Check out the video and let us know what you think. You can watch it below but it is best viewed on YouTube or on Facebook. This week, we will post a version of it on Instagram.
Comment on it and share it! My next video project is a trailer/teaser for our 3 hour Whitewater of the Sea Adventures. If you want to try rock gardening or have friends who you want to get hooked on playing the sea, it is a must do!
I also have a few other projects in the works, but you will have to check back to see more on them.
The beginning of October rolled around, and we closed Liquid Fusion Kayaking for the week and journeyed to Pacific City, Oregon to coach at Alder Creek Canoe and Kayak's annual Lumpy Waters Symposium. If you haven't been to Lumpy, mark your calendars for October 6-8, 2017 and make it happen. Lumpy has classes and fun for all skill levels. Registration is open now and you can save $$$ by registering by the end of the month.
This was my sixth year coaching at Lumpy Waters. Lumpy is my favorite sea kayak symposium. It is an extremely well organized event that permeates with excitement and enthusiasm. I think that this is a trickle down effect from the event organizers - Suzi Elle, Dave Slover, and Paul Kuthe. Suzi, Dave, and Paul are fun loving folks who teem with energy and enthusiasm. To compliment their enthusiasm, they rally a stellar crew of kayak coaches, support staff, sponsors, and students.
Sea Kayak Surf Zone Class at Lumpy Waters. Photo by Cate Hawthorne
My favorite element of Lumpy is the stoke. Whether working or participating in the event, everyone is there to have FUN! And to share the fun with others. Students come to class ready to learn and to participate in the coaches creative games. At times the games and drills appear silly; however, powerful learning is occurring. Lumpy always gets my creative juices flowing. Each year, the spontaneity of teaching eager students in a fun environment inspires me to try out new games and drills. Students and coaches alike laugh and play and learn.
Cate Hawthorne leading the surf zone congo at Lumpy Waters. Photo by Kim Granfield
A huge thanks to Alder Creek Canoe and Kayak for inviting me to coach and rallying quality folks to the event. Each year, I enjoy the reunion of paddlers that come together for Lumpy. I have made many friends at the event that I look forward to seeing at least once a year at Lumpy and potentially at other sea kayak symposiums or at home on the Mendocino Coast. We share tales of adventure, tales of life, recipes, and trip ideas. I always leave Lumpy with new friends and inspired to paddle new places.
Lumpy students practicing their Wave Warrior cries! Photo by Cate Hawthorne
The venue of Cape Kiwanda RV Resort facilitates much of this camaraderie. Most participants and coaches are staying on site or within walking distance. We share meals, happy hour, and evenings around the fire together. A huge thanks this year to Ninkasi Brewing Company for joining on as sponsors and providing plenty of excellent beer to help us unwind after a day on the water and to fuel stories around the campfire.
Liquid Fusion Kayaking's Jeff and Cate just off the water and getting their Happy Hour Brews from Ninkasi. Photo by Andrew Romanelli
This weekend Jeff and I taught Liquid Fusion Kayaking's Sea Kayak Rock Gardening Class. We built our students skills as individuals and as a team as we guided them through the rock gardens and sea caves of the Mendocino Coast. Our students had many key learning moments. One particular skill that worked for them this weekend was this pry that helps with looking behind when paddling in dynamic water.
360 degree awareness is key when kayaking in dynamic ocean waters. One needs to be aware of waves, the environment, wildlife, and paddling teammates. When the water gets bouncy, paddlers tend to have difficulty turning and looking over their shoulders. Dynamic water is one of the most critical times to be able to effectively look over ones shoulder but one of the most difficult.
I have found this pry technique to work. I call it the owl pry.
Sitting in your kayak, take your left paddle blade and place it next to your right foot. Anchor your blade against your kayak and use this to gain stability to rotate your torso to look behind you. The stretch feels good, improves stability, and allows you to increase your range of torso rotation and safely look over your shoulder.
The "Owl Pry"
Start practicing it in flat water on both sides, then give it a try in dynamic water and let me know if it works for you.
So why do I call it the owl pry? Might have to take a class with me to find out - it will definitely be a hoot.
On the Mendocino Coast, we always have surf. Some days are definitely better than others, but we always have something to surf. We play in the surf as much as possible. Through Liquid Fusion Kayaking, Jeff Laxier and I share our knowledge and love of the surf to teach basic surf zone classes for sea kayaks, whitewater kayaks, sit on top kayaks, and fishing kayaks. We also offer private lessons and teach Performance Surf Kayaking Classes.
Liquid Fusion Kayaking's Jeff Laxier surfing at home on the Mendocino Coast. Photo by Cate Hawthorne
Below is a compilation of surf kayak resources that we share with our students. Check them out and please let us know of any other helpful surf kayak resources that we can share.
Basics - Check out Keith Wikle's Go Kayak Now blog post -Surf Kayaking Basics. This has information on what is surf kayaking and the type of kayaks used.
Etiquette - Gotta follow the rules of the playground (kayakers are notorious for misbehaving in the surf zone). Surfline's Bill of Lefts and Rightsis a good resource for the rules of surfing. I like visuals so check out this diagram by Robert Saunders.
Surf Kayak Skills - Many paddlers learn to surf kayak via the school of hard knocks. Learning to surf takes hundreds of hours in the surf. A little education and skills instruction will speed along your learning.
Liquid Fusion Kayaking's Cate Hawthorne surfing her hp surf kayak on the Mendocino Coast. Photo by Jeff Laxier
Here's a surf kayak skills video by expert kayak surfer Dessie McGlinchey. The footage is awesome.
A good reference book for Surf Kayaking is Surf Kayaking: The Essential Guide by Simon Hammond.
Many paddlers can catch a wave, but the best way to learn performance surf kayaking is to take a surf kayak class or lesson, then get out and surf. Another resource to help you with getting out there is the US West Surf Kayak Website. It has surf spots, classes, and lots of other information on kayak surfing.
Cate Hawthorne surfing her freestyle whitewater kayak on the Mendocino Coast. Photo by Jeff Laxier.
For those that don't live near the surf or get to surf enough, you too can improve your surfing skills. One way is to watch surf videos - board surfing as well as waveskiing and surf kayaking. From time to time, I post inspirational surf videos on my Facebook Page. Do you have any favorite surf kayak tips or resources? If so, please share them so that I can add them to this page.
Cate is a high energy person who loves sharing her passion for learning and the outdoors with others. Cate has several K-12 teaching credentials and a masters degree in education. After 13 years working in public schools, Cate moved her teaching talents from the classroom to the water.
Kayaking is one of her many outdoor adventure pursuits on the Mendocino Coast. When not kayaking, Cate is likely to be mountain biking, hiking or running in the forest. Cate is an avid birder, connoisseur of wild mushrooms, and writer. She is an ACA certified whitewater and sea kayak instructor, wilderness first responder, and is a Lieutenant in the Tsunami Rangers.
