Getting Through Waves - Basic Tips - Kayak Hipster

Welcome to the channel, where I share kayaking tips, outdoor adventures and sometimes restoration progress on our 84 WV camper van.
Please subscribe if you'd like for weekly videos. I hope they're helpful. Cheers! -- Luke
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To follow up the last video on stability in rough water, here's a couple of tips for getting out through waves. Please do not underestimate the power waves can pack - even if they look small.
Fantastic read on getting out through waves by Cate and Jeff out in Mendocino -
womanonwater.blogspot.com/201...
liquidfusionkayak.com/
Photo by Jorge
/ kayakeandoando
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[@TheBelldiver]

I found myself in a storm in the middle of the bay just a few weeks ago. I'm a commercial diver so the water is my comfort zone and I know it's forces. I ended up surfing it to a shore opposite to where I wanted to go but survival is the key; not being bull headed.

[@gsmiley2707]

25 years kayaking here, whitewater and sea water. a) Never paddle on an empty stomach. Otherwise: motion and sea sickness. b) Sea water is more buoyant than soft water. Ergo: much more powerful when it slams into you. Thus the turtle dive is useful as the wave curls upon you (i.e. has stopped rising). Doing a turtle dive in the trough may mean you'll be cartwheeled back, and surfing back to the beach at terrific speed. c) As mentioned in the video: always a blade in the water, but MOSTLY: shoulders CLOSE to the body. You don't want a dislocated shoulder. d) Even in sea water, unless close to the sandy bottom, keep your eyes opened when upside down. The salinity of sea water is the same as your eyes', thus it won't sting. And e) if sideways, lean INTO the wave, and dig your blade into that wave, and let its curl keep you upright.

[@lynkwhat]

You’re da man/woman! Gotta say both it’s 2020 and who the fuck knows what you identify as😂

[@Lea99Jones]

Pretty sure you meant salt water is more dense than fresh water. I'm also quite sure that fresh and saltwater waves will have no detectible difference when it comes to "slamming" into you. Here's the physics: "Average density at the surface (sea water) is 1.025 kg/l. Seawater is denser than both fresh water and pure water (density 1.0 kg/l at 4 °C (39 °F)) because the dissolved salts increase the mass by a larger proportion than the volume." Which makes salt water ~1/40 times (or 41/40) more dense than fresh water, and most people would be hard pressed to EVER notice that difference. Also, "shoulders close to the body"? WTF I'm sorry. I didn't come here to make fun of your tips, so I'd better go now, because most of them are sketchy as shit. What I DON'T see happening in this vid is any mention nor illustration of using TORSO ROTATION to add power. The rest of this vid is top notch, btw!~

[@aranha9365]

Cheers for that, I got seasick sometimes, no idea why, now I know.

[@jhara812]

f) Consider a watersports helmet, particularly if paddling an unfamiliar shoreline g) If you have a rudder, it needs to be straight into the wave face, then you can steer to the side down the back side. h) If paddling laterally, rudder needs to be up, or the wave will flip you. i) Make sure you have adequate kayak floats in the hull. Intentionally capsize with gear stowed, before starting a trip. j) You'd better have a paddling partner to pull your capsized yak over their hull to drain the cockpit (probably should be using a SOT (sit-on-top) for first timers experimenting in waves). k) should be paddling far enough from shore that you have time to un-capsize before your yak gets swept into the rocks (+ you). l) paddling with the wave (not into the face) leads to unintentional surfing which leads to instability (why surfboards have 1-3 skegs) and should be avoided on expeditions. You can always drift with the waves sideways and get where you're headed eventually (+ safely).

[@NewZealandWild]

I've been surfing a sit-on with thigh braces for the last 19 years on the West Coast of the South Island on New Zealand. I love powering into a wave thats just about to break, using my hips to transfer my weight backwards, and can sometimes get quite high in the air. The first time I did it, I was surfing a backwash out, and went over several waves getting higher air each time. The last one must have thrown me 2 metres or more in the air. I didn't land it, and didn't have a leash, as I hadn't even paddled out to the big breakers before. I learnt quickly that day. I've paddled through the cave under the famous Punakaiki blowhole too, That was pretty cool, as I've also been a keen caver for many decades.

[@aranha9365]

I go to haast/Jackson bay for kayak fishing (and spearfishing) the wild west can be really wild on the waves aye!

[@jaymedeerwester4843]

Any instructor who uses Top Gear references while teaching is my kind of guide. Looking forward to you channeling James May with “Oh, weathercock!”

[@KayakHipster]

Thank you, I LOVE THAT. Will be using it going forward. 👌😃

[@H2Octayo]

Great video. I would add “remember to breath”, it helps us relax and be prepared for sudden capsize. It gives you something simple to think about when you’re surfing and is common for people under stress to hold their breath, that’s why I always mention that. Cheers!!

[@jlondon1441]

I have started paddling in more open water here in Charleston SC. I went out into the the Charleston harbor after work, pretty windy, but it didn’t look too bad from shore. Went out to do a quick trip to Castle Pickney and back, about a mile each way. Got into deeper water and had swells with white caps a little over my head. Spent the trip out and back having a blast being tossed up and down. Definitely worked me at the edge of my comfort. Accomplished my goal of getting to the island, but decided not to do the full trip around the island. Got into the protected side and turned back. Spent a few minutes resting and then headed back to James island where I launched from. When I was driving away, after loading car back up, I still felt like I was out in the harbor going up and down. I have been blessed with pretty good conditions staying as I have recently done longer and further outings. Just two days ago, did a trip spanning 18.5 miles over 7 hours into the ACE basin from St. Helena sound and if conditions had changed, I would have been in serious trouble. Glass calm with a tide in my favor against the river current at the end, but I was dead tired and totally wrung out. Talking paddling for about a minute and then resting for thirty seconds, just trying to get from one crab pot to the next. Not even looking for the end, just wanting to make it to the next goal 30 feet away. Spent the first two and a half hours paddling with tide and current, then fighting both on the return until tide went slack for dead low and started coming back in for my last 2 miles on the water. Made it back to launch area 20 minutes after sunset and spent another 20 just recovering enough to lift boat onto top of vehicle.

[@rogermellie8068]

Windy app is useful or similar for figuring out the water and weather conditions that you will likely face on the water.

[@mountain_ginger]

That fact that you quoted top gear in a kayak video just made me like you. Haha

[@conjob8168]

Opposite for me, Jeremy Clarkson is the biggest upper-class fuckwit to ever appear on TV

[@WalterKitunduStudio]

Always appreciate your videos! Thank you for this one.

[@tommycheshire5508]

Thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom with us.

[@kampersadventures958]

Really great stuff! I learned a lot. Especially keeping the blade in the water and powering towards the top. Thank you so much!

[@leatherindian]

Great tips. Yes I do lift my paddle when creating a wave. Something I know I’ve got to change. I’ve shared your video with our paddle group.

[@khelben1979]

Very good advice about putting the paddle in the water as you go through the wave! Thank you!

[@JohnKlopp]

Great tips and thank you! I'll be getting a kayak next month and want to do ocean fishing, so these last two videos are really good.

[@cordmiller679]

Im doing my first solo trip across lake erie in 3 weeks and I like watching your videos to compare/add to my skill set.

[@NJohnstonPhoto]

Great video, Luke! very helpful.

[@flddoc2]

You have one of the best kayak channels I’ve come across. I found it this morning and your “tips” section is just capital. It’s very useful for someone like me who enjoys tooling but doesn’t have much real knowledge. There are tons of areas to explore along the coast of NC but like the sky, the sea is unforgiving (especially the Cape Fear inlet) so I’m Looking forward to leaching your knowledge. Thanks! Iggy-The KING of run on sentences.

[@kristaps2010]

super nice slow-mo and great basic tips! thank you

[@larrywall6967]

Great video. I really like the tip regarding blade placement on the backside of the wave. That does two things. The first is that the blade helps pull over the top. Second, if the wave is too powerful to climb over, then you are set up for a good high brace if you get back surfed.

[@debbiedebbie9473]

Thank you very much for all of your videos.

[@vanillagal95]

This looks like so much fun! I went kayaking the first time in 2020 I believe. I immediately fell in love but have not had a lot of opportunities to continue kayaking in some time. I really want to get my own kayak and get back into it. But now I live on the coast and the river I used to kayak is much further away. So my best option are sounds and the well the Atlantic Ocean lol I didn’t realize you could wave surf with kayaks and this looks amazing!

[@khelben1979]

I hope you get the possibility to get out on the water again!

[@SailingSarah]

Crazy boating so close to those rocks 😮

[@user-mu4mx5ql1u]

Nice vid. I would avoid turtle diving in bigger conditions. It can work but it's better to work on timing, moving in the impact zone, and accerating. I always vote power and speed into bigger waves with timing. Also another tip is slight angle, reach deep down into the green water as you reach over along with leaning hard forwards. Often times folks sit in a neutral position weighting the stern which sends them into a back surf as the water hits the foam of the pfd. This is why surf kayaks usually wear wetsuits only so they can break through the surf like a surf boarder.

[@peterbrownnl]

Lol, love the top gear reference. Thanks for the video

[@richardhayward2316]

Look at the hole your paddle makes in the water at 2:49. Very cool! Thanks for the great video.

[@Wild_Danimal]

Really fantastic video thank you!

[@skoli55]

Great vid. I appreciate my recliner little more now.

[@hope4surf]

Great tips...THANKS!

[@davidhuckaby832]

I heard some call it "Eskimo roll" turning inverted and then rolling back up. Surfers always called it "turtling" for going under large waves upside down. Geat video!!!!

[@bkbmf]

I'm one of those who raise the arms up... haha! I'll try to power through next time.:-D Thanx for the videos! I learn alot. :-)

[@RonK]

Excellent stuff!!

[@HN_DE]

Awesome content, thank you. Greets from Morocco 🇲🇦

[@Kompressor2007]

Very good vid, congrats and keep it up !!

[@LorenaMae]

Looks like Cascade Head in Oregon! I'm just learning to surf and roll, but fun to see Oregon in your video!

[@rogeru73]

Just roll under the worst waves. Works like a charm. I made a video with wave rolls.

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Another fantastic explanation and beautiful job editing. Paddled with Jeff and Cate this weekend. Always so much knowledge hanging out with those guys. editing my video with them now.

[@macrumpton]

One thing I remember when first kayaking was feeling tentative and not going full power when going into a wave, and that is really not a good idea. You need to have momentum to power through the wave, or else it will toss you around.

[@PreeBanerjie]

This was really helpful. I use a recreational kayak, and we are just learning, and we were out on lake erie with a north east wind, (long fetch high waves) and it was tough, but we learned some of these techniques by just by building movement and powering through.

[@jakebrakebill]

The part about, paddle shaft meets face, was a great tip and something to keep in mind. Even the abuse your wrists take in the waves. I use to wonder why guys threw their paddles away before going over a waterfall, till someone commented on breaking their arm from holding on to it..

[@yakinsea]

My technique going out depends on the size of the surf. Small and I just go, reaching over the wave to plant my paddle at or just beyond the top, as mentioned. A bit larger and I charge the wave getting one last good plant beforehand and reach over to plant the paddle, more to minimize getting flushed backwards. A bit larger, where my body presents a great place for the wave to push me into a back-surf and I charge then lean way back to minimize the wave's push-back and point the paddle into the wave to spear through it. This position allows the bow to rise higher on the face before I get hit with a bit less power. I immediately lean forward and plant just over the wave. If the wave curls as I am going up its base, I lean forward and head-butt the wave with the spearing paddle followed by a quick plant beyond. You don't want a wave to flatten you backwards potentially injuring your back. Bigger still or one that is about to plunge onto or just in front I go up-side-down. With the ends of my boat curved downward and me acting like a sea anchor this presents very little for the wave to push against resulting in no rag doll experience while holding my breath and little ground lost to make up. Then thee is choosing the best location (wave shadows from rocks or other features esp. rips), timing, holding zone, choosing when to charge forward and when to sprint sideways to circumvent the breaking part of the wave aiming for the shoulder. Dumping surf is a whole other set of strategies.

[@Cgraseck]

Great vid, Thanks.

[@williamkost733]

Thank you for you sharing

[@advancegraphics6400]

Very inspiring 🏆

[@mikchael290]

Really cool episode great tips and footage. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness.

[@guyrichard2030]

Allo Kayakhipster, I recently did a trip down the St-Lawrence seaway and experienced waves that are created by opposing forces....very scary if they reach heights at or above your torso 🤐. They appear as pyramides of water in wich one cannot breach through but are vigorously pushed back like a tennis ball on a wall 😯 Merci beaucoup 🇨🇦✌

[@davidwalker41]

Enjoyed the video. Mostly seemed to focus on strategies when pointing into the waves (e.g., launching). I'd love to see a video that focused on coming in (e.g., with the waves behind you). The last few feet are particularly daunting. That is, how do you get out of your boat and get both yourself and your boat onshore without getting run over by your boat, or swamping your boat.

[@johnmason2501]

Nice aerial of Russian Gulch in Mendocino. I've speared that area on a SOT kayak plenty. It can get very rough, but NorCal spearos are savage.

[@georgewilliamssr5230]

Good tips, and good advice to be with friends. I personally have given up teaching kayaking. I find that with the newer generation of kayakers. They are less willing to listen to instructions. Unless you have a CERTIFICATE. And are charging them a fairly stiff fee. So, I just keep my 30+ years of white water and ocean skills to myself these days. Grandfathering skills down to strangers, just doesn't work with the new gen of paddlers these days. Have fun, maybe I'll see you on the water someday...

[@john-wq8kf]

It was interesting looking back on all my kayak or rather I called my canoeing days never had much problem getting through surf on my Anas Acuta a 17ft sea boat by valley canoe products I did notice I took less effort than some guys I watched with their big expedition boats, I could never see the point of some of the barge like boats. One I tried on a trip was great for storing camping gear but all it wanted to do was turn up into the wind.

[@HongKong.Shenzhen.]

Good Advice Cheers

[@susannewilliams]

Really nice your videos. Clear and easy to understand. Thank you especially for the advice on how to build confidence.

[@kennybradshaw2122]

Excellent!!!!!

[@polymathperspective]

I paddled out to Old Soaker as the first to time the island with a ruthless current in Acadia National park. I landed on this island exactly like Gilligan island intro and I returned off the island landing in my K1 intex challenger in. Rodeo landing into this craft to leave the rough island that is soaked by waves. Pulled away and plowed into the island. When I got back I was exhausted, the current brought me back in. With correct timing Maine is ruthless at sea and I might head out n November to land in an island nobody has ever done before and film.

[@ryanrossell8479]

Dangerous game when beginning with no knowledge thanks for the info

[@plfreeman111]

Shout out to Charleston! Let us know next time you're down here. Love to go paddle with you.

[@dannyryanlannon784]

Amazing, surprised to hear a top gear reference "WE NEED MORE POWER!!!!"

[@FXG67]

When punching through the wave be prepared to surf backwards. Sometimes we misjudge power or just bigger wave that we accustom comes or we just didn’t have enough power to punch through the wave. You may end up surfing backwards. A few points. Know where the land or obstacles are and know where your partners are. When surfing always look for your partners for number of reasons, to land the helping hand or avoid being run over. Even small waves will create blind zones and you may see your buddy coming at you from the top while you are at the bottom. Perhaps capsizing may be the best recourse in some situations. Another tip that perhaps may not be obvious is keep the deck clean, everything not bolted may end up flying in your face or being mangled. That includes GoPro mounts (have a spare one), backup paddle and so on. The less stuff you have the better. Tether anything and everything you want to keep and that includes stuff in your pockets. As always enjoy the punishment and relax, being relaxed leads to more flexibility and allows you to counteract kayak movement better.

[@jasoncole7711]

"Arse and sweep" works well, too :)

[@williamgriffith2922]

You said you were in Oregon. I live in Oregon! It's a beautiful state. I haven't made it out to the coast to kayak yet. Check out deception pass in Washington state. Pretty awesome area too. Thanks William

[@zoranmartinovic3074]

Bravo, bravo pozdrav iz Srbije 🇷🇸👏🌸🤗👍

[@mrfelix2510]

looks like fun

[@rogermellie8068]

I learned digging your paddle into white oxygenated water doesn't get you far, plant the paddle into the green/blue/brown water for positive energy.

[@henryromer5207]

On larger waves, more typical of the west coast, the back (ocean side) of the wave can be a long way down. I call this descent the "elevator drop". Often I see paddlers stop paddling once they get over the top, only to fall down the back side, get unbalanced on the landing and capsize. I tell folks that not only is that first plant important, but you must commit to 5 strokes to power into the wave, catch that important stroke on contact and be prepared to have a few more strokes on the back side for bracing when you land.

[@tandgkenny9158]

Do you have videos about non sea kayaking tips for beginners and how to do rolls re-entry in deep water ect??

[@NicholasL2288]

This is information I should have watched before I tried kayaking in waves... I have a wide kayak with a lot of space inside. I was facing side ways then a big wave came and I just braved for impact so much water came into the kayak. I had to paddle back a kayak with a lot of water in it. It was not a fun experience...

[@bernardoevo]

Thanks

[@jarrydwilson]

What's a good ski for a beginner? I'm wanting to get into riding waves but have no idea what equipment I.need. any help would be great. Thanks

[@dereinzigwahreRichi]

Just curious: how big should waves be at a maximum to be able to power through them? I've been Surfing some time, if you got a small fiberglass board you can duckdive through the waves but if you got those big beginner boards like me you'll have to get off and dive through bigger waves, lets say 2 meters and up, or with a little smaller ones you can try a turtle role as well. But it's just really exhausting.

[@user-mk6lb6ri8y]

Как же круто!!!

[@massimocorsaro1831]

The sky blue kayak is 'grand illusion'? Thanks.

[@theopinson3851]

Holy shit this is insane!

[@AlbaAdventures]

What do you think of the Greenland paddle? Also, you are in NY, in the city?

[@ericpao81]

Who made the greenland paddle you used?

[@7uciano]

Can we do the same with a sit on top kayak?

[@PeteLeuenberger]

Can you still do this if you do not have a skirt ? Or will too much water get in the kayak ? I actually have a pakboat foldable, so...wondering if it would be too much.

[@ozzmanzz]

Thanks for posting. Do you have any tips on launching into waves off the beach? No matter how hard I try my bow is constantly turned by the incoming waves making it virtually impossible for my to get out. Any hints or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Mark.

[@kebolton]

The folks at Kayak Waveology encouraged me to play with launching backwards when trying to get off of a beach and through the break. Skeg up, spray-deck dressed around the back of the coaming, and backward paddling with good-to-extreme rotation - turning the upper body and head to look at (or beyond!) the oncoming wave on each stroke - gets me through the surf zone.

[@ozzmanzz]

Kenneth Bolton. Thanks for your reply! Backwards, that is something I would never have thought of trying. I’ll give it a go.

[@loopsfourtwentythousand8354]

Is an ocean kayak good for waves like this?

[@Scary1007]

Wishing I saw this a lot time ago lol

[@behrensf84]

That’s jarrod from Nova Scotia on some of the shots...

[@taxikleftis8842]

I have a 2 seat sit on top kayak and its super hard to go through a wave

[@ezntertainment3601]

Charleston, like in OR?

[@luster5497]

I feel like if the "leaf-shape" paddle stick was more square or rectangle, it would give you more surface-area tension to get a better push?...I might be wrong

[@Gkitchens1]

Best position is 17 degrees off straight on.

[@Romany1111]

Doesn't really work for outside breaks, short-period waves, if one needs to get through the surf zone efficiently.

[@dante_pilman]

Are you recording audio while driving a car? But video good anyway

[@kevinshort3943]

First tip is to avoid the waves. Look for rips if there are any, and aim for where the wave isn't going to break. Not so much fun, the fifth time a wave breaks over you into the rear deck , flipping you over and washing you back up the beach.

[@stangmaster9075]

i tipped over really bad in a canal with alligators and i almost lost the kayak and the cellphone, a guy in a jet sky saved my kayak but i lost the paddle, i swam as fast as i could to shore in fear of alligators :(

[@hendriklok85]

I really do not understand the bongo slide

[@travisboaz237]

i hate getting hit in the face with a shaft

[@xcx4x]

my wife and i almost died in hawaii when a wave flipped us over lol

[@adamatch9624]

How did you almost die?

[@McNighthawk750]

I totally disagree with a head-on approach. As a sailboater, boater and kayaker, go at the wave with an angle to it, 30- 45° ? In this way the craft will not slam on the other side. You will glide nicely over it

[@KayakHipster]

This will be an instance of respectfully agree to disagree. While in smaller waves or with a larger vessel the angled approach is great to avoid slamming on the other side, I’ve been in many situations where the size or power of the wave would not allow this. The only way to ensure to get through is to give the wave the least resistance and try to cut through as cleanly as possible. Or use your length of the kayak as much to your advantage as possible, where the wave was curling and bringing my bow way way up in the air. The only reason I was able to get through was because I was perpendicular to the wave and the wave found it easer to cut around me. If I had presented any part of my bow at an angle, it would have pushed me aside and window shaded me. In my experience it’ll depend on the size of kayak/vessel vs size of wave and power. Here’s an example of a wave that would have pushed me sideways if I had not been perpendicular to it kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6Wso4OGhZeAm5Y Cheers!

[@adamatch9624]

I gotta disagree and I gotta ask he did your kayak surfing qual and taught you that?

[@lebrechanson4351]

Stop saying shaft so much, but that looks fun

[@itzcazper7203]

I just wasted my money ocean kiakyaing wish ida watched this first

[@petermcleod5655]

Wear a helmet.

[@KayakLife]

Nice vid. I would avoid turtle diving in bigger conditions. It can work but it's better to work on timing, moving in the impact zone, and accerating. I always vote power and speed into bigger waves with timing. Also another tip is slight angle, reach deep down into the green water as you reach over along with leaning hard forwards. Often times folks sit in a neutral position weighting the stern which sends them into a back surf as the water hits the foam of the pfd. This is why surf kayaks usually wear wetsuits only so they can break through the surf like a surf boarder.