This |A| Not This /A\ - Keeping It Straight, Pt. 1

There are a number of factors that affect tracking and direction...and more importantly, your ability to paddle in a straight line. Some of these are equipment-related: board selection and width, fin choice and fin placement; while others are physiological: imbalances in strength, flexibility, balance, and reach.

Two things I'll mention now are keeping your paddle vertical and planting the paddle and pulling straight from there. 

Upper Arm's Bicep Grazing the Temple to Stack the Hands 

Keeping the paddle vertical is very important, because if you don't, you'll push the board to the opposite side, however subtly, with each stroke. So that this becomes automatic, what I recommend for students is to have the bicep of your top hand graze your temple, intentionally at first. This encourages that top hand to cross over and stack itself above your lower hand, ensuring that the paddle shaft is vertical.

Another important technique tip for paddling in a straight direction is to avoid following the outline of your board with your paddle stroke. Imagine the letter A is the nose and front end of your board. You do not want to follow the curved outline of your board. Instead you should plant the paddle away from your board's rail and pull so that it feels like your paddle is going straight back. Of course, if you've read my other posts you'd know that it's your board moving, not the paddle, but with regards to paddling straight, you just need to remember -

This... |A|

And not this... /A\

So if you've been struggling with paddling straight, I hope these techniques help. I'll have more in a later post...

Just Three Days Away - the Battle of the Paddle

Custom Board Carnage

Elite Race Map- What the What?!

There are only three more days until the biggest stand up paddleboarding race goes off at Dana Point, California this weekend- the Battle of the Paddle. This year, there are so many elite entrants that there will be two qualifying races before the Elite finals on Saturday. That's one extra chance to have your board dented, dinged, cracked, or broken. And for those who survive unscathed, there is the long race format on Sunday.

I really like the idea of the race format - in and out of the surf zone, around buoys, and a run through the sand gauntlet, then repeat. It goes back to my cyclocross days, I guess. And being the biggest race of the year brings a certain carnival sense to it all. A huge expo, board demos, classes, and more. To some degree it's overblown commercial hype. But it'd be interesting to see nonetheless. Unfortunately, they've done away with the live web feed for the racing this year. So I guess I won't be able to figure out how those pros are so much faster than me. It's probably for the best.

All the Kids are Doing It

You may have heard about paddlers looking to get a little more out of their paddle stroke by ignoring the T-grip and choking down on the shaft with their top hand. A lot of them are elite racers and many are the newest generation of up-and-coming kids like Connor Baxter. It's true, you can get your upper body angled a little lower and you can increase your cadence. I haven't compared paddling speeds with a GPS but I have a feeling that I'm a bit swifter with my hand on the T-grip. I feel I can get more power out of that top arm when I use it. And the paddle is a little more stable with my hand on the grip. That said, more paddling time in the 'shaft grip' position may change my mind. 

Connor Baxter - unstoppable at 17 years old

I have found, however, that when I'm paddling into the wind and I want to get my upper body parallel to the board and as aerodynamic as possible, the 'new' position is really helpful. Try it for yourself. I'm interested in hearing what you discover.

Predicting Tidal Currents' Timing and Velocity

In a previous post, I mentioned Capt'n Jack's Tide and Current Almanac and discussed the Rule of Thirds. What I failed to mention at the time, is how to determine tidal currents' velocity and direction. 

Tidal Currents in Dana Passage

Fortunately, it's not that difficult. You do need to have two pieces of information: a reference tidal station (one of six NOAA stations)  for tidal currents and the corrections for the body of water you are interested in.

In the South Sound, our reference tidal station is the Tacoma Narrows. By checking the reference station, you will see: times of maximum ebb (outgoing current) and maximum flood (returning tide) with the current speed of each in knots, as well as the time of slack (relatively calm water) between them. This will be repeated throughout the day. 

To determine the tidal currents for the body of water you are interested in, you need to find its corrections. These are in the back of the Capt'n Jack's Almanac as well as on SeaTrails charts (pictured to the left). After you locate the body of the water you are interested in, use simple arithmetic to add or subtract time to the max flood, the max ebb, and slack times between. Use the multiplier to factor the maximum flood and ebb. 

Once you figure out what the tidal currents are, you can apply them to the Rule of Thirds to get a really accurate picture of what the tidal currents will be doing on that day.

A Goodbye

Safe Travels, Buoy #4 Rubber Ducky, You'll Be Missed

July 2012 - September 2012

South Sound Paddles; Hope Island

For those of us able to get to Hope Island, we're in a lucky group. It's relative inaccesibility ensures its pristine nature. But as beautiful as the island is, the journey is almost as much fun. It includes an open water crossing, the tidal currents of Squaxin Passage, and roughly 5.5 nautical miles of paddling. Paddling towards Hope Island from Boston Harbor rewards one with views of the Olympic Mountains, and on the return, a view of Mt. Rainier.

There are still old growth trees on Hope Island. Now a State Park, the 106 acre island is complete with campsites, toilets, and a cascade marine trail campsite. The island was once owned by the Schmidts, founders of the Olympia Brewery, who ran a small farm on it. They eventually sold to the Munn family before the state acquired it in 1990. An orchard remains, and so does a caretaker's cabin. The hiking trail that circles the island is a fast, easy hike with several trails leading to the water's edge. 

Crossing roughly one and a half nautical miles to and from Boston Harbor requires some attention and commitment. Pay attention to the wind and the forecast. Southerly winds will make your return challenging, to say the least. You'll also need to know what the tidal currents in Squaxin Passage are going to do. Paddling with the current is a lot of fun, paddling against them - not so much. All in all, if the conditions are right, the paddle to Hope Island is surely one of the nicest in the South Puget Sound.

Roughly 2.7 nm One Way

A Look Back to Boston Harbor after Crossing

Hunter Point

Hope Island 

Side Trip to Totten Inlet 

Landing at Hope Island

Tidal Disturbances and Upwellings at Hunter Point

Hope's north side with Stemaboat Island to the Right

We're All Going to Have to Do a Little More Now

It was announced last week that the Puget Sound (and everyone and everything that lives in or near it) has lost a friend of over 20 years. People for Puget Sound, a nonprofit since 1991, is dissolving because of financial problems. Whether petitioning for protective legislation or educating the community about the lives in the Sound, People for Puget Sound has been a concentrated civic voice. Though they will be sharing and dispersing their work and knowledge with other nonprofit groups, their absence will be felt. And hopefully many more of us can make up the difference in any way we can. You can read about the decision in an article in the Seattle Times.

Visualization Again

To boost efficiency and reduce fatigue, you'll want to use your lower hand to pull the paddle out of the water at the end of your stroke. I've mentioned this before and suggested thinking of a swordsman pulling his blade from its sheath. What I'd also recommend, if you're still having trouble breaking the habit of relying on that top hand to remove the paddle from the water, is to simply relax your top hand grip completely. The only contact you want to have with the grip on your paddle is in your palm, to act as a guide when it returns to the catch phase of your stroke. Do this and it'll help...a lot.

Sprint Intervals

Still trying to squeeze the last drops of daylight out of the evening. We had another brilliant sunset thanks to the eastern wildfires. Worked on start sprint intervals for top end power tonight. Two sets of 5 for 30 seconds with adequate rest between. Developing power is useful in all sorts of situations, not just racing. 

I recommend starting sprints on your stronger paddling side. My first two pulls are a little shorter, followed by increasingly longer strokes. I like to get my lower hand a bit lower on the paddle shaft while bending more at the waist, pull a few strokes, then slide up one handwidth, repeat a few strokes, and then up again until I'm at my normal paddling position. 

Another Beautiful Sunset

Low on the Shaft for a Few Strong Strokes...

Then Sliding Up Slightly for a Few More...

Until You Reach Your Regular Paddling Position

7:45 PM

Something in the Air Tonight

It's getting darker earlier, that goes without saying. I've just been trying to appreciate the sunshine we're experiencing in the Northwest, and the sunsets that follow, while we have them. Tonight was beautiful, but there was a definite haze in the air. I'm not sure if it was some of the wildfires we've recently experienced or what, but it made for an incredible sunset.

Haze Shadowing the Olympics

Still Grateful to be Out After Work

Glass or Mirror?

Dark by 8PM

Another Family Paddle

My sister is still here visiting and is quickly getting her 'paddling legs'. She's been on some nice paddles and today was no exception, minus the wind, currents, and boat wake. She did great and stayed dry. Thanks to coaching and instruction, I'm sure.

Starting Out at the Marina

Dana Passage

A Few Sprints to Stay Sharp

A Little Bit of Wind Out There Today...

Back from the North Peninsula & Sequim Bay

It was good to get away and stay on a cabin on the water at Sequim Bay. Meaning "quiet waters," Sequim Bay lives up to its name. We all had a great time paddling and watching wildlife. There's just something so relaxing about watching the water, enjoying sunsets, and sitting around a fire. It was also fun to paddle out around Travis Spit and into the Straight. Unfortunately, we were only able to steal a few days away, but I have my eyes on a few future adventures.

Sunset Paddle

Patient Pup

Sunset On Sequim Bay

Giving My Sister a Paddling Lesson 

My Sister On Calm Water

Paddling North Towards Paradise Cove

Travis Spit and Klapot Point 

Brandee on Another Workout

Facing Southward on the Bay

In the Straight, Looking Towards Protection Island, a National Wildlife Refuge and home to Tufted Puffins and Rhinocerous Auklets (Mt. Baker Faintly in the Distance)

Straight of Juan de Fuca

Cresent Lake

The Water Really is this Blue

My Sister at Cresent Bay

The Sound's Bounty

I'll be headed up to the northside of the Olympic Peninsula for a few days and have been thinking about  picking up another crabbing license. It's been a season since I've been crabbing but going to a place where I know the crabs are has me considering it. Crabbing from my board has always been so easy; some bait on a weighted line and a bucket, and really that's it. I'd often paddle at low tide, spot a sizeable crab, drop my baited line, let it take it, and then reel it in. Alright, now I'm really considering it...

The simple set up on my board

Glassy Nisqually waters

They never want to let go

Grateful for a delicious meal