What do you need to go downwinding - other than a friend to accompany you (I assume) and a means to transport your board back to the start? Do you just need a long board or should you take other safety equipment? What size board would you recommend, and how much wind is usually enough to generate the waves?

Took the words right out of my mouth cSe!

I'd love to have a crack at downwinding, or at least longer ocean paddles on a nice day. (is that a contradiction in terms?)

I'm thinking my 11'6 Nalu might not be specialised enough.

110kg @ 190cm and profoundly uncoordinated...

Cheers, should be a good post.

G'day fellas,
You will definitely need to take a PFD, a friend and I personally prefer a 14 foot board.

Get together with a crew who down winds in your area and you will have heaps of fun ( and the occasional challenge).

If you can get to Melbourne DJ is a great mentor who loves to share his passion for this exciting aspect of our sport.

You really have to try it....it's an absolute HOOT!

You can downwind on just about anything. I've downwinded on a 10-6 Naish Nalu for instance. But it tends to be more fun, and easier, on longer boards. But it is perfectly possible to have a good time DWing on a big old cruiser-type surf board in the 11-6 to 12-6 range, especially if you are quite light. There are some boards that you could probably pick up for very little used that make great DW boards. Two examples would be the 2010-11 Mk1 Naish Glide 12, or the Jimmy Lewis 12-6 Albatross of about the same vintage. They are both good pocket DW boards that cost next to nothing now if you can find a battered but seaworthy one.

Mostly what you need is practice.

Downwinding is physically tough, especially if the conditions are messy and short period, where there will be a lot of stopping and starting, and general wobbling about. It takes a while to build up the right skills and physical ability. You might look at DJ's videos and think "that looks easy", but for most people it won't be, at least at the start. Catching bumps and staying on them requires experience in reading the conditions and this is so complex that it can't really be taught off the water.

I'd suggest that you find yourself a course that is within swimming distance of shore; is no longer than 2 miles in distance; and regularly gets over 15 knots of wind. Then just get out there and have a go (with a friend, and a phone and/or PLB). Or you can do upwind/downwind circuits in and out of shore in the range of about 12-18 knots, and this is excellent training too.

At first it may seem almost impossible to catch anything. You will probably fall a lot, and will blame your equipment, thinking that that is why you are not gliding along like you see the experts do. But it will probably be you, not your equipment. Although sometimes conditions can just be very hard to catch bumps for sure, and it can be hard to predict until you are actually out there.

You've just got to keep practicing, and in time it will come. The better you get, the more rewarding it gets. It is very addictive - there's no way that the videos convey even one hundredth of how much fun it is. You just have to be there.

Many flat water racers never progress to being good downwinders because they concentrate on speed rather than relaxing between bumps, and so turn the DW session into a choppy water slog rather than a series of glides. So get your mind right when you are practicing. Concentrate on catching bumps not overall speed. If you are the kind of competitive person who HAS to look at your GPS after every session, then IGNORE your average speed (which is largely dictated by the conditions anyway) and only look at your top speed, and how many clear *peaks* of speed there are. You can usually identify a glide because it will be at least 3 mph faster than the period that just preceded it.

DWing is MUCH more physically demanding than flat water paddling. 2 miles of tough downwinding can be more tiring than 5 miles of perfect flat water paddling even at speed. So take it easy at first.

Good luck!

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cantSUPenough said...
how much wind is usually enough to generate the waves?

"Downbreezing" (i.e. very light wind downwinding) typically starts with winds around 10-12 knots. You won't get many true glides then but with the right skills it can be done. By the time you get to 15 knots you are starting to catch glides more regularly, and you can actually have quite a reasonable session with winds of 15-20 knots if the conditions are well lined-up. Downwinding proper really starts around 20 knots, and by the time you get to 25 you can be gliding more than paddling. 30 knots is where you can occasionally (on a DW board) get blown into bumps without paddling for them, and by the time you get to 40 knots you are using the paddle more to steer and brace than catch bumps. 50 knots is a whole load of fun but can be pretty alarming unless you are experienced and the wind is pointed in EXACTLY the direction you want to go. It is extremely difficult to paddle across 50 knots of wind and paddling upwind is impossible, so you are going pretty much where the wind is blowing you whether you like it or not. Most of the videos you will see of people downwinding the wind will be in the 20-35 knots range.

If you are starting out, I'd stick to conditions in the 15-20 knot range until you've sorted out the basics of things like safe loading and unloading of your boards, getting them to the beach, safe entry and exit points, and being able to know where you should be heading if poor visibility occurs (eg. fog, mist, a heavy thunderstorm or poor light) just in case you eg. fall and dislocate a shoulder or something like that.

And ALWAYS wear a leash!

Hey Unit, been thinking of giving it a crack too, looks like another board has to be added to the quiver I was thinking of leaving Scarborough boat habour across Deception Bay to either Beachmere or boat ramp at mouth of Caboolture River. I'm sure Chico would be in and just a bit of vehicle placement and we're away, and another board of course.

Hey guys,
Looks like we might have the beginnings of a noob DW crew.
I just bit the bullet and bought a 3 yr old 14footer at a good price and am gagging to get out. Theres plenty of 12-14 foot boards out there at decent money so its not a bank buster to go long..

Essential eqpt is as previously mentioned

1 a mate! the biggest issue I see is the logistics of setting up the trip.
2 a pfd (its law) and maybe a whistle for attracting attention in an emergency.
3 leash
4 wind enough to have fun.. :-)

I'd also personally take a phone in a wp case just in case and maybe a camelbak on warmer days to whet ur whistle..

I guess its all mostly common sense stuff.

I joined SUP Vic as there are regular DWers going on organised through there, you'll need to get onto their fb group too.

Alternatively, lets all exchange numbers and work it out...

Dave

Thanks VERY MUCH for all the information. You sure make it sound like fun.

I think I will need to join SUP Vic to find a DW friend. Are there good places to do it on the Mornington Peninsula (either side)? I imagine you could go out at Flinders on a South-Westerly and get blown down to Pt Leo or Somers.

One question I am curious about - why SUP instead of windsurf in those conditions?

I have a 10' Trigger Brothers SUP - but it is shaped more like a surfboard - lots of rocker. Are downwinding boards normally flatter, or do you need some rocker to avoid nose-diving?

Thanks again!

No mate needed I solo dw more than I do with others.
For me in brisbane I usually Drive car to start over at shorncliffe Dw up to Scarborough. Walk 500m home with board. Then beg wife to take me back to car or, Jump on bus and a couple km walk back to car.

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cantSUPenough said...
One question I am curious about - why SUP instead of windsurf in those conditions?

Why wear boardies when you could wear speedos?

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Area10 said...

cantSUPenough said...
One question I am curious about - why SUP instead of windsurf in those conditions?

Why wear boardies when you could wear speedos?

I've windsurfed for most of my life not many people love windsurfing more than me.. but there's something about sup downwinding that's very special.. It is a bit like comparing mountain bike riding with riding dirt bikes (motorcycles) .. When I first got into mountain biking my dirt bike friends would say why ride a push bike when you can just sit on a motor bike and twist your wrist and go.. and go much faster.. It's a hard thing to explain and maybe it's more about the exercise and health benefits and the simplicity of it.. I've done a lot of action sports and downwinding is by far the best...

Did you say....

Did you say.... W......W.......Windsurf!!!

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DavidJohn said..

I've done a lot of action sports and downwinding is by far the best...

Wow - now I really have to give it a go! I can see that I will never get any work done - the wind normally keeps me inside...

Wearing speedos on a dirt bike sounds dangerous.

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cantSUPenough said..

I think I will need to join SUP Vic to find a DW friend. Are there good places to do it on the Mornington Peninsula (either side)? I imagine you could go out at Flinders on a South-Westerly and get blown down to Pt Leo or Somers.

Also plenty of opportunities to downwind on the bayside on westerlies and south westers, anywhere from Sorrento to Dromana and Safety Beach right up to Mornington or even Frankston.

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cantSUPenough said..

I have a 10' Trigger Brothers SUP - but it is shaped more like a surfboard - lots of rocker. Are downwinding boards normally flatter, or do you need some rocker to avoid nose-diving?

The 14' and Unlimited boards that are designed for down winding tend to have some level of displacement nose to pierce the wave in front, which is the big difference with round nose surfboard shapes. As for rocker, we started out 5 years ago with heaps of rocker on downwind boards but gradually they've become flatter and flatter as buyers demanded greater speed and the ability to use their boards for flat water paddling and racing. Only the SIC Unlimited boards resisted this trend. However it looks as though some companies restarting to see that there is a market for boards more rocker and nose volume that downwind really well without having to be all things to all people - it's Back to the Future.

There is a small crew of us in the SUP Vic Peninsula Pod that are still relatively new to downwinding- we go out on regular training paddles and downwinders when conditions allow. We all try to look out for each other to stay safe, organise logistics, and share advice and tips (and laughs) -we are all still learning.
As stated above, check out the Facebook page- the more the merrier.
Cheers
Pete.

Thanks again for all the tips.

I will connect with SUP Vic.

Came across this vid which seems helpful in case you haven't seen it:

I am always out downwinding around the peninsulla,lots of good places either side. just make sure you know the winds other wise it can be quit uncomfortable.
When I get back in top Melbourne I always post when and where I am setting out from.If you want to try out a downwinder board,I have 4.Im sure I could bring one along for you to try. Downwinding is the best,got to try it.

I am always out downwinding around the peninsulla,lots of good places either side. just make sure you know the winds other wise it can be quit uncomfortable.
When I get back in top Melbourne I always post when and where I am setting out from.If you want to try out a downwinder board,I have 4.Im sure I could bring one along for you to try. Downwinding is the best,got to try it.

Thanks! I will PM you.

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cantSUPenough said..
Thanks again for all the tips.

I will connect with SUP Vic.

Came across this vid which seems helpful in case you haven't seen it:

G'day cantSUPenough Jeremy Riggs is a good mate of mine I hand dinner with jeremy the night before I jumped on a flight back to OZ. Jeremy is one of the best Downwind SUP coaches on the Planet. I believe Jeremy is coming down to the KOTC and will be running some clinics, if I was you cantSUPenough I would book a one on one with Jeremy you will not be disappointed Jeremy is onto it I've had many of in-depth conversations with Jeremy He Da Man.

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Downwinder said..

cantSUPenough said..
Thanks again for all the tips.

I will connect with SUP Vic.

Came across this vid which seems helpful in case you haven't seen it:

G'day cantSUPenough Jeremy Riggs is a good mate of mine I hand dinner with jeremy the night before I jumped on a flight back to OZ. Jeremy is one of the best Downwind SUP coaches on the Planet. I believe Jeremy is coming down to the KOTC and will be running some clinics, if I was you cantSUPenough I would book a one on one with Jeremy you will not be disappointed Jeremy is onto it I've had many of in-depth conversations with Jeremy He Da Man.

Thanks Downwinder, sounds like a great idea. His advice may be wasted on such a noob, but there is nothing better than learning from experts.