SHORT PRESENTATION NOTES

WEATHER, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS, SITE SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS:

Weather/Environmental:

Use forecast and local knowledge to determine:

-  Wind direction/strength (offshore wind holds up faces but may increase as you move offshore, onshore tends to collapse)

• Temperature and likelihood of rain (potential for hypothermia)
• TIde Tables to determine time of low vs high tide
• Predicted swell size/type/direction from NOAA buoy reports, web sites (magicseaweed/stormsurf)
• Weather Radio is a key tool

Site Specific (use on-site observation to evaluate above as well as):

• Current weather
• Swell size/type/direction
• Wind
• Current and tide conditions
• Beach shape, obstacles and hazards
• Direction of potential swims (against tide, current or wind?), into rocks?
• Distance from assistance in the event of rescue difficulty?
• Availability of suitable medical services?
• Is this site above my personal skill level or the skill level of my group?  Be conservative!

ASSESSING SURF CONDITIONS, SURF ZONE DANGERS, RIPS, BEACH SUITABILITY:

Surf Zone Dangers:

1. Beach Type:  point or beach break, jetties, river mouth

1. Bottom topography:  steep beach = short/steep, gentle slope = longer, spilling, sandbars, channels at reef breaks
2. Swell arrival direction:  direct or angled
3. Beach condition:  rocky or sandy
4. Hazards:  logs / rocks on beach, logs /rocks in the water, environmental conditions (tide, wind, swell height)
5. Other users (surfers in/on any craft, fishermen, beachgoers, wildlife)
6. Protected areas/risks:  protection from point/jetty based on swell/wind direction?
7. Will swim away from danger be into the wind or current?

Rip Evaluation:

1. Typical locations:  ends of bays, along jetties/rocks, at intervals down beach
2. Recognition:  visible outflow, foam line, break and/or more chaotic swell section
3. Use of Rips:  aid in return to lineup, riding rip shoulders/seams
4. Hazard of Rips:  risk of paddling out to conditions bigger than anticipated, speed of current, impact on swimmers (strategies to help manage the current)

Beach Suitability:

1. Patience in assessment:  typical swell cycle can be 20 or more minutes
2. Objective assessment of swell, wind, beach conditions/hazards, environmental factors
3. Realistic assessment of personal/group abilities that day

Wrap up:

1. Conservative approach
2. Go/No-go decisions: willingness to go to the coffee shop today???

IN THE SOUP BRACING, SIDE SURFING, ROLLING ROLLING IN THE SOUP:

Bracing in the soup:

• Practice - Begin practicing with low brace in small conditions with paddle horizontal and sitting sideways to the braking wave (instructor spotter as required)
• Find the balance point
• Once comfortable with the low brace, practice high brace (Paddler’s Box)
• Practice in bigger breaking waves until comfortable

Side Surfing:

• Once comfortable with bracing positions, ready to practice side surfing
• Expect aeration and “bouncyness” to decrease boat’s stability and paddle effectiveness
• Practice steering (leaning back with high brace toward the stern (maintain Paddler’s Box)
• Weight forward and paddle brace forward will allow backsurf (maintain SA)

Rolling in the soup:

• Spotter helps initially
• Discuss psychological issues associated with combat roll (dark, turbulent, cold)
• Relaxation!
• Practice in slightly more than waist deep water and preferably sandy bottom (no rocks)

• Always begin from good position (tuck forward for protection)
• Expect aeration and “bouncyness” to decrease boat’s stability and paddle effectiveness here too
• If possible, wait until the the wave releases you (motion has stopped) - usually just a second or two but will seem longer
• Easiest to begin roll into wave as wave lifts you
• roll down-current/wind is easier
• Practice EVERY session!!!