1st Time Surf Launch Sat 10/7

The first time I tried to Surf Launch was in Bean Hollow last time. It didn't go so well.  Does anyone have any suggestions on where would be the best place to learn how to surf launch on Saturday?  I'm open for ANY suggestions.  Thanks!

yakngal-

do you want to practice easy, or hard?

If hard, then maybe bean hollow again.....LOL

If easy, Delmonte beach in Monterey, Capitola Beach next to the pier in Capitola.....

Or, the beach at Linda Mar in Pacifica is a good medium spot.  the swell hits smaller there, but the whitewater rolls in for a while (shallow slope to the beach)  you can get some good practice in there.

Forecast for this weekend is 1-3 ft waves in Monterey Bay, more like 5-6 NW swell on the open ocean coast above Santa Cruz.

Put on your wetsuit and pfd, and leave everything else in the car. Just practice getting in and out from the beach.  Do not leash your paddle when launching and landing! Get wet.  Have fun.

Let us know how it goes!

allen

I live near the cement ship, seacliff beach in Aptos so picked a medium day that was warm and as Allen suggested just played around.  The first few attempts were failures but it did start to make sense after a few dumps and lumps.  I figured I wanted my paddle leashed so I wouldnt lose it and found out why they say to not do so as it wraps up your legs.

while a newbie at this myself the key seems to be timing and once committed, paddle like heck.  Indecision seems to get you dumped

good luck

Eugene

  Hey kayak chic , why don't we just go to a movie or something ?

Yakingal - try Linda Mar - on the South Side (don't go too far South or you'll have scattered rocks, kelp) Try launching just a little bit South of the stream that runs into the Ocean. Good luck

Attending a "surf zone" class at one of the kayak shops is also a possibility. 

Wetsuit, hmmmmmm never thought of that.   That must be better then dumping out all of the sand that seemed to end up in my pockets.  And leaving everything else in the car, yeah that seems better than trying to make the waves give it all back or having to go out and replace the things that were lost (sudmuckers bait knife).  Sorry sudmucker, hope the replacement was acceptable.  

But then again, a flea market does sound like fun.

Or so does that movie.

Have to see how much the waves will hate me this weekend, but I will definately let everyone know how it comes out!  

Yakingirl-The surfzone is the best place to learn every skill required to safe when it gets rough out in the deep. Your not just moving in and out of breaking waves but your maneuvering a laden kayak around  in the soup zone suurounding it. You can learn good capsize prevention by working on High and low Braces. Position your yak sideways to the wave, as it approaches extend your paddle out with elbows up and lean right into the whitewater. You'll fly into shore in a more controlled manner than getting maytagged at the last sandbar. While actual surfing is as addictive as the kayak fishing itself, you should practice coming in on the back of waves following the pillow of whitewater that spills off the top. With your kayak getting dragged around and dumped on your getting more comfortable staying loose and placing your paddle right where it needs to be. When the ocean starts heaving up and you just hooked up to some Flattie That kinetic memory of bouncing around in the surfzone wil kick in and help you relax enough to hold position and bring up your dinner. Some points of safety: 1)Practice with a friend,Don't surf alone 2)shoulder impingement is the most common surfzone injury. Stay tucked don't try to stop yourself from capsizing by reaching your arms out, go with it and come up on the ocean side of your yak. 3)dress for it-3-5mm farmer john(jane)wetsuit, longsleeve polartech fleece, waterproof splashjacket with wrist and neck closures. 4)Know your own limitations, only do what your comfortable with and trained for.

Position your yak sideways to the wave, as it approaches extend your paddle out with elbows up and lean right into the whitewater.

Ummm ... you meant elbow IN, right?  Keep your elbow below your shoulder height.  Having y our elbow up and out puts you in a vulnerable position for shoulder injury.  Ask my right shoulder about this ... it took years for it to recover from impingement type injuries.

-Allen

Double what Allen said. Elbows up is a great way to get a rotator cuff injury. Keep your elbows below your shoulders!!

Scott

Being a newbie myself I have not attempted a surf launce. However, this weekend I hookup with Scallen for proper directions rather than hit or miss. I appreciate the candor of these people on this forum and I am at that age where I have taken the bumps and brusies of not asking or being shown (my best way of learning).
My life has no price tag so a few bucks to learn, for me, is the proper way. Wish you well and be safe.
Yakingal is that a play on words or what? I live in the Union City area and after this weekend I will feel more comfortable w/ surf launching. My wife is becoming pretty addicted to the Kayaking side of this sport. Will be her first fishing excursion this weekend.
Hope to hookup soon. Frank

Hey Fishing Frank, as for the "play on words", my name YakinGal does have two meanings.  This first one is that I'm a Gal who loves to be in my Kayak.  The second one, yup, you guessed it, I am definately a Gal who loves to talk (yakin').  I'm in Fremont, so maybe the four of us (you and your wife, and me and my hubby *sudmucker*) could hook up sometime.  That would be great. 

This weekend where are you hooking up with Scallen at?  I would love some proper directions. I've already tried to do the hit or miss thing and ended up swallowing more salt water than I wanted to.

My understanding is Bean Hallow and if that is not doable Davenport or Santa Cruz. Give Allen a holler and I am sure he would love to instruct you. We booked this a month or so ago but if it is okay with Allen we sure do not have a objections. Just look him up in membership under Scallen.
Here I thought Submucker was getting fresh with a married women....and he was

My train of thought is to keep your paddle on a leash but put the cord under your legs.  So whenyou have to dump it it will be out of the way.  One thing is if you have to dump try to stay on the ocean side of the yak.  I had the yak hit me in the jaw and it hurt for a couple of weeks.  You need the paddle to get out of some things you can get out of.  With out it ................

Ken kickfish

launch in capitola right by the wharf. search on capitola here for info.

fish for anchovies and kingfish to start. then rockfish, halibut and lingcod.

my wife is no water woman, I took her to capitola, she launched, she slayed (okay, just kingfish, just don't tell her that), she landed, she was proud.

J