Here is an old seabreeze article that has a little more info:
www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Stand%20Up%20Paddle/How-to-read-runners-on-your-Stand-Up-Paddle-board_3214256.aspx
There are some good tips going around in this thread and it is good to see so many sharing what they have learnt over the years.
One thing that will really shorten your learning curve (and, yes, it is long) is paddling with other more experienced paddlers. There are groups of downwind paddlers all over Australia now and if you try and hook up with them you will learn quickly.
Another thing - a good leg rope is the bare minimum piece of safety gear that everyone should use out there.
Tomorrow is looking fine for a S-N run on the Gold Coast and Northern NSW. If you want to paddle with me let me know.
I have found the right board makes a massive difference. If DW is going to be your main thing its worth considering specislist DW boards that make it much easier. Time on the water is another biggy, and pick your days when learning. look for a yaroomba run in Straight North or even nnw so you dont have to track the whole time.
The learning part is a blast!! just take it easy dont paddle your freckle off. its best not to make it a race when ur learning, slow down and cruise. yewww!
Sounds like there is a lot of people keen for DWing
I find the hardest part is organizing times and transport with others to go DWing
We need to share the fun like DJ, and announce if we are going for a run on a particular day
More the merrier if conditions are good
Well I don't think there is much more to be said after that!
Words from the wise and experienced.
Thanks DW.
ET.
That was such a good read for a Friday morning.. Put me in a good state of mind!
Lesson #14 is key to becoming a good waterman I think ( bedding a Scandinavian blonde) hahahaha classic!!!
That's a great point about getting out with more experience paddlers - something I've yet to do... I figured I needed to at least gets some basic competency first so then at least I had an excuse for slowing everyone else down.
I snuck out late yesterday for a quick NNE downwinder, 15 knots gusting probably 20. I'm travelling about 500 to 750m off the beach for most of it - a bit closer than I normally would, and you can see the swell is approx NE. I had my iphone in my pocket running Motion-x. It was showing I was averaging around 13 km/h.
This is the first time I've put the GoPro on the big board (14' 2013 glide) - so I was pretty curious (and frankly.... dismayed) to see how much I (wasn't) moving my feet. I thought I'd share the video in the hope of some constructive criticism for specific parts of the video. Kenny, I reckon we're pretty much at the same skill level from what you've said... I'm 47 and 100Kg. So figured some of the critique might contribute to this thread rather than start a separate one.
This is also my first go at posting a video - so don't expect a lot - it has no music, no fancy scene cuts - nothing to speak of really... so don't blame me if you can't bring yourself to watch it all. For those who do watch it, any specific advice on downwinding (not video production) would be great.
Work on your balance is one of the main things i see, all that twiching around you are doing slows you down. Try and keep your board level while paddling yes its hard but your board is designed to be paddling flat and it will make you faster. Also try and bring your feet in a little as they are draging in the water which will also slow you down.
That wind on the beach looked 20knots plus by the way as 20 knots is when sand starts hitting you in the Ankles!!
Jacko
You kept looking back and to the left. Your focus should be on the nose area of your board and the general area near the front third of your board. You need to look for the trough in front and aim to keep your board paddling downhill.
Also, as you are paddling solo I would highly recommend changing your colours. Your Blue rashie against a blue ocean will not help you get spotted if you need any help. You have a white board, blue rashie and light brown boardies. Try chose colours that contrast with the water and white caps.
Certainly some great tips here. Over the last few days in Sydney a few paddlers who are relatively new to the sport have decided to paddle off shore. I know a couple have spent quite a bit of time on their knees and had difficulty paddling in.
In Sydney we're lucky to have some inland waterways that are great locations to develop your down winding skills in relative safety. It's amazing how much more confident you can be in the ocean when you have paddled some of these waterways first.
Botany Bay, the Spit and Pittwater and even Narrabeen Lake are all great locations to develop your DW skills safely before hitting the open ocean. Your local shop should be able to help also. A couple of shops I have dealt with that are always prepared to offer DW advice and even have a paddle with you are ROAR on the Goldie, RPS in Melbourne, ESS on the Central Coast and WINDSURF N SNOW in Sydney.
Always worth carrying a phone and even a flare. Paddling in a fluro top makes plenty of sense as well.
You're getting way more runners than me Foamballer, well done, keep it up!
This thread has turned out to be a real wealth of information and encouragement, thanks to all who have contributed!
Cheers,
Ken.
www.ocpaddler.com/game
Nice little game from an OC website, but the theory is the same. I just got a distance of 317 on my third go by applying the "paddle downhill only" theory.
You look the same as I do on the 23"......with the board being a little too tipsy for you (would be at 100kg) and as Jacko indicated it will affect your board speed. I think you are doing great, though - no falls and continued paddling.
But the instability is affecting your stroke, because you are using the paddle to semi-brace through the stroke. Your paddle is too far off the side of the board (2-3 inches away from rail), if you can get your paddle vertical and under the board you will find much better acceleration. Its all about timing the paddle stroke and then getting your weight off your feet and onto the paddle - the more vertical the paddle the more this works. And vertical means paddle right under the board.
I reckon you will be much more comfortable on the 29" wide Glide as you will be able to paddle more efficiently. But 13km/h is a very, very good average speed....
Foamballer, I would highly recommend that you try hook up with Alain as he lives near you and is always frothing for a downwinder. He goes by "Al Hunter" and was probably on the water with you yesterday. He went from Broken Head south to Lennox, or somewhere down there. He got a max GPS speed of 27km/hr so must have got some epic runs.
Let's bring some controversy here
I agree that a leveled board allows most of us to paddle stronger and faster. But I don't agree that a level board will go faster because it has been made to be leveled. Some boards do some don't.
If you have the right board, enough skills to paddle on the rail and keep this momentum (which means you still have to feel stable in that position) and have a strong and regular paddle stroke you won't be slower, you'll be faster.