General > Kayaking

Kayak surfing

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kmck:
I have never had a problem on the waves, however a number of our own guys have had the odd run in with a surfer.

eoghanp:
I've had run in's with both surfers and paddlers, both in a boat and on a board. The biggest thing paddlers need to remember is that its fucking terrifying to be in the water and having an out of control (or what appears to be) boat barreling down on top of you. Surfers have little or no protection from boats when they are in the water.
A little respect goes a long long way, weather on a boat or a board. Waiting your turn and making sure that your not gonna kill anyone is the simplest way to avoid any problems. Learning the actual rules means you can legitimately give out to anyone else stealing your waves or trying to take the piss.

That said with a big group of paddlers in the water most surfers are gonna steer well clear.

kill:
Thought I might just add...

Lahinch has a rip tide.
This means certain areas of the beach contain currents that pull swimmers out to sea.  Swimming against a rip tide is exhausting and worthless. If you find yourself being pulled out by a current, try to get someone's attention. Then swim parallel to the shore because the rip tide has a finite width and eventually you will swim out of it and find it easier to get back towards shore.

For this reason, if you are likely to take a swim, don't be surfing too much where you'll be out of your depth. If you are swimming out of your depth, don't assume that you're okay. Ask someone who is able to pull you back in with the back of their kayak. Make sure that when you're going out surfing, someone knows where you are at all times.

Most important: Surfing is great fun and really easy. Don't fall into the trap of not going paddling because you're too hungover/still drinking. You'll regret it.

Launching into the sea is harder than launching into a river because the waves keep going away from you while you're still on the sand. Every year sees four or five freshers sitting in their kayaks with their decks on still on the sand with no idea how to get into the water. If you swim, get out and empty your boat. Then help the person who swam before you to get into the water. Then the person who swims after you can help you to get in and so on. It will all become clear when you get there. Have fun.

Evan:
What people are basically trying to say is:

Kayak surfing = loads of fun, way more than you can even imagine

Board surfers = Really nice people, until you take them off that really nice wave that they were surfing as you are heading out and don't apologise for it.

Lahinch = Usual dangers you would expect when going into the sea so don't presume that because you're in a boat you'll be all right. You do still have to be aware of what's going on around you and where you are.

kmck:
I always help freshers get into the sea! Sometimes in a boat, there is one other thing can we paint any dark coloured boat yellow, I don't want to play find the boat again. So when you swim hold your boat and paddles, you can even lie on the boat like a board and surf it in.

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