Boat Wake. How do you deal with it?

[Pigtire]

Greetings,

I'm a noob who's been paddling for a week now. This morning I decided to get out of Mothers Beach for a jaunt towards the break water. Well, to make it short a boat passed by me near the break water and I got owned by a wake. I ended up losing my cap and glasses.  

How do you handle boat wakes? Especially if it comes to you from the sides? I have to say, I'm having a blast and  with my weak back I'm getting the workout I need to get rid of my back pain. Can't wait to do more....

[gladwell4]

Aloha,
Lake Arrowhead has lots of wakes to deal with and the best advice I have is to keep your eyes on the horizon, where you want to head and let your body do what it's designed to do, you'll be amazed what it'll deal with. If you can get your paddle in the water  and power stroke when it hits you'll move right through. That and lots of water time make it easier to deal with. Just think of the workout your core is getting in dealing with the chop and when you go out to surf your skill level will jump up quite a bit. Keep your eyes on the future and keep paddling

[Old School]

Wake is easiest to take head on.  You can also move one foot forward (easier said than done for a newby) to take the front of your board through the wave instead of over it.  Sometime the jolt on the front of the board is easier than the rise of the wave.

That said, it just takes practice.  You'll have to learn to deal will cross chop at some point.  Just plan on getting wet - and get a floatie to attach to your glasses!

[Pigtire]

Thanks for the tips, Guys! I'll try to head out as much as I can and try to do more open water to get my balance up to par. And yes, I will have to get a better eyeglass holder so I don't lose one more( can get a bit expensive).

[maui_husky]

Hey, Pigtire.  I've taught of few friends and they do well once they're aware of the wakes. Getting surprised is what got them. In your case, sounds like you saw it coming. The technique as I've learned it is: 1) get some speed going 2) head 90 degrees/perpendicular into the swell 3) bend your knees, 4)paddle and go up and over the wave.

Multi-directional chop is more of a challenge for me. One of the most effective tips I've seen for this was from a sup dvd with Brian Keaulana. Basically he says to move your hips and knees to balance. Keep the upper body rigid - "don't be a bobble head" (i like that quote).  Keep the paddle in the water and learn how to use it like a tripod.  I've practiced these techniques and it's given me greater confidence in chop (my 8'6" has been a challenge, still a ways to go).

The DVD I mentioned (Hawaiian Style Standup Paddle Surfing V1&2) is more focused on paddle surfing tips from some of Hawaii's best, but it has a lot of great general tips that beginning flat-water paddlers would enjoy. Brian's segments are my favorite.

Have fun.

[951 SUP]

We have a lot of boat wakes where I paddle and don't have the luxury of turning into the wake. I have learned to keep paddling while the wake is approaching from the side (typically from a 45 degree angle from behind me or in front of me because I am paddling in the 5MPH zone parallel to the boats) and to bend the knees and bounce up and down with each wake. You will get the hang of it after some time in the water. You can even stay still while the wakes are approaching and just put your paddle in the water and go up and down with each wake until they are past you. Hope this helps and keep paddling.

[Pigtire]

Maui@ The wake actually came from behind so it caught me by surprise.
951@ Thanks for the tips.

Again I will apply all the tips given here and hopefully soon I will be a wake pro. Thanks again , Guys!

[hbsteve]

I paddle in a harbor where that happens a lot.  Crazy idea.  But you do need to be aware of what's coming up behind you.  I know, you know that now.  Watch how you board reacts.  Stay with the board.  It's like a people mover at an airport.  Only it is moving sideways, etc.
The other way to handle this, is get good at pivot type turns.  Turn into the wake, cross it at 90 degrees.
You'll get it.  Have fun.

[surfcowboy]

Man, in a few more weeks this won't be an issue at all.

It's crazy how tippy my board felt when I got it, and then the second one was tippy, and now the latest one is tippy... but it's a funny thing, after a little while these boards must just get wider or something. 

[pdxmike]

I find being parallel to the wake isn't bad either, although I never would have believed that earlier.  The hard ones to me are strong fast wakes coming at an angle that  can spin your board.  Like others have said, keep your lower body loose and lean on your paddle.  I used to avoid wakes because I'd fall on every one.  Now I seek them out, then fall.   

[upwinder]

Boat wake? Here's how we deal with it downunder 

see about 30sec in...

[Kaihoe]

@Pigtire.  This is the best thing I've ever done for my back. After years of grief and no one being able to fix my back I now have no recurring pain and all the screwed up muscles in my back and leg are starting to come right. Sure there has been a bit of pain on the way but as the saying goes there's been gain

As for the boat swells you'll soon find yourself trying to catch them

@upwinder Isnt that what boats are for? Love the way the water is running over the top at the end, looks like  a sweet board

[upwinder]

@upwinder Isnt that what boats are for? Love the way the water is running over the top at the end, looks like  a sweet board

I confess that's not me on that board (the board is from genius Gold Coast shaper , Dale Chapman, I have one of his 14fters)

but yes, that's what boat wake is for, stinkboaters have their uses 

[lucabrasi]

Nice little video upwinder.

[Pigtire]

PDXMike@ I will give that a go.
Surfcowboy@ I sure can't wait for that day.
Upwinder@ Thanks for the vid. Now I next goal is to chase those damn boats.
Kaihoe@ That's one of the main reason why I started Suping. Getting a good core workout and at the same time I'm having a blast doing it.