Hi Breezers,

Just did a fairly good run with a twist, the S wind went SE briefly and kicked us off course for a few k which pushed us off our target. One of the boards, a 2014 Allstar was particularly thrown off line and there was a walk of shame as a result. Any tips on battling across side chop conditions, particularly for the dug out style boards with higher sides.

Location : Leschenault Estuary WA Paddlers : Rookies

Any tips are good tips.

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Ulesys said..
Hi Breezers,

Just did a fairly good run with a twist, the S wind went SE briefly and kicked us off course for a few k which pushed us off our target. One of the boards, a 2014 Allstar was particularly thrown off line and there was a walk of shame as a result. Any tips on battling across side chop conditions, particularly for the dug out style boards with higher sides.

Location : Leschenault Estuary WA Paddlers : Rookies

Any tips are good tips.

The new Allstars are excellent DW boards but there's one thing they don't like.. and that's side winds.. I've seen many friends on Allstars struggle in side winds and I'm not sure what the answer is.. Often moving forward works but that puts the nose down making wide sweeps of the paddle not work to bring the nose around and more into the wind.. I think the trick is to step back.. and raise the nose so it's not catching.. so wide sweeps of the paddle works..

IMO it's important to get the nose pointed the right direction before paddling.. I've seen people take 20 strokes trying to get the board pointed the right direction and it's not working.. So that's 20 strokes paddling the board in the wrong direction.. It's best to back paddle on the other side first.. Get the board pointed where you want to be going.. and then paddle again on the other side.. and every time the board heads off in the wrong direction do it all again.. Wide stroke paddling with a nose and rail shape like that will often never work.. Some boards (like the 2014 Glide) do it well..

Damo I think one buying one of these would help

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/Review/2015-SIC-Maui-F-16-with-ASS/?page=-1&REPLY_ID=1614487#lastpost

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Bender said..
Damo I think one buying one of these would help

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/Review/2015-SIC-Maui-F-16-with-ASS/?page=-1&REPLY_ID=1614487#lastpost

It's only one financial scheme away

I think you may have nailed it with your own comment " dug out with high sides".

Certainly there are benefits in reducing your centre of gravity with the dug out, but this may be a negative in side winds and side chop.

Just a thought.

ET.

sometimes (if you're off shore & have the distance...) it's better to focus less on where paddling is taking you & more on where you can ride/surf.
eg. on the St Kilda to Sandy fun run I was lucky enough to score a run (on a coreban dart). The wind cranked & the sea was beautifully (for me) lined up, but some other paddlers found the wind to be a bit offshore in direction for easy paddling...
I found I made much better progress into shore when I had my paddle on that side - counter intuitive when you're trying to head in that direction.
But when I caught something I could dig it into the face & angle that way - sometimes it felt I was making 50+ meters in the right direction on a single (longer) run!
I got into real trouble on a Miller's run with a Fanatic Fly (ocean) sold to me as a SUP for downwinding... A fast board but with a surfski nose that makes you pay when it's from the side! Whilst putting in my early miles I found myself helpless in the side winds & swell that the Miller's run can dish up & washed up on Glencairn beach puking water & thanking god!
Since paddling glides/darts/bullets I have not had that problem in similar conditions again. I also have more miles, like your friend, walking down the beach .
Quoting DJ "The new Allstars are excellent DW boards but there's one thing they don't like.. and that's side winds.." maybe dw boards that can't handle sidewinds shouldn't be viewed as such?