg over the ski.  Also, another natural tendency is to let go of the paddle while remounting, but once you’re on the ski you will find that you have drifted just out of reach of your paddle.

The reason that your hand placement needs to be alternate (i.e. one hand on the left side, the other on the right) is that you are able to hold the ski stable once you pull your body weight on top of it.  If both hands are on the far side of the ski you will only pull the surfski over onto you instead of pulling yourself up onto it.

When in a standing position in shallow water you need to be sure to swing your leg over the ski behind you so that you are now straddling the ski with one leg on either side.  If you swing your leg over in front of you, you have a good chance of kneeing yourself in the face if a small wave rolls in under the ski lifting it up.  Also, if you try to put your foot straight into the foot well the ski will be immediately unbalanced as you will be putting weight onto that foot and tipping the ski over to one side.

In deeper water where you can’t stand you have the added difficulty of having to pull yourself up onto the surfski.  You should approach getting onto the surfski in a sequential manner.  This is the sequence for getting onto the surfski in deep water:

1. Always face the ski with your body AND into the wind and swell
2. Paddle ACROSS the foot straps, holding the paddle and foot strap closest to you in one hand.  Do this whether in deep or shallow water
3. Put the other hand on the far side of the ski holding the edge of the SEAT BUCKET
4. In deep water, with all your might, pull your whole body up onto the ski so that your stomach is now in between the seat and the pedals.  You are now lying across the ski.  Another method is to twist your bum into the seat as you pull yourself up.  You will now be sitting on the seat in a side ways position.  Your outside hand should be pushing the ski down.
5. Swing your legs out of the water and over the ski behind you, if you are lying on top of it or in front of you if you are sitting sideways.
6. If you got on by swinging your legs over behind you then you are now lying on top of the ski with one leg on either side.  Compose yourself; don’t rush into the next step.  Your hands should now be under your shoulders both pushing down, keeping the surfski stable.
7. Gently raise your upper body so your bum goes into the seat bucket.  Maintain balance by keeping the paddle across the ski AND over the foot straps.
8. Once your bum is in, keep your legs over the side and pick up the paddle
9. Slowly start paddling again before trying to put your feet back into the foot well.

It is advisable to practice getting onto the surfski in the shallows so that you are familiar with the process and the sequence.