Wanna learn how to kayak surf?

So here is the deal with Surf Kayaking.  I have been surf kayaking and teaching it for many years.  All the friction comes from dealing with folks who don't know right from wrong.  We will teach you all of that. If you use a paddle leash and hang on to your paddle your surf kayak will not run out of control and hurt someone.  Typically we will stay out of the surfers way until you have the proper boat control to surf with them.  (and if anyone yells at you when you are surfing the same break as the surfers yell back!)  We will teach you all the skills to be a proficient surf kayaker, most people who take our Surf Kayak class are riding waves their first day.
All your gear is included in the class minus a synthetic undershirt and booties. (which we have for sale on-site)
I share waves with surfers all the time here in HMB and have gotten nothing but respect from all the surfers.  I was even helped out by the pros to be able to surf kayak Mavericks (which I did in February of 2006).  It is all about knowing how, when ,where and why.

Feel free to call me with any questions you may have about our class or kayak surf etiquette.

Chris Manchester
Co-owner
Half Moon Bay Kayak Co.
c.650.678.8567

There's plenty of places in the bay area you can get waves

Just so I dont' piss off the hierarchy, name me a few places where I can kayak surf safely as a beginner - appreciate the info.

Sure thing Kook.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,13033.0.html
 


We can rap about it next time I see you.  

Oh schnap! I thought this kind of stuff only happened in the O.C.

Mooch, sounds to me like they're telling you that if you don't want to mess with the hierarchy you should stick to surfing luggage.   

One could surf the offshore break at bean hollow in a kayak and never have to worry about normal surfers.  It's sort of a baby mavericks.  I've never seen it up close on a big swell day, it might be pretty bodacious.  On normal days it makes surfable wave faces.  If you tow a surf kayak behind your prowler you could probably get to some out of the way spots (like that break at BH) that never get surfed because there's no access.

Joel, remember those folks surfing kayaks at greyhound rock?  It seemed like the board surfers had the outside and kayaks had the inside.  Of course that involves going down and up that trail of doom...

Oh schnap!

I thought the only people to ever say "oh snap" were in 90's Hood movies.   

I would go dawn patrol style & beat the crowd.

So does this mean if I'm the first on the spot, I can continue my kayak (beginner) surf sessions without being harrased by the surfers?

No!   you'll just get pissed cuz they're gonna be getting all the waves, while your just trying to keep from getting pushed further into the DangerZone

There's plenty of places in the bay area you can get waves

Just so I dont' piss off the hierarchy, name me a few places where I can kayak surf safely as a beginner - appreciate the info.

the same place we did it in the HMB class...only down/south the beach a little further away from the beach goers......I suggest you learn to ride a wave/ position yourself w/o a BIG Kayak first....then it will be a little easier when you do get in the yak!
IhaveWAVEcatchinSKILLZicanSHAREwithYOU

YouDAMANAdam!

I can hear the Hawaii 5-O theme as I look at those pics.

So does this mean if I'm the first on the spot, I can continue my kayak (beginner) surf sessions without being harrased by the surfers?

I didn't mean to imply that at all. There's no "ownership" out there IMHO. I will always defer to the better rider, whatever they are on (I'm not very good  ) Like I mentioned, my surfing is usually on holidays when most people are sleeping in, at spots I already know won't be crowded early. That way I can get away with a bit of flailing at first & not be a danger to anyone.
The biggest benefit (I think) to a small kayak in surf is that we can play & enjoy ourselves in stuff that other craft can't. One of my best days was on 2' waves in about 5' of water where the little wave would just go and go and go. Left, right, stalls, it was all there, but the longboarders weren't interested since the waves didn't ha ve much power, but with a paddle I could get the kayak could speed right to stay on them.
Even in slop I've not had a bad day yaksurfing.

I just try to stick a pic of me on wave whereever I can get away with it Sean!
thereISnoRHYMEorREASON!  
I think we should get together after a small day at the bean....and make the ride to HMB and spend the rest of that day/eve, catchin, paddlin, surfing and BS'n till we pee our wetsiuts!

I think we should get together after a small day at the bean...

I am downWITthaT!
I've just getting my truck all tuned up for the season, so I think it'll now make it up to HMB! 

I think we should get together after a small day at the bean...

I am downWITthaT!
I've just getting my truck all tuned up for the season, so I think it'll now make it up to HMB! 

If it's REALLY SMALL? we can just go north of Bean, a few beaches, and do POMPONIO Beach!
It has REAL WAVES!....either way?   it will be a fun and funny time.

    Joel--Did you forget about me and Bill? We are still there every saturday. Last saturday would have been perfect for you since it was small with no wind. I brought my rod sunday but it was too windy to fish.
  It looks like you're not getting a lot of takers, so you should try to pick a day to hang with us. One of the main reasons we go to PP is because it's not very crowded usually.
  How long has Chris been lurking? That's funny, it was his first post.
He's brought his classes out to join us before. You could just bring one of your smaller boats and a wetsuit and a helmut and you'll be fine. Or rent some gear from Chris. Either way. I just noticed he put up a wave ski up on the roof of HMB Brewing Co. with his name on it. I wonder how much that costs.
  The beach that beginers go to is Linda Mar. Nobody holds on to their board and you don't get beat up when you drop in on somebody. But it gets crowded. That's why we used to go before daylight.
   Besides the fact that it's easier to catch a wave, the thing about kayak surfing is that you can get to places the boardies don't want to paddle to. So Moochie, just don't kayak surf where there are other people unless you become an expert.
  You always have an open invitation.

How early/late are you out there at PP ? I suppose it varies by the tides? I assume you guys are surfing the reef break southeast of Sail Rock?

Regards,
Scott

Kayaks and surfing:

There is little reason for conflict between kayaks and surfers, for the reason that there's little need for a kayaker to be using the part of the ocean that surfers are using.

Surfers are usually only found at points where there's pretty good coastal access.     

We Kayakers, on the other hand, have real mobility on our side.   We can run up and down the ocean-front with ease......which means we have access to enormous shoreline segments where there are no surfers.

Kayaks (because of our ability to paddle hard and get up forward speed as we see a wave coming in) can "catch" waves earlier.....which gives us a longer ride and the ability to fully enjoy smaller wave-sizes that don't quite "fill the bill" for surfers.

Surfers can't do a thing with waves that come straight in to a beach and do a "simultaneous break."    Kayakers, however, can have great fun with moderate curling breaks......by just deliberately putting our boat directly under the curl....and getting joyously thrashed.

The thing a KAYAKER just has to get out of his head, is that simply because he has put is boat out in the surf...that he is a SURFER...!!!...???...!!!!

Like:   No Way.
A kayaker cannot think he is a SURFER.
It's like putting on beads and a head dress, and thinking you are an Indian.

For a kayaker to encroach on surfers is pig-like.
The whole beach-line is open to you.
No reason to push up against people who Don't Want You.
No reason at all.

Judd

ps.....As an example of one of those places to which SURFERS have no access but to which we kayakers do:    Launch from Drakes Beach at Point Reyes, paddle out past Chimney Rock, turn right and paddle to the second beach north.
This is a beautiful surfing beach.....the waves come in at an angle giving you a fabulous progressive break......       It's just an example.

  Yes Scott. The most southern rock is where we hang (Mushroom). It's pretty popular, especially early before the wind. We go out about eight. The next two weekends my buddy has puppy school on saturdays so we'll be there on sunday. But you don't need us. There will probably be other paddlers there both days.
  One caution. Another surfing hot button. Paddle surfers. Regular boardies are having issues with this old sport that is now exploding.
We co-exist on good terms there. The three guys I saw yesterday are good surfers already. But two years ago they could barely stand up. We surfed with and watched them learn their new sport. Now they kick ass. But this spot is getting popular for these guys. This rookie showed up after the other guys split yesterday. It took him a long time to get out to where we were. I think he was a good surfer, and he was embarrassed cuz he couldn't catch a wave. I told him that he looked like the other guys did two years ago (he knew them).   Anyway, please try to stay clear of the paddle boarders and the other yakkers when you go out there. We would be happy to show you around if you want to join us.