Kayak Surfing
Kayak surfing is the best way for sea kayakers to build the skills needed in order to paddle downwind, launch and land in waves, and tour exposed coast; it's also a blast. Kayak surfing is exciting and addictive, so beware! It is available for the more experienced, or body boarding for those who want a gentle introduction to the surf. Kayak surfing is a sport of its own. Of course, like seemingly everything else in surf culture, kayak surfing didn't come into its own until it became popular in Santa Cruz in this case, in the late 1980s.
Kayak surfing does not require that you be attached to your kayak in any way: No spray skirt or straps are required. Obviously surfing standing requires some real practicing while surfing in the riding position is easy and almost intuitive. When surfing you get relatively little water in, and it is drained to the bottom of the hulls where even if several gallons are accumulated they would be unlikely to be a noticeable problem.
The word surfing has become synonym to fun, so much that searching the internet just for fun is described as "Surfing the Web". When it comes to kayak surfing the common dictionaries seem to ignore the existence of this sport, and if you look for "Surfing" you will probably get a definition similar to this one: "Surfing- The sport of riding on the crest or along the tunnel of a wave, especially while standing or lying on a surfboard". As a sporting activity kayak surfing dates back to the 1920s, and although it's as old as kayak touring and whitewater kayaking it has not evolved into anything remotely as popular as board surfing. Generally, it is possible to distinguish between two styles of surf kayaking: Surf-skiing, which emphasizes speed and thus requires long and narrow kayaks sometime called 'wave-skis', and kayak surfing which is the beach equivalent of whitewater kayaking and therefore requires kayaks that are almost identical to the small whitewater kayaks.
Surf skiing requires bigger and therefore faster waves, while regular kayak surfing can be practiced in smaller surf. A major difference between the two surfing sports is that kayakers are more mobile than board surfers since they can paddle. Another significant difference is that board surfers can stand while surfing while kayak surfers must remain seated. The fourth requirement is comfort: Kayak surfing is considered to be an extreme sport but that doesn't mean the kayaker should suffer from cramps, leg numbness and back pain that are associated with being constrained to spend long periods of time 'locked' in a single sitting position, which is notoriously uncomfortable. However, in order for kayak surfing to attract participants it should appeal to a wider range of paddlers who are looking for relatively easy and not dangerous surf fun. It is strongly advised never surf alone or too far from shore, and to make sure the beach is safe for surfing since rocks and other objects pose a severe danger to both kayak and board surfers. If you're a kayaker who is new to the sport of surfing there is much to be learnt, and the process is exhilarating. The best place to get started is by surfing the web a little further. In recent years kayak surfing has matured into a sport of its own, complete with worldwide competitions and kayaks that are specially designed to make surfing safer, easier, and more fun. Surf kayaking (also called kayak surfing) is a form of paddle surfing, a hybrid sport blending river kayaking equipment and skills with the environment and ocean-reading abilities used by wave riders. It's sometimes acceptable to go sea kayaking or surfing without a helmet but on a river you'd be mad not to wear one. When you master the bigger stuff and head for that much used break point remember surfing has etiquette. Many people enjoy kayak surfing as a purely recreational pursuit, but there is also a strong competition scene Kayak Surfing is exhilarating to participate in and a spectacular sport to watch.
Kayaks
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