Doing Safety On My Sup

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

For the last two years my wife has been doing a 2.5k swim in the Hudson at Poughkeepsie called the Two Bridges Swim. It's a lap from, well, two bridges. While she's out this year with rotator cuff problems, she volunteered at the race and I decided to volunteer too as water safety. I was the only SUP with about seven kayaks, two jet skis, and a motorboat. There were about eighty swimmers, some doing one lap, some doing two.

And the wind was blowing. Hell, there were whitecaps on the river and we safety people were going to have to paddle right into the wind to get into station. I, of course, went upwind into one of the worst areas, right by the upwind bridge where the wind was funneling between the huge bridge stanchions. I would say it was averaging about fourteen, which meant I had to paddle against that the entire time. Plus there was chop, and current.

Let's just say this wasn't the most fun I've had on my board. I was in for about an hour and a half, going back and forth near my station. I had to keep my Amundson into the wind, but of course I had to look behind all the time to see the swimmers coming. That was the hardest, because several times I got thrown by the chop just by twisting my neck. After a while I went to my knees. That was better. It was hell on my knees after a while, but at least I wasn't falling. The thing was too that my safety really wasn't the problem. I was there for the swimmers, but he'll that was taking effort. Sometimes the wind gusted to about twenty, and while I went over about six times, I did not lose position. I allowed myself to go back a few times to take a position near a tired swimmer, but I never lost it myself. I was getting pretty tired though, so much so that one of the jet skis waked me while it passed by, slowly and politely.

My wife on shore said people were remarked that they were "...glad they weren't that paddler out there." Some people from the shore were even cheering me on. I guess my struggles were a little funny, but dammit I kept my station! I never had to pull anyone out or do a rescue, but I was ready!

After it was over, I allowed myself a little downwind fun. I sweat that was the first time I actually surfed a downwind wave. It wasn't a long ride, but it happened. On shore, lots of race organizers started asking me to do support for their upcoming swim races, so I guess I impressed a few people.

It occurred to me that this is a good way to promote the sport. Lost of water people see you doing it, and if you're good they get impressed. Especially in an area where SUPing so ,ore in its infancy, I figured it was a good way to be an ambassador. And now I'm sore as hell and am going to bed.


www.peekskillpaddler.blogspot.com

[SUPcheat]

Shark's Cove in Santa Cruz got really gusty, choppy today. I was on my knees a lot rather than fight the wind. The break was crowded, few waves of any note though they looked like they were peeling at the Hook (Sup un-friendly) further along.

I did a minor downwinder from Shark's to Private's.  On my shorter hard board, i thought I would fall off any microsecond, but didn't, and it was fun to be accelerated by the wind and feel powerful, kind of like running downhill. Maybe some day a proper downwinder. 

[SoundGirl]

My brother and I did safety on SUP for an UrbanSwim event in the summer of 2012 on the Hudson River, along the west side of NYC. (We were using my Tahoe Zephyr and Amundson TR, both 12'6") The organizers asked us to paddle up to the start line then stay just in front of the swimmers. Sad to say we never made it to the start line from where we put in because the wind and tide were against us! The tubby little kayaks made much better time than us. We held our ground until the swimmers got to us and then did our best to not get blown the rest of the way down the river.  I would do it again if worked with my schedule.

A friend of mine swam the Two Bridges this year. She goes paddling with me sometimes, she said that she saw you before the race began and that you probably had a tough time out there.

Good on ya for hanging in there!

[Bulky]

Good for you.  Save for the wind, being safety on an SUP for an event like that has great advantages as far as being able to see.

I had a similar experience Saturday.  Went on my usual AM loop--extending a few miles like I usually do on the weekend when I don't need to work.  Only difference was that I slept in and went about an hour later than normal and realized the wind really comes up (I'm usually off the water by about 7:15).  Had to fight against it and a pretty mixed up swell for about 3-4mi.  Rounded my last point and was pretty much spent.  In the water 6 times and worked to the point where I could barely stand up any more.  When the legs go, they go!

But as a couple people on here have commented, there's probably no better way to develop skills than going out in bad conditions.  Good for you!

[UKRiverSurfers]

I use my SUP as a teaching platform for my swimmers