Kayak Surfing for Beginners- How To

If you like ocean kayaking but are looking to use your skills for something a little more exciting, then I highly recommend kayak surfing.

Kayak surfing is a relatively young sport, especially in the USA.  Of all the times I’ve gone out in Southern California, I’ve met one other kayak surfer, and he was from New Zealand.  People simply don’t know how much fun it is- those who ocean kayak will likely mention the rush of adrenaline that comes with attempting to paddle through a breaking wave, and kayak surfing takes this to the next level. 

In order to kayak surf effectively, you will need a shallow kayak.  A chunky ocean touring kayak won’t work very well- you’ll likely end up upside down, annoyed, and bruised.  Behold, the Islander BigStik:

My first kayak.

This is a sit-on-top surf kayak.  There’s a fin on the underside to prevent the boat from sliding down a wave while riding.  In my opinion, a fin on this kind of boat is absolutely necessary for effective riding.  The leg straps go over your thighs and knees, to help you lean the boat by rocking- this is helpful for carving and negotiating waves.

The kayak I use is great, but there are plenty of other choices easily found on the internet- Cobra Kayaks make high-quality boats, and some of their models are ideal for surfing.  You’ll also need a paddle- any lightweight kayak paddle will do- I like ones with a fiberglass shaft.

Here are some beginning tips:

Safety

Safety is key- wear a helmet, no questions.  Nobody wants to get hit in the head by a kayak.  A PFD (lifevest) is also a good idea- this isn’t surfing, where something buoyant is always strapped to you.

Good waves, bad waves

Good waves break from left to right, or vice versa.  Good waves also tend to break from top to bottom in a rolling fashion, and don’t dump.  Do not ride waves that dump, because you will get hurt.

Bad waves break everywhere at once, and sometimes dump too.  While it is possible to ride the front of a wave straight at the beach, the best rides are taken parallel to the beach, on a wave breaking from one side to the other.

Wipeouts

You’ll inevitably wipe out, it’s just a part of learning.  When you do, be sure to drop your paddle and shield your head with both arms.  The more wipeouts you have, the better you will become at anticipating and avoiding them.  Oh, and panicking doesn’t help.  Just relax, get on the kayak, and paddle back out there.

Catching a wave

Catching a wave on a kayak is just like surfing, except that you have a paddle, and it’s a bit easier.  Paddle for the wave is it approaches, and lean forward to get your weight down the face of the wave.  Once you feel the wave take you, lean back to prevent pearling (when the nose digs in the water).  After that, you’re pretty much free to ride the wave.  Use your paddle to brace the kayak- stick it in the water off to the side, and use it as a rudder- push and pull to steer.  Use your hips to lean into the wave and dig the rails (sides) into the face.  Experiment to find what works best for you, but make sure you aren’t just using your arms here.

Like anything else, learning to kayak surf takes practice and determination- I suggest starting small.  Respect the ocean and be mindful of the power of a wave, but don’t be afraid to wipe out once in a while.  It builds character.