On a recent White Water paddle on the King River I noticed mature age paddlers hammering the course in the Jackson Zen 3 kayak and a couple of young guys thrashing in the Jackson Rockstar V. So on the last day of Winter we sought out a few small Southern Ocean waves for the Zen3 and Rockstar.
We were joined by the ever present Seaweed Steve to catch what was left of a dropping swell. At least it was warmish and the wind zero. Robyn, our photographer, gave instructions; “keep close together if you want both kayaks in the shot”.
Seaweed Steve was the first out and first on a small wave
Berny in his Zen 3 was soon joining in with a small peeler
Ian dropped onto clean wave in the Rockstar
Berny was heeding Robyn’s instructions, staying close, sometimes a little too close. Check out the video to join in the fun.
The Rockstar was just having fun in the small waves
Seaweed Steve, as always, was jumping on every available wave.
Just chilling out
Berny was smiling and having fun.
Berny working hard on a small wave
Not content on his previous, Close Encounter ,Berny scored again.
Yes we are both “in the shot”
However, justice was soon served. How’s the water temperature down there Berny ?
Over and Out
Thanks to Robyn for the photos and Charles W for editing the video. That’s all for the last day of Winter, from those who paddled.
The Barbie movie is about to hit the screen and we took our own “Barbie kayak” out for a splash around.
Well actually it’s a Jackson Rockstar V but with all the pink colour it’s certainly worthy of the Barbie name.
I’m not sure Barbie approved of the weather with a cold 8 degrees C and light rain but what the heck, we were out there celebrating the cold.
Another amazing fact. Barbie and I have the same birthday. When I was younger some people compared me to Ken, but now I think I’m more “Ken Oath” than Ken. (work out the Aussie slang you foreigners. Yes, it’s rude).
I stretched forward and flipped the spraydeck over the coaming and checked the fit all-round. How many times have I done that I wonder. Thousands of times, tens of thousands of times or more; I try a quick calculation in my head and I’m immediately hit with a searing “ice cream headache”, not from the mental gymnastics but from a wave that snuck up and pounded my head.
That’s better. Making it out during a lull in waves
It’s been with me a while now, this kayaking thing. From the 1970’s when I started in river touring kayaks and graduated into just about every discipline of the sport. I have been a competitor of sorts, mainly thinking of myself as someone that “made up the numbers ” due to my lack of training time, or more likely ability.
One thing remains the same; Surf Kayaking. I loved it from the first time I took a river touring kayak out through the break and ran down a small wave. Lots changed in that time both in kayak shapes and equipment. Does anyone remember the Johnson Surf Shoe (kayak) or Valley Moccasin ? I owned both as well as an Australian designed Rosco Phase 3 Kayak and locally made Olymp 75 kayak.
Let’s take a small wave to get the feel of the kayak
Back from meandering through the past I paddled out into a freezing morning to test out my latest kayak, a Jackson Rockstar V. I jumped a dumping wave and stayed upright whilst pulling a couple of 360 spins followed by a long backsurf. The next couple of waves were not so glorious, ending in a sound dumping as I tried a forward loop. The kayak felt great and will be better with a few minor seat adjustments.
Here’s a flat spin sequence. I promise to try it on bigger waves next time !
I found another kayaker (Steve) grabbing a few icy waves as well.
I only captured the last part of his wave
Here comes another 360 spin on a small wave and then back surf.
We bounced around in the waves until my body was near frozen then grabbed that last wave to shore.
Steve heads inshore. Frozen but happy.
Heading for a strong coffee and lemon cake.
Back on shore and suitably warmed with coffee and cake I checked out a couple of archive boxes I had seen in my shed. Sure enough amongst the certificates and other stuff was an article written about our early Surf Kayaking in a magazine SA Canoeing 83.
I scanned some pages below and I remember the two people who produced it. Phil Read who wrote the surf article Noel McPharlin who took the surf photos using a Nikanos waterproof film camera
Yep I was there on another page as the first Secretary of Canoe Polo Committee that started a pool competition in June 1982. It seems a lifetime ago, probably because it was, and it meant that kayaks would become my recreation and occupation. Anyway, have a look at pages from that era.
PADDLING SOUTH 