A Good Day to ‘Yak!

I love the ocean! I may be from DC, but 6 hour drives in heat and traffic just for a weekend at the beach? No problem. When I go to the beach, it’s all about playing in the surf. When I was 10 my dad taught me how to read the waves and body surf. Pretty much anything that gets me out in the waves, I’m there. I even chose my college because it was near VA Beach.

When I moved here I discovered the waves were not the tailor made Outer Banks rollers. Some days there is no surf at all, and others it’s just meh. Ok, time to adapt.

Since I didn’t know too many people here, I decided to check out meetup.com to see what the local activities are. When I checked the box that I liked watersports, the first suggestion was a meetup for ‘Intro to Surf Kayaking’. My mind and  heart race as I begin to imagine the old Sunkist (?) commercials of kayakers surfing the California waves. Yes! This is exactly what I’m looking for.

I called the host of the meetup, Sea Kayak Carolina, over on James Island, and tried to sign up. I was politely informed that since I’ve never actually been in a kayak before, I probably should pull in the reins and take some lessons first. And so, the adventure began.

It just happened that the shop was also offering a day lesson on a lake on Johns Island. For just $45 they would deliver the kayak, and all gear, and get you on the water. This was also my first exposure to the local Sea Kayak scene. While taking the group class I got to know the instructor and met some people at the shop. I discovered they all share a passion for kayaking, and if you show any interest you are warmly welcomed into the community.

It also turns out that the shop hosts meetups almost every day of the week. They have a group of about 20 instructors qualified to take groups out, and if you need any equipment for the day, it’s pretty low cost. If you have your own, it can be free. The group ranges in age from the 20’s to retirees. They are from all walks of life. And, work in all different fields. This means that some people are off on the weekdays and may set up a tour at noon on a Thursday. It really does fit any schedule. The best thing is while it is for all levels, you can usually find a couple of instructors on a trip that are more than happy to give you tips.

I took that first class in August. Over the next few months I made an effort to get out every other weekend and was able to do: a river tour in Kiawah with a stop at Reds, a day on the ocean, more days on the lake, and a two day class that peaked with a trip to Ft Sumter.

November came and I assumed kayaking season was over. Nope. This is truly a year round sport down here. You just need to dress for the conditions. Ok, so you might need to buy some warm apparel. I didn’t have this at the time, so I set my sights on something I always wanted to do: ‘Roll baby!’. Almost every month in the winter the shop has a 2 night class in West Ashley where you can learn to roll at the indoor rec center. In fact, you really don’t even need to know how to kayak since you are not travelling more than a couple of feet.

I’m not even going to try to explain how to do a roll. Let’s just say, when it happened the first time, it was magical. After a couple of hours of instruction and practicing, and suddenly performing it, it’s surreal, to say the least. As you are basking in your personal glory, you suddenly realize that the rest of the group saw this and are applauding you. Total rush! The next best thing is to discover your classmate has a GoPro camera that takes video under water, and is able to get a clear video of your roll. How cool is that?

That got me hooked. Up to this point the kayaking had been a fun, outdoor activity that let me see the sights, have a new experience, and make new friends. Now I actually knew how to do something fairly unique. What’s next? You guessed it! Learn to surf the kayak! Like I said, it’s all about the beach.

Being the winter, there were major kayak sales going on. A few trips to the shop talking to the manager, William, helped me decide on a slightly used kayak specifically designed for the surf. And so I bought my first kayak, which I named Kermit since it was bright green. It pretty much named itself.

Now to put Kermit to use. But, it’s March, and the water is cold. And I really have no clue how to ride the waves. Not to worry! It turned out a world renowned surf kayaker from Savannah was going to be giving a two day class in April. I jumped at the chance to sign up.

Then the anxiety hits. What the heck am I doing signing up for an advanced course when I have no clue how to handle even a light surf. That water is COLD! Again, with William’s guidance, I took care of the clothing part. I was ready to be submerged. Next up, practice. William set up a meetup for a group of us to learn to play in the ‘soup’. This is where the wave breaks on the shoreline. You’d be amazed what you can learn in ankle deep water with knee high waves breaking next to you.

Confidence and equipment in hand, it’s time for the class. We have meet at the shop, and our instructor, Dale, gives us the briefing. Then it’s on to Folly Beach. The imagination is flying. The sweat glands are pumping. We crest the dunes and Dang!, there is no surf! Just these little rollers at low tide.

I was soon to have my moment of enlightenment. The sea kayak LOVES those waves. It turns out the surf at Folly, and over at the offshore break, makes for the perfect playground. While surfers crave a curl, the kayaker goes for a balancing act on top of the wave. At the spot you would bail from a wave when the churn begins, the ride is only half over on the kayak. And, bonus, you turn around and get right back and do it again!

For me, the fun is just beginning. How about you? Curious? Looking for a low impact sport and making new friends? Check out The Patriot Challenge at Brittlebank Park this weekend. Can’t make that?  Then head to James Island next weekend for the 2013 East Coast Paddlesports and Outdoor Festival. Say ‘hi’ to the folks at Sea Kayak Carolina. Check out their website for some awesome videos they just created. I personally guarantee you will have a new appreciation for the sport.