Count Down to the Worlds

There is already a lot of excitement and interest in events for next year, leading up to the 2011 World Surf Kayak Championships, to be held in OBX, NC in the fall of 2011.

These events will be used as part of the selection process for the 2011 US East Surf Kayak Team, and we will be offering beginner, intermediate, and advanced categories at all events when possible.

The ESKA tentative plan for 2010 is as follows, dates TBD:

February 2010:
Jacksonville, Florida Event at Hannah Park

March 2010:
Charleston, South Carolina Event at Folly Beach

May 2010:
Topsail Island, North Carolina Event

September 2010:
The 2010 US National Surf Kayak Championships and Battle for Hatteras:
Once again the US National Surf Kayak Championships return to the east coast. With the World Championships occurring on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in fall of 2011, we plan on holding the 2010 Nationals in the same location, in order to test some systems, and do a bit of a “dress rehearsal” for the Worlds.

In addition, we will be running the much postponed Battle for Hatteras team event in conjunction with the 2010 US National Surf Kayak Championships. The Battle for Hatteras will feature teams of three (one HP kayak, one IC kayak, and one waveski) facing off against each other.

The 2010 National Surf Kayak Championships and Battle for Hatteras will occur over a four day period, likely in early September. Though this is a “US” event, we would like to extend the invitation to surf kayakers all over the world to come participate in the Nationals and the Battle for Hatteras.

October 2010:
Topsail Island, North Carolina Event

November 2010:
New Smyrna, Florida Event

There may be more events added to this list in the near future. Dates will be set in the coming months, and we will also have some other exciting news to announce soon.

We are also planning on holding 6-8 events during the 2011 lead up to the World Surf Kayak Championships.

More info soon. Check back at http://eskasurf.com

Fall East Coast Comps.

Battle of the Blade

Paddle Surfing Festival

Surf Kayak & SUP

September 26, '09

Surf City,

NC, Broadway Street access 8:00 A.M.

ESKA sanctioned event.

Contact G. Rock Roadtoad22@charter.net






U.S National Waveski Championships.

Sebastian Inlet, Florida

October 1-3, '09

The United States Waveski Surfing Championships are held yearly to determine the rankings of the best waveski surfers in the United States.
http://uswaveski.com/sebastian.html





Tybee Island Paddle Surf Jam

Definetly not the best surfers in the U.S competition.

Tybee Island,

October 24th

Hosted by Savannah Canoe & Kayak

ESKA sanctioned event.

October West Coast Comps.

Hoebuck Hoedown
At Beautiful Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay, Washington.
October 3-4, 2009
Hoebuck Website
http://www.raftandkayak.com/hobuck-hoedown/


Clam Slam at Pismo Beach
October 17-18th, 2009
This old favorite has been brought back to life. Held in conjunction with the Pismo Beach Clam Festival, it's a great one to bring the family to. Categories include:
Mens and Womens Hp
Mens and Womens IC
Mens Masters Hp
Mens Masters IC
Waveskis

1st Category : $75
2nd or 3rd category : $25

Mail Checks to
Dave Johnston
113 Van Ness Ave. Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060

Davenport Classic
October 24-25th, 2009
Davenport is an incredibly gorgeous spot, frequently blessed with spectacular waves. The contest is awesome, the spot is gorgeous. Check out this gallery of pictures from last years contest, Davenport 2008, if it doesn't get you excited you should take up a new sport!


Registration details soon!

Surf Kayak IDW- Tybee Island

We have this exciting Instructor training program coming up. If you are thinking about increasing your surf and paddling knowledge, or have aspirations to become an instructor in surf kayaking , now is the time to sign up.
Instructor Candidates will be instructed and evaluated in the following areas:
Ability to teach and model strokes at the appropriate level .
Effective teaching ability that reflects both organization, preparedness and knowledge.
Good general knowledge of paddle sports techniques, equipment and the ACA organization.
Strong safety awareness and rescue skills.
Professionalism, leadership, and good interpersonal skills.

Wow, sounds cool!

Cost for the three days of classroom and on water practical instruction is $325.
http://www.savannahcanoeandkayak.com/

U.S WaveSki Nationals- Sebastian Inlet Oct 1,2,3.

The United States Waveski Surfing Championships are held yearly to determine the rankings of the best waveski surfers in the United States. The US Championships has competitors from all over the world trying to take home the coveted Open Championship Trophy. Last years 2008 Championship event held at the world famous “C” Street Break in Ventura, California saw Tony Cherry, from new Zealand, win the US Open!

Waveski surfing is a dynamic form of surfing where the rider is seated and strapped on a craft that resembles a surfboard with a seat and foot-straps. The riders paddle into and surf on waves as big as 12 to 15 feet strapped to a 7 to 9 foot board with a double sided paddle in hand. Waveski surfing is very similar to regular surfing except the wipeouts are bigger, more spectacular, and the maneuvers leave most new spectators wondering, “how did he do that.” Paddle surfing in one form or another is becoming one of the fastest growing watersports in the world and boasts an age demographic from 10 years old to 70+ years. The average age of most competitors is in their 30’s and most travel frequently to surf all over the world. For more info on Waveski Surfing go to http://uswaveski.com or to see video of Waveski Surfing, simply go to YouTube and type in “Waveski”.

Last years 2008 US Waveski Championships brought together the BEST waveskiers in the United States and abroad and produced some of the most extreme waveski surfing seen in the US in many years

Cocoa Beach Waveski Event - 24th April

Surf ICW Level 2/3

Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures will be hosting a level 2/3 surf Instructor Certification Workshop April 23 - 25.

The workshop will be run by Carl Ladd and Ben Lawry. This will be the last time a level 2/3 ICW will be allowed by the ACA so now is your chance. The course location will be northeast in Buzzards Bay and Rhode Island Sound. For more information or to sign up please contact Carl by phone (508) 636-0300 or by email www.westport@ospreyseakayak.com .

Instructor and IT Requirements - ACA Surf.

These are the bare minimum requirements to be either an ACA Surf Kayak Instructor or an ACA Surf Kayak Instructor Trainer as of now. A schedule of classes and IDW/ICE's around the country will be posted soon

Level 2 Instructor - (Sit On Top Surf Kayaking).
Have paddled a Sit on Top enough to be comfortable in 3 ft waves.
Have good Level 3 class skills. (advise getting input from instructor.)
(Send in DVD of skills if in doubt - before signing up.)
(Sit On Tops only class - thigh straps required.)

Level 3 Instructor - (Essentials of Surf Kayaking).
Have paddled a rollable short kayak enough to be comfortable in 3 ft waves.
Have great Level 3 class and Instructor skills.
Have passed L2 Surf Instructor Award and taught 3 Level 2 classes.
(or be L4 WWK or CK instructor with good surf time.)
(Surf, WW or Sit On Top kayaks only, all rollable - no sea or touring kayaks.)
(Send in DVD of skills if in doubt - before signing up.)

Level 4 Instructor - (Surf Kayaking).
Paddle a Surf Specific kayak or Ski comfortably in 4 ft waves.
Have great Level 4 class and Instructor skills.
Have passed L3 Surf Award and taught 3 Level 3 classes.
(Surf Kayaks, Wave Skis or any other surf performance kayak.)
(Send in DVD of skills if in doubt - before signing up.)


Requirements for Instructor Trainer

IT Level 2 - (Sit On Top Surf Kayaking).
Be a Level 3 Instructor.
Great at teaching Sit On Top Surf Kayaking.
Great comprehension of all Level 2 topics.
Have taught at least 6 registered L2 and / or L3 classes.

IT Level 3 - (Essentials of Surf Kayaking).
Be a Level 4 Instructor.
Great at teaching Essentials of Surf Kayaking.
Have taught at least 6 registered L3 or L4 classes.

West Coast U.S Team Trials

Kate Smith Pictured. Congratulations

It's time to pick the new US West Kayak Team, to represent the USWKA Team at the world Championships in Portugal July 23rd to August 2nd 2009.

Trials will take place at Santa Cruz Surf Fest March 20-22.
Participants must pre-qualify through previous contests.


Congratulations to the following folks, who have qualified for the team based on points:

HP men: Dave Johnston and Matt Radis

IC Men: Dave Johnston and Dennis Judson
(Dave, the team and coach will determine Dave's position)

HP Women: Kate Smith

IC Women: Jameson Riser


Want to qualify for the team? Sign up for team trials at Santa Cruz in March.Athletes who are selected will be asked to commit to attending the World Championships with the submission of a $200 non-refundable deposit. Top ranked surfers who decline to commit will relinquish their place to the next person on the Ranking List. Monies from this process will be used to facilitate sending athletes to the up coming World Championships.

U.S East Coast Surf Team Trials

February 14-15 at Hanna Park, Jacksonville, Florida.

U.S East are looking for a few good surfers...so come on down and get on the team.
The surf will be up, the sun shining and the water warm.


The United States East Surf Kayak Team represents the United States, along with the US West Surf Kayak Team, at the World Championships of Surf Kayaking, held every other year in countries around the globe by the World Surf Kayaking Association.
The team consists of Men, Women, Masters, and Junior representatives, selected based on circuit rankings and team trial placements over a two year period.
Over the years the US East Team has competed in many World Championship contests, and has placed 2nd or 3rd on several occasions.


This year the world Championships take place in Santa Cruz, Portugal at the end of July.


There are 16 Team positions total, plus a manager and a coach.

High Performance Men: (4 positions)
#1 boat will be selected based on #1 position in Men’s HP East Coast Circuit rankings.
#2-#4 boats will be selected based on finish at team trials.


High Performance Women: (2 positions)
#1 and #2 boats will be selected based on finishes at Team TrialsTo qualify for team trials you must have competed in the Women’s expert or equivalent class at 1 ESKA circuit event.


High Performance Masters (40 and up): (1 position)
#1 boat will be selected based on finishes at Team Trials
To qualify for team trials you must have competed in the Master’s HP expert or equivalent division at 1 ESKA circuit event.


High Performance Juniors : (1 position)
#1 boat will be selected based on finishes at Team TrialsTo qualify for team trials you must have competed in the Junior’s HP expert or equivalent division at 1 ESKA circuit event


International Men: (4 positions)
#1 boat will be selected based on #1 position in Men’s IC East Coast Circuit rankings.
#2-#4 boats will be selected based on finish at team trials.


International Women: (2 positions)
#1 and #2 boats will be selected based on finishes at Team Trials


International Masters (40 and up): (1 position)
#1 boat will be selected based on finishes at Team Trials


International Juniors:(1 position)
#1 boat will be selected based on finishes at Team Trials


Coach and Manager are decided on by the US East team after team trials.
In the event that one paddler pre-qualifys for 2 team positions, he will be asked to choose one position to accept and the other empty position will be put into team trials.

Free Surf Kayak, Sir

Robert Taylor stopped by Savanna Canoe and Kayak to pick up his free composite Mega Surf Kayak. Robert won the striking red and black carbon Kevlar Merlin a while back when he entered Mega's 'name the boat' competition. Savannah Canoe and Kayak was glad to help with the shipping of the boat across the pond.
" I thought the name should start with an 'M', like Malcolm and Mega and that the boat looked wizard like with the very up swept bow" said Robert when asked how he came up with the name Merlin.
After Robert's kids jumped in the boat, dad tried it on and found it a perfect fit. We then headed out to the beach for a quick 'splash and slash'.

Coming from the hills of Tennessee, this is Roberts first surf specific kayak and he was very eager to see how different it handled the surf from his ww boat.

" We will be making more trips to Tybee and Folly in '09". said the elated prize winner.

What a great way to start the year...$2000 of super fantastic high performance surf boat compliments of Mr Mega. This is the second Mega surf boat give away SC& K has been involved with in the last few months.
A big thanks to Malcolm Mega for putting up continued incentives and great support for the paddle surfing scene. Rock on big daddy.
Valley, P&H...your up !.