CONNE C TI C UT SEA KAYA K ER S September 2002 "Surf Kayak Challenge at Cahoon Hollow" Greg Stamer by John Dykman Greenland Rolling and Paddling t seems I always open the ConnYak ticipants seemed cold before getting wet. Champion - Sat and Sun. Sept 7 & 8 newsletter before any of the other The water temperature was about 60 as ⌘Demo, Lecture and Forum mail, though I’ve never had a story well, which is a few degrees warmer Ito contribute, since my own paddling than usual. There had been steady 10-20 reg Stamer who has competed experiences didn’t seem exciting knot east winds over the past two days for the second year in the enough..... until I had the opportunity to which resulted in some larger swells, but Greenland National Paddling try some surf kayaking in Wellfleet now all were relieved to see more mod- GChampionships will be visiting ConnYak (Cape Cod), MA. erate, but still surfable 2 to 4 footers … to run a clinic and demonstrate tech- On Saturday, July 27, the Goose perfect for a demo group. niques and rolling at an open forum at Hummock shop (Orleans, MA) held its Dick started with the prerequisite les- Bluff Point State Park on Sat. Sept. 7th. at first annual Surf Kayak demo day. A sons on gear and safety. Instruction was 10 am. The instructional clinic will be on dozen white water river "playboats" presented on the "wet exit". Then all 15 Sun. Sept 8th at Bluff Point for a fee of were provided by Wave Sport Kayaks. participants were teamed up with in- $30. Check the bulletin board - as of this These small "toyboats" look like the off- structors based on their stated experi- mailing it may be full. spring of touring kayaks, somewhat re- ence level. All were required to perform The Greenland Clinic and demo at sembling a Dutch wooden Clog shoe, their "wetexit" successfully in the bone- Bluff Point is open to all wether you use with their upswept bow. With such low yard (crashing surf) before heading out. a Greenland Paddle or not. volume, they look like they won’t float. I used a helmet, which later saved me Saturday night, Greg will be giving a Thanks to Dick Hilmer of Goose from a good sand facial. slide/video show on his participation in Hummock and the guys at WaveSport; Paddling a kayak shorter than 7 feet, the 2001 and 2002 Greenland National for providing their time, talents and out through crashing surf was more dif- Kayaking Championships at the Essex equipment. Also instructing was Karen ficult than it looked from shore. And Town Hall. (Kaz) Armstrong, Women’s champion getting back on the beach would prove The show will be proceeded by a short Surf kayaker from New Zealand. A $20 to be even more difficult as I was soon to (VERY short) club meeting. A donation fee went for the $10 parking charge and find out. Jay Babina’s recent article on of $5 is asked at the door. Festivities be- a $10 coupon for food at the Beachcomber the technique of positioning yourself for gin at 7:00 PM at the Essex town hall. restaurant, which is on this spectacular entering surf proved very helpful; lean This year, Greg Stamer placed first in beach bluff overlooking the Atlantic forward in the roll setup position with individual rolling in his age class of 35 - some 70 feet below. the paddle straight forward and down 49, fourth in team rolling (team mem- Skies were dreary and gray, with a along the side of the boat. Otherwise a bers Harvey Golden and Svend Ulstrup), steady chill wind and a forecast high in natural reaction is to lean back to try to third in the long distance race (approx 17 the low 60’s…a typical cloudy day for avoid the wave, which raises the paddle kilometers), eighth in the short-distance the Lower Cape when the sun also takes blades out of the water, and exposes race and first overall in points for his age its’ vacation! Thankfully no rain to your entire body to the full impact of the group. dampen the mood as some of the par- wave - these boats have no long bow out For his age class , Greg placed first in John Dykman resting on the beach. Greg Stamer at the Greenland Rolling Championships the force of your stroke along the water the end of the day I was sore and exhila- rolling, third in team rolling (team line and reduce twist. And there is no rated.. though if just for a day… I felt members Ray O'Brien -Scotland and keel to hold the force of the stroke, as the like a real surf dude. Svend Ulstrup - Denmark), ninth in the hull is completely flat - they don’t track short distance race and first overall in unless put on an edge. the International Class. Kaz quickly corrected my habit of high “Not sure how I placed overall in the bracing (with the paddle’s power face Greenlandic class, or my results for the down against the water), into a low long distance race (I think I placed brace using the back of the blade (power CONNYAK PICNIC fifth), or my placement for the rope face up). As I caught my first wave, I im- SEPT. 22 gymnastics. (from an early August email) mediately hoped my roll would work if and swap meet / tag sale. “The ice near Ilulissat was extremely I got flipped…It was not a question of if, thick and it took considerable time to but how often! You go over very FAST!. pick our way through (including some After the foam subsided, I rolled up and PATACONK RESERVOIR - SUN. 22nd very heavy thumps to the hull). For a was thankful that my roll is bombproof!. few days it looked like the competition (FYI - touring noseplugs, those soft flex- CHESTER CT. 10 am - ? might be canceled as the ice was too ible rubber ones, with the comfortable This year our annual picnic which al- thick to allow kayaking but it cleared spring don’t stand a chance of staying in ways proves to be a great time for ev- the day before the events started and place when one is slammed into surf) again become choked with ice two days After a few rides, which seemed really eryone is being held at Pataconk lake after the competition ended. During the fast, I learned that ruddering with the which will offer us a nice paddling races it was necessary to weave around paddle on edge behind me was not and picnic location. The lake is large large and small blocks of ice, and one nearly as effective as a low brace on a enough to paddle and enjoy your kay- competitor in my age class required a flat paddle face, placed on the uphill ak and offers some nice beach areas. rescue in the long distance race when side of the wave. I was able to do some he struck ice and cut the skin on his angling, mostly to the right, but I tended We would like people to bring food kayak. The water was barely above to just try for a straight fast ride, while to share. The giant buffet that it pro- freezing, quite cold for rolling, and trying to keep in front of the wave until vides makes a great feast and social more than once powerboats had to it died, and I could spin off the top and center for everyone. ConnYak will also clear the ice during the rolling event, head back out to catch the next good set. supply Hot Dogs, Burgers, soda, chips both by dragging a line on the surface Though it can also be fun to ride the etc. and clean-up items as well. There or simply powering the bow up onto a breaking soup sideways like a cork. small berg and pushing it away... .”- It was on my first attempt to beach that will be a gas grill for cooking and you I found out how hard it is to land with- are welcome to bring along family Surf Challenge continued - out getting dumped. Lesson learned – members if you choose. wait for a larger swell that will put you We will have a area where you can in front to carve through the wave. high up the beach, time it right on the sell paddling items that are no longer back side of the wave, you may need to I paddled two boats: the "Big EZ" and used or taking up space in the garage. the "Z" (couldn’t bend my knees back- back paddle for a moment, beach - then wards enough to manage the regular pull the spray skirt, and get out quick! I Old paddles, PFD’s, spray skirts, dry EZ). Later I learned from Wave Sport’s got dumped in a foot of water when the bags, ear plugs, broken skin boat product literature that both of these boat spun, the water poured in the (now coamings - anything that someone boats were too high in volume for my open) cockpit and I was upside down in else might use. Bring items you want a foot of water, helmet jammed in the weight. River kayakers desire to have to sell with a price tag and name on it the waterline near the "parting line" sand with a very loaded boat on top of so people can check them out in the (where the sidehull meets the deck) to me.