Watermen

How many among our ranks also ride waves?
Any NW divers on here?
Ex or current lifeguards?

I'm toying with the idea of putting together an event/demo this summer that puts to use all those other waterman skills many of us at NWKA have developed over a lifetime of ocean interaction.  Something that can be fun and competitive for the participants and entertaining/educational for others.  Let's have your ideas.

Some starter thoughts for y'all:
- Man on man or team format?
      Surfing / Kayak Launching&Landing / Kayak Fishing
      Kayak Fishing / Kayak Launching&Landing / Kayak asissted Snorkeling for Keeper Crab
      Kayak Fishing / Kayak Launching&Landing / Kayak Surf Rescue
      Spear Fishing
      Best Huli
      Assisted/Unassisted Re-entry

Any interest?  Any ideas?  Any takers?

-Spot-

Sounds fun. I'm down.

Freedive
Lifeguard
Swimmer
Water polo

+1 for me too.. Sounds like fun

Fastest through the surf and back. Longest brace would be a fun side bet. See how long you could brace sliding sideways on a wave before kicking out.

Maybe a kayak shimmy race? Start from your seat, shimmy up to the front hatch, take a rod out, back to your seat and rod in the holder?

Fastest through the surf and back. Longest brace would be a fun side bet. See how long you could brace sliding sideways on a wave before kicking out.

Maybe a kayak shimmy race? Start from your seat, shimmy up to the front hatch, take a rod out, back to your seat and rod in the holder?

Now we're talkin'.  Great suggestions Zee!

I hadn't thought about adding a bunch of short duration events.  I like!

-Spot-

How about a "oh shit I dropped "it" in the surf"...  where contestants would all have a weighted "item"  that on cue all would drop from their yaks while sitting in lets say around waist deep active surf. First one to scramble off their yak retrieve the item and get it and their yak back to shore and the finish line wins.

This all sounds like the old school "Lineman's Rodeo" the power guys (PGE etc) do every year.  Should call it the kayak anglers rodeo or something along those lines.  "Who was the top hand at he KAR this year?"

King of the kayak!!!  Think log rolling.   

-Allen

Lets step it up to Kayak Jousting !!!   
You "Pedalers" who have the luxury of not having your hands occupied with a paddle will need to wear blindfolds as an equalizer.

Very exciting!
Allen, if you think you can handle another long road trip with me, and schedules work out, I can bring up a surf kayak, a wave ski, a WW boat and a few SUPs to help contribute to the general wave mayhem.
King of the wave is always fun.

there can be only one

Teams of 2, bust through the surf and paddle (no pedal) out to an anchored crab pot buoy, swap kayaks and come back to the beach, and pull their kayaks to a finish line. First team with both kayaks to the line win.  Maybe have several teams go at the same time, so several crab pot buoys would be needed.

I would only be competitive in the non-yak free-surfing division, on an actual surfboard. Might be a 9' longboard if the waves are really small; otherwise my preferred 7'6" hybrid.  And only if the surf wasn't too much bigger than head-high. And put me in the "old man's" division ("60 til dead"). Yeah, then maybe...
I will also be willing to compete in a flat-water SOT paddling (paddling only, no pedaling!) race across a windy and tide-ripped estuary or bay. I think I would actually have a chance at winning if there were a division for the "60 til dead" age group. I feel that I'm still competitive in my age group, but I'm not deluded enuff to think I can seriously go up against any of you young bucks with paddling experience, and have a chance at winning.

I haven't yakked in the surf, so I'm likely a no-go  for a "yak fishing waterman's" event in the surf zone. Maybe if I had a few sessions with my yak in the surf, I'd feel up to competing. I have a lifetime of surfing and wave knowledge, but none in a yak. It would take a few sessions of concentrated practice to get the hang of it, I think.

But overall, I think its a great idea. Would be hella fun, maybe sometime in the late Summer.

Spot, How would you define a "best huli?"  Since a "huli" is a bad thing to have happen, wouldn't that event be better described as a "gnarliest huli?" Or maybe, "huli that causes the most spectators to wince?"

I might be competitive in that one!

Or maybe, "huli that causes the most spectators to wince?"

I might be competitive in that one!

From my extensive experience, spectators are much more likely to point and laugh than wince.
Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

Spot, How would you define a "best huli?"  Since a "huli" is a bad thing to have happen, wouldn't that event be better described as a "gnarliest huli?" Or maybe, "huli that causes the most spectators to wince?"

I might be competitive in that one!

CHM - No special category for you my friend.  I know you're a sleeper just waiting to kick some @$$.

As for judging, I think it'd totally be spectator reaction.  Instant 10 point score if the yakkers significant other screams in horor, cries or smiles and calls their life insurance agent.  It wouldn't even have to be its own event.  Just a best Huli of the Day award. 

-Spot-

Will there be a SUP leg of the relay? If so I need some practice. Also, if you own an Outback or a FnD you should have to SUP backward.