For the short surf craft enthusiasts, the East Coast Waveski Association is having their annual waveski and surf kayak comp this weekend at Nags Head:
For longboat surfers, this is the only sea kayak surf comp that I am aware of and it is happening next week:
I am interested in both but wont’ be able to go until next year. The plus of missing this year, is that I have a whole year to train before entering.
-sing
It would be cool if someone (if allowed) could put this on youtube live for the above events. (or will have to wait for the ‘highlights’ at a later point)
I think (memory may be bad), that, before it was a ‘real event’, there was a gathering at Hoebuck for surf about this time of year.
I have a memory of staying in the cabins near the shore. (would have been somewhere around '95)
I used to launch from Hoebuck for paddles to Cape Flattery and back (or from the ‘other side’: Neah Bay to/from the cape)
I watch the Hoedown highlights each year (and then repeatedly for surf technique reference).
Going to have to rent a Sterling if and when I get to Hobuck. However, I noticed an Edge Alnes Ocean in the recent competition. If that shorter boat is available, it would probably edge out a Sterling with on-the-wave performance because of its shorter length (~13-14’), high rocker and very sharp chines (rails).
-sing
Would love to try one of those, and, when too old and feeble, it would make a great porch rocking chair.
I love the design but the two I saw in ME – an MV and HVversion. These two were fiberglass construction and headed to PNW… To one of the perennial Hoedown longboat competitors. The weight was about 10 lbs heavier than my two foot longer carbon/kevlar Sterling. Hope they do a vacuum carbon/kevlar lay up sometime in the future. Not sure the market and demand will grow enough to support that. Talk about a small niche…
I mentioned to one of the Hoedown organizers that, with Alnes Ocean in the surf lineup they probably are going to need different length classes for the sea kayak comps, just like the surf kayak divided out the longer International Class (IC) from the shorter High Performance (HP) surf kayaks.
-sing
Neah Bay is sheltered by it’s location but when we were there a 18’ swell was focused from the Northwest and lined up perfectly to make the Hobuck area very gnarly. Pretty different than the video in their link. My youngest son has lived in Washington and Oregon and mostly the surf there is too gnarly, too blown out, or flat when I visit. Not to mention pretty cold water. I’m spoiled by living in Encinitas. I get my mini-adrenaline doses now from paddling on a large lake with high winds and shoaling waves.
You should visit me, for crappy waves AND cold water. I got plenty of surf rides you can fit/use. Just bring your thickest wetsuit. LOL!
-sing