Surf Kayaking is the sport, technique, and equipment, used in surfing ocean waves with kayaks. Surf kayaking has many similarities to surf board surfing

Surfing

Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...

, but with boats designed for use in surf zones, and with a paddle. A number of kayak designs are used, but all are aimed at better using the waves to propel the craft.

Surf kayaking is popular in many areas frequented by surf board surfers

Surfing

Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...

. The sport has grown in popularity over the last decades, in pace with the rise of sea kayak

Sea kayak

A sea kayak or touring kayak is a kayak developed for the sport of paddling on open waters of lakes, bays, and the ocean. Sea kayaks are seaworthy small boats with a covered deck and the ability to incorporate a spraydeck...

ing, and modern materials and techniques.

Surf Kayaks

There are a number of speciality surf kayak designs available. They are often equipped with up to four fins with a three fin thruster set up being the most common. Speciality surf kayaks typically have flat bottoms, and hard rails, similar to surf boards. The design of a surf kayak promotes the use of an ocean surf wave (moving wave) as opposed to a river or feature wave (moving water). They are typically made from Glass Composites (mixtures of carbon fiber

Carbon fiber

Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...

, Kevlar

Kevlar

Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...

 and fiberglass

Fiberglass

Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...

) or rotomolded

Rotational molding

Rotational molding, also known as rotomolding, rotocasting or spin casting, is a molding process for creating many kinds of mostly hollow items, typically of plastic....

 plastic

Plastic

A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...

.

Many kayaks, such as those used in whitewater kayaking

Whitewater kayaking

Whitewater kayaking is the sport of paddling a kayak on a moving body of water, typically a whitewater river. Whitewater kayaking can range from simple, carefree gently moving water, to demanding, dangerous whitewater. River rapids are graded like ski runs according to the difficulty, danger or...

 on rivers or tidal rapids, are used. Many whitewater designs can be fitted with fins, to assist in control on moving surf waves. (See: Ocean surface wave

Ocean surface wave

In fluid dynamics, wind waves or, more precisely, wind-generated waves are surface waves that occur on the free surface of oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and canals or even on small puddles and ponds. They usually result from the wind blowing over a vast enough stretch of fluid surface. Waves in the...

, Whitewater

Whitewater

Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...

)

Sea kayak

Sea kayak

A sea kayak or touring kayak is a kayak developed for the sport of paddling on open waters of lakes, bays, and the ocean. Sea kayaks are seaworthy small boats with a covered deck and the ability to incorporate a spraydeck...

s, generally used for day-trip, to expedition kayaking, are used in surf kayaking. Due to their length, sea kayaks are difficult to manoeuvre in surf. The techniques and strategies utilized in landing kayaks, even when heavily loaded, safely through large open ocean surf, could be considered a sub-discipline of surf kayaking.

Paddles

Typically double sided kayak paddles. Length is generally proportional to dimensions of boat and paddler, but can range from 160–230 cm. Kayak blades are often 'feathered' (set on an angle in relation to each other), allowing the paddle to pass smoothly through the lip of a wave when paddling into breaking waves. It is not unusual for un-feathered paddles to be used as personal preference.

Occasionally single sided 'canoe' paddles are used. This is perhaps attributed to whitewater canoe

Whitewater canoeing

Whitewater canoeing is the sport of paddling a canoe on a moving body of water, typically a whitewater river. Whitewater canoeing can range from simple, carefree gently moving water, to demanding, dangerous whitewater. River rapids are graded like ski runs according to the difficulty, danger or...

 influence.

Surf Kayak paddles are generally made from robust materials to last the rigours of the surf zone. Fiberglass, plastic, and carbon fiber are most common.

Surfing Open Ocean Swell

When paddling in following seas in open ocean swell, it is possible to surf a kayak, thereby increasing one's speed. Ocean swell, having a longer distance between crests than wind waves, allows Sea Kayaks

Sea kayak

A sea kayak or touring kayak is a kayak developed for the sport of paddling on open waters of lakes, bays, and the ocean. Sea kayaks are seaworthy small boats with a covered deck and the ability to incorporate a spraydeck...

 and other longer boats to surf down the front of the wave. This technique, especially when used on extended expedition trips, can add miles to a day trip.

Dangers

As with all water sports, surf kayaking carries inherent risks. Participants should gain experience in various swell heights, and wear suitable safety equipment. One should wear a helmet, and suitable PFD

Personal flotation device

A personal flotation device is a device designed to assist a wearer, either conscious or unconscious, to keep afloat.Devices designed and approved by authorities for use by...

. The dangers of cold water immersion, leading to Hypothermia

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions which is defined as . Body temperature is usually maintained near a constant level of through biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation...

 should be addressed by wearing a Wetsuit

Wetsuit

A wetsuit is a garment, usually made of foamed neoprene, which is worn by surfers, divers, windsurfers, canoeists, and others engaged in water sports, providing thermal insulation, abrasion resistance and buoyancy. The insulation properties depend on bubbles of gas enclosed within the material,...

, Drysuit, or other suitable insulation.

Sea kayak touring sees many injuries associated with accidents in the 'Surf Zone'. Techniques used in landing loaded sea kayaks through surf generally involve following behind the crest of a wave to avoide broaching in following seas. It is very helpful for the sea kayaker who wishes to land through surf to develop a very strong "low brace" in which he/she leans out to sea on the flat blade of the paddle, thereby providing support and hopefully avoiding have the kayak flipped toward the beach.

When kayak surfing in areas frequented by traditional surf boarders

Surfing

Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...

, follow surf zone ethics (do not drop in or snake waves, and give right of way). If possible consider paddling a break free of surf boarders. Collisions between other surf kayaks boats or surf boarders can cause significant injury.. It is suggested that novice surf kayakers select breaks which are small and gentle (just look for the typical beginner spots that novice surfers frequent). Also, because it is fairly easy to paddle a kayak several miles in search of waves, the surf kayaker can often explore sections of the coastline which are inaccessible to the average board surfer.

At least one surf kayaking death has been recorded:

• A 27 year old male died while kayak surfing on Bastendorf Beach, Oregon. He was surfing alone, and was wearing a helmet, PFD, medium weight insulation. He was known as an experienced paddler.

External links

• Vancouver Island Whitewater Paddling Society http://www.surfkayak.org
• British Canoe Union Surf Website http://www.bcusurf.org.uk
• Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival http://www.asudoit.com/kayak_fest/index.html
• Eastern Surf Kayak Association http://www.eskasurf.com
• NI Surf Kayak http://www.nisurfkayak.com