Report by Gordon Rock

A less than stellar wave forecast kept a bunch of people away who were driving from some distance, but we had a decent turnout, nonetheless. After a short delay, waiting for the tide to fall, thigh-occ, waist, peelers with an offshore wind, in 70 degree water with 75 degree air temps, we were off like a prom dress!!! The beach was touristy, but every grownup had respect for the contest zone. I saw nothing but smiles from the entrants, which is an organizer's best reward!!! A few of us that regularly compete against each other, got, shall I say "friendly", when competing for waves, WHEEEEEEE!!!! Ya' win some, Ya' lose some. No craft were damaged in the jockeying. Our lone beginer/intermediate held his own just fine whilst sufing with the veterans, and walked away with a $500 gift certificate towards a new custom Tsunami Airski! Several people entered multiple categories, so BTB heats were not unusual. One person surfed in, 9 count-em 9, heats!!! With the increasing skill level, it has been said that there are no easy heats anymore. My first HP heat had to go to 7 waves to find a winner, and the Waveski final was a tie, only to be broken by a decision to award 1st place to the person with the single highest scoring wave. It's been said that small waves bring out the best surfers, and I have to agree. I saw a lot of people take a little wave and tear it up! Afterwards, several of us had a post event wing ding at Paula's and my house for some grilled seafood, corn on the cob, and beers. We talked trash, surfin, and can't wait till next time! Thanks to Tsunami Waveskis for their generous support, My wife Paula for her organizational skills and taking time in between her heats to tabulate, our fantastic ESA judges, Joey Hall for all of his hard work and patience, Russ for whipping us up new flags, and absolutely.... All of the competitors!!! I received thanks from everone for throwing the event, which I really appreciate, but it's the entrants that make the contest, and comeraderie is what brings people back every time.

Results..Master's HP1-Russ Buskirk 2- Nigel Law 3-Paul Scrutton Women's Hp1-Lindsay Usher 2-Kris Whitmore 3- Paula Rock Men's IC1- No seat Pete 2 Joey Hall 3 Antnee Bell Women's IC1-Kris Whitmore 2- Lindsay Usher 3-Paula Rock Master's IC1 Kris Whitmore 2-Russ Buskirk, 3-Pete Titus Men's Hp 1 Antnee Bell 2-Gordon Rock 3-Russ Buskirk Waveski1-Gordon Rock 2-Antnee Bell 3- Russ Buskirk Surf What You Brung1-Russ Buskirk 2-Gordon Rock 3-Lindsay Usher

Tsunami Smash Goes International ?

East Coast Kayak Surfing circuit got off to a bum start at the OBX event last weekend.

For the first time in 1o years the competition did not run due to flat conditions. "It's just one of those things" said ESKA dude Joey Hall. Hey, what you gonna do ? Have a raffle, drink some bear, and organize a game of beach soccer maybe.

However.... in an exciting turn of events, the Tsunami Smash in Surf City on the 17th May has been turned into a World Cup qualifiyer event. But, at such short notice it's highly unlikely to attract any foriegn competitors and has a few surfers a little upset.

"Is this a ploy? "asked a disgruntled Malcolm Piercey of Team Mega in the U>K.

"I think it is totally unreasonable to expect anyone from this side of the pond to be able to organise getting to the event with only one weeks notice."

But then, is there much likely hood of anyone on the east side of the pond coming to an event on the west side ?. No, not really, but it is an interesting point. Many disciplined surfers follow a strict training schedule and plan out their events accordingly.

'Dropping in ' an event can and will cause upsetance.

Standby for more on this one.

East Coast Comps Kick Off @ OBX.

Next week sees the 08' start of ESKA's competition circuit.

May 3 - 6th Annual Kitty Hawk Kites Surf Kayak Competition @ 1st St. Beach Access, Kill Devil Hills, NC presented by Kitty Hawk Kites. The water of the sound and the Atlantic await the best sea kayakers on the coast as they show what they've got! You won't want to miss this one...come watch these high adrenaline water sports. In addition, Kitty Hawk Kites will have the latest kayaks to demo. Proceeds of the registration of this event will go to benefit a local environmental charity. 877-FLY-THIS or 252-441-4124. http://www.kittyhawk.com/

Soon after this is the Topsail Event in Surf City....
May 17 - Tsunami Smash, Surf city, NC - Wilmington NC area.
Contact roadtoad22 AT charter.net for more info.

So if you want to see how well your skills are progressing or you just fancy shaking your world up a bit, then head on out to support one of these events. Pre-registration recommended.

SoT's Rock !

Savannah Canoe & Kayak held another rocking surf class yesterday with two students and two perspective surf coaches in training. The conditions on Tybee right now are ideal for these classes, with warm waters and few people in the water. Surf conditions were up to 2ft and clean with a slight offshore breeze. The curriculum for the SOT class can still use some tuning. Stern rudders and Boof strokes serve little practical use. A most useful tool that needs to be incorporated is the Low Brace Rudder - for support, turning and going straight. By teaching the LBR the student is encouraged to turn at the trunk and work on both sides of his boat. This class, at this level is essentially about fun and safety, nothing else. We need to also start thinking about an advanced SOT class. Next Intro SOT class on April 27th....come have some safe fun !

Folly Beach Surf Class

Water temps for the SE are now into the lower 60's. At Savannah Canoe and Kayak we held our first Surf Kayak class of 2008, at Folly Beach (March 24th). We started out in surf boats but dropped back to SOT's for a little more comfort. The flat water portion of the class, if nothing else, works as great ice breaker and 'loosener'. It is an important and necessary first part of the progression. Yes, in some cases students do go over fairly rudamentary stuff that they already know, but combined with a visualization of where and when the stroke is used it starts to put the student in the surf zone before being in it, even seeing it. It's a great opportunity for the instructor to prepare the students mentally. This is important as it becomes harder to do this 'self visulization' if the class starts on the beach.

After running a bunch of classes last year I have noticed that women take to SoT's much quicker than men. They are much less inhibited and soon feel at ease. The Men seem a little more inhibited, generally slower and hang back. Sounds to me like a great niche for some female surf instructors. ...where are they ?

Surf conditions were small (2ft) but very clean, great shoulders and ideal for the 3 students involved. They got the stoke, their lives now changed for ever. Next class on Tybee Island - April 13th.

ACA Rewrites, Overhauls Surf Program

ACA Surf Kayak Instructors wanted.

Good to mediocre rates of pay and all the surf you can eat.

Must be flexible and willing to teach by example and have a strong empathy for beginners.

Opportunities for promotion to the West Coast, East Indian Surf Breaks and possible International Surf Teams.

Requirements : Strong foundation in basic paddling skills.

A desire to shred. Complete and pass an ACA ICW.

For the last 12 months the ACA, via Ben Lawry, have been busy rewriting the paddle surfing curriculum.

" I saw a chap at the beach on his S.o.T taking a terrific beating, endangering himself and all the other beach users" said Lawry when asked 'why ?'.

"The ACA has always had a surf program, but it did not address the recreational users on SoTs and Skis so it seemed like a good time to overhaul the whole program".

In the last year, Ben has conducted many Instructor Certification Workshops (ICW). The last one was two weeks ago in Santa Cruz. After each workshop, the course outline has been re-written until it now encompasses the full spectrum of paddler/surfer abilities in a variety of surf craft, in a progressive and safe format. The final step of this process will be conducted at Virginia Beach this coming November. Existing Surf Instructors will be updated and upgraded and new instructors brought into the program. All are welcome. Reserve your place now.

Instructor Certification workshops:

ICW - Savannah -May 10/11 -Basic Surf Kayak

ICW - Port Angeles - Sept 13/14/15 -SoT/ Basic Surf Kayak

ICW - Rhode Island - Sept 27/28/29 -SoT / Basic Surf Kayak

ITDW & Surf Committee meeting -Virginia Beach -Nov 1/2/3

West Coast checking in...

Thanks to Ben and Nigel for generating the momentum with this and the surf kayak instructor courses. We really enjoyed our course at Santa Cruz a couple of weeks ago. It was the right mix of learning and play. I will touch base with as many west coasters as possible at the SCKSF this weekend and get back with a West Coast calendar soonest. Here's hoping that Steamer Lane turns on the juice!