Downwinders: the most common mistakes made by first timers

[yugi]

A good rule is to always head upwind first, because getting back in should always be easy.

Last summer the wind managed to turn on us once we got upwind so we'd have an upwind back like 70% of the time. Just unbelievable. We learned to embrace going upwind. So now I just suck it up and do it. Tick: lesson learned.

[Off-Shore]

A good rule is to always head upwind first, because getting back in should always be easy.

Last summer the wind managed to turn on us once we got upwind so we'd have an upwind back like 70% of the time. Just unbelievable. We learned to embrace going upwind. So now I just suck it up and do it. Tick: lesson learned.

+1 on always paddling upwind first. Very very occasionally though we've had the opposite occur in that we planned a one way downwinder and as we were packing up we realised the wind was shifting and we realised we could downwind back. Now that has happened probably twice in 3 years.

[Eagle]

Wind shifts happen quite a bit around here.  Have seen some on SUPs get caught in exposed open water conditions and really struggle to get back to shore.  A little picnic adventure can turn quickly turn tragic for the unaware and unprepared.  Local knowledge is always helpful as well as keeping a very close eye on weather currents etc.  It does not take long for wind to switch from E to W and N to S.

[Blue crab]

In a true downwind, there is absolutely no way to paddle upwind other than to stay in the same place. I actually think this is a nice way to differentiate downwinding from down breezing.

We do have a nice little section of in West Seattle where you can ride a protected eddy against the beach upwind (even in >35 mph conditions) and then ride downwind upon reaching the point. Great practice.

[Off-Shore]

In a true downwind, there is absolutely no way to paddle upwind other than to stay in the same place. I actually think this is a nice way to differentiate downwinding from down breezing.

Completely agree. In true downwind conditions I've had to give up trying to go upwind and get to the shore and drag my board upwind along the shore. Not fun but it works. Using eddies and wind shadows near shore also helps in any upwind paddling.

[blueplanetsurf]

This is an older thread but I made a sequel to the "5 most common downwind mistakes" by first timers.
This one goes into more common mistakes and tips on how to avoid them.
Thanks to my customer Tom who was willing to let me use him as an example.  This was filmed during his second downwind coaching session and recorded while I'm paddling behind him and his takeaways after the downwinder:

[PonoBill]

In a true downwind, there is absolutely no way to paddle upwind other than to stay in the same place. I actually think this is a nice way to differentiate downwinding from down breezing.

We do have a nice little section of in West Seattle where you can ride a protected eddy against the beach upwind (even in >35 mph conditions) and then ride downwind upon reaching the point. Great practice.

Depends on who you are. Dave Kalama commonly upwinds on pretty crazy Maliko conditions--cranks from Kanaha to the gulch then turns around and runs back. I certainly don't, though I do a lot of upwind/downwind Viento runs. Those consist mostly of finding wind shadows along the shore and grinding in between them. Great workout.

[digger71]

Thanks for sharing the video Robert!

What is the ideal wind for the Hawaii Kai run?  Does more north or more east make it work better?

I'm going to be on Oahu Tues-Friday and the wind forecast shows a bit of everything.  From NE Tuesday to E Wednesday, S on Thursday, and SW on Friday.

[blueplanetsurf]

Thanks for sharing the video Robert!

What is the ideal wind for the Hawaii Kai run?  Does more north or more east make it work better?

I'm going to be on Oahu Tues-Friday and the wind forecast shows a bit of everything.  From NE Tuesday to E Wednesday, S on Thursday, and SW on Friday.

Hi Digger,
Easterly tradewind direction is best for a Hawaii Kai downwind run.  The variable winds we are having right now are not ideal for downwinders.  A strong, easterly tradewind direction is best.  We will probably do a time trial this Wednesday for our training group unless the wind stabilizes.  You are welcome to join, we will post the meeting time and place tomorrow on our facebook group, just ask to join:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/downwinders/

[blueplanetsurf]

A few weeks ago wind guru looked like this, perfect downwind weather.

[robcasey]

Great videos and tips from (the other) Rob! From a safety angle, I see a lot of the following (at least here in the PNW)..
-no leash
-no pfd (or waist belts with no cartridges)
-poor choice of line (direction). recently a race board ended up on a jetty... and no backup plans.
-going out in conditions above their skill level
-not picking most qualified people to DW with (leading to board on rocks, etc) or being left behind by partners.
-knowing how to upwind and/or paddle quite a distance when the wind shifts
-no reliable communication device (and devices used by each dw buddy)
-not letting the wind give them a free ride - trying to paddle too hard
-wrong clothing for air/water temps. have seen shorts on 43F water temp days.
etc...