Sunday was for surfski... for the first time in a long time... and I enjoyed it. It took me a while to figure out where I wanted to go - where I wouldn't be afraid of the water, of the wind. I ended up just in East Freo where my canoe club paddles from - both pros and cons to this location - there is a lot of shore to stick close to to temper my fear of falling in and being unable to remount but there is also a ton of boat traffic, more that I remembered though that makes sense given that now it is summer.
Often I would set myself up to handle the wake, heading straight down it or right into it but a few times I challenged myself by trying to ride it sideways a bit, figuring out where that point was. I almost fell in once - that tipping point where it could go either way - boat on it's side on my left, paddle bracing right , leaning on it. And after a precarious few seconds I was upright again, balanced. Saved. Dry. It felt good to have that skill, practice from many days spent surfing my outrigger. A tiny bit more confidence to add to the pile.
I felt really strong while paddling, core engaged, firm plant and pull, arms straight. It comes from Crossfit, this strength and stability - I can feel the difference and I love it. It's a lot more tiring though than outrigger - twice as many strokes... I was still a little tipsy at times though with the secondary stability in my boat I managed to stay upright playing around a bit with the boat wake at different angles, figuring out how to surf. The one thing I love about the ski over the outrigger is the ability to quickly jump on waves (a few quick strokes and you're on), much more power than paddling only on one side.
The bonus was that I wasn't afraid this time. The last time I was out I remember how terrified I was of the water, of everything about it and it's taken me quite some time to get over it. I think it stems from that one time I struggled in the wind and waves to remount... the fear. This time it was gone - I still fought strongly against falling in but I wasn't immobilized, tense with the fear of it all. Perhaps it was because it's warmer, or that there were so many people around, I was close to shore. Any number of things but each one allowing me to gain a little bit more confidence in my abilities so that one day I don't even have to think about it, it's just a natural movement.
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