Lake Michigan Surf Kayaking South Haven August 8th

As in many cases where kayak surfing is concerned. It is not a planned activity. It is a weather driven spontaneous event. When the leaves begin to rustle outside my window, and blades of grass begin to brush down from the breeze, I start scheming. Maybe some men have similar compulsions for Golf, I don’t know. I raced home on my bike from work, and ran inside to look at the lake cam. Steady lines of breakers had formed on both sides of the pier.

So I hurriedly explained to Laura (the wife). That I had to make a mad dash to the Lake. Some men might be smart and be deterred by a pouty look, or an icy silence. But when you have a sickness for kayak surfing like I do, these small facial expressions, or determined grave silences don’t even hit the radar. I loaded up both kayaks, the Nigel Foster Silhouette and the Mega Maverick and high-tailed it to the beach.

The fifty minute drive to South Haven South beach was rewarded with waves. The wind was pushing 3-5 footers straight out of the north. The waves that formed were gentle, slow moving, spillers about head high to maybe a little over head. I suited up quickly and walked through the parking lot. I accidentally nicked some guys rear view mirror with my surf kayak. He shouted from the window of his car, “hey expletive watch it”. I barely paused to apologize. I got down to the water and paddled out on relatively calm water.

Within 15 minutes I’d caught three beautiful carving rides. I spilled down from the lip, pulled a bottom turn, and was delighted to find, the wave had not closed out, so I headed back up wave and pulled a top turn to head back down wave before the wave closed out. For once it seemed as if I had all of the time in the world for diagonal runs, bottom turns, top turns. I caught several more rides like this riding them all the way in to the beach. I looked at my watch after a I’d caught ten or so rides. I’d barely been on the water forty minutes.

Unfortunately on one ride, I got caught way on the inside and spent 15 minutes of futile energy trying to break back out. For a while I was trying to break out diagonally to avoid the wind. I thought I was paddling in a rip, only to find that really I was paddling directly into a rip! Once I gave up on the diagonal paddle out I zipped back out.

The wind started backing a bit and then the rides slowed in the second hour as sunset came on. The water was warm, and the sun shot spokes of light from behind clouds as the sun set. My body has been brutally abused this summer, and I’ve only gotten out to paddle about ten times since May. The impromptu surf session made all of that seem distant and irrelevant for a short while. My ribs ached a bit but as of this article’s publishing, I am feeling pretty ok for once!!!

Also I used my Lendal XTI last night and it was good to have the old axe in hand for a stellar session.

In sidenotes to this article two freaky events occurred on the South Haven South Beach that evening.

The first-A jet skier stalled out. He was struggling to get his craft going. A fishing boat came along and tried to tow him out. His jet ski had the entire hull cracked and ripped out by the tow. A sad sight indeed.

The second-I set my life jacket on the pavement next to me in the parking lot as I was trying to get the Mega on the roof of the Volvo. What looked like a 14 year old kid promptly drove over it as she was pulling out of the parking lot. Hey no big deal it is just a life jacket. But my Pentax was in the pocket of the life jacket. I shouted at her to stop as she was pulling off dragging my life jacket with her. She finally stopped and I managed to retrieve my life vest. I didn’t even give her a dirty look, she looked petrified enough. I checked the camera and it was fine.

I have a bad surf video to share later. I am trying to rig a helmet cam, I have a plan!!!

Lendal Kayak Paddle-Warranty Update

Sometimes the squeaky wheel does get the kayak paddle. After posting my switch to Werner , a representative from Lendal reached out and offered to correct the situation. A few days later a paddle arrived that is EXACTLY like my old paddle, only better because it’s not broken.

I’m not sure which avenging angel from Lendal swooped down and made it all better. But thank you!!!!
In the age of overseas customer service, being kept on hold to be told there is nothing that can be done to help you, this is a breath of fresh air.

I trust Johnson Outdoors will get their manufacturing problems all sorted out and that many years of success will follow the transition.

Johnson Outdoors Lendal loses paddler to Werner

While it pains me to say this, I have now completely switched to Werner Paddles. I owned a Lendal XTI for over 3 years and really enjoyed using it. Then I had my bad mojo moment in surf last year, where the hydraulics of a wave essentially broke off my right paddle blade in large surf on Lake Michigan. I had a nasty swim and was none too happy. I posted the picture and articles. Lendal/Johnson outdoors actually responded and for that I am grateful.

They made every attempt to correct the situation. Just to be clear, someone at Johnson reached out to me and tried to make it right. Which I think is very commendable, and this should be noted for people who are having problems with their equipment.

However the long time that elapsed between when the event occurred and when I actually got a paddle (November to April) seems unreasonable. And when I did receive a replacement paddle, it was incorrect. Comment on this blog post if you’re curious and I’d be happy to share the bellicose melodrama.

I’d been on the phone with the customer service rep, the tech guys, and it was clear on their end the Scottish engineers knew what was going on, but the folks at Johnson seemed a little befuddled.

Lendal made a ground breaking product when they introduced the Lendal Paddlok. I loved their paddles up until the point of mine’s failure. I have many fine memories of launching down steep green faces in two different oceans, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan with that paddle. But Lendal isn’t making the paddle I bought anymore.

Until they start making that paddle again- I will have to switch to somebody’s equipment that has their act together. Suffice it to say it wasn’t actually the product failure that forced my consumer shift, nor was it the customer service, it was their inability to make a replacement paddle that was like the one I bought in a reasonable time.

I picked up my 194cm Carbon Fiber Werner Double Diamond today. Due to the cracked ribs, I am not sure when I will be back on the water. But the paddle looks pretty sweet.

Is the Euro Paddle the power of the Dark Side?

I am going to try using a euro paddle for some of my day trips and maybe even longer trips to see how I do. Is this the power of the darkside at work? I am not going to make any grand predictions. My experience with the towing demonstration at the WMCKA Symposium 2008 has shaken my belief that the two paddles are really equal in all things. I love using a Greenland style paddle. I love the simplicity, the natural ergonomic weight of it, the symmetry, and of course the natural buoyancy. I really enjoy working on the rolls, and all of my strokes with the traditional blade. But after three years kayak surfing, and using a white water blade, first a Double torque Lendal XTI 194cm, and now a Werner Sidekick 194cm straight shaft, I am finding I like the quick application of power the really big spoons provide. The Iggy and the Stooges Raw Power.

I will share one anecdote about one tight spot I was in about 3 years ago in a sea kayak that might demonstrate what the key differences are between the paddles. Jason Roon and I were out kayak surfing in long boats on Lake Michigan in summer in 2005. It was a rip roaring day with steep vertical faces. Wind was around 15-20 knots. Waves were 3-5 feet. I was surfing my Nigel Foster Silhouette using a home made western red cedar traditional paddle. Jason was in a P&H Sirius with a Lendal Kinetic Crank Shaft 210cm paddle. Near Deer Lick south of South Haven there is a small cove built out of truck tires and concrete pilings, rebar and a bunch of other lake refuse. As nasty as it sounds, this is an excellent place to surf because of the depth and the reflection waves. It’s a good play area. The only danger is getting caught on the inside because if you swim or get surfed in you are on the rebar and concrete.


Jason and I surfed in on the same wave but spread out by at least 50 yards. I surfed about twenty yards and pitchpoled my sea kayak. (There were no board surfers in sight and Jason was 50-60 yards away). I surfed in upside down the rest of the way, and then rolled up. I edged my kayak and turned around. In this process I managed to capsize again. I rolled up again. Now that I was pointed the right way. I tried to break out. The reflection waves and the pounding that cove was taking kept knocking me sideways and back. I was coming dangerously close to the concrete and rebar sticking into Lake Michigan. Each time I was ready to punch through I’d get knocked back and over again. I’d roll up each time and be forced to start over. Jason had already broken out, and was contemplating coming in to tow me out. Finally I started using a sliding stroke and used every ounce of strength I possessed to punch out.

In summary Jason and I are fairly equal in paddling skill and strength, but he managed to break out, where I was struggling. I think a bigger spoon blade might have allowed me to break out at least on the second try.

I have not really used a Euro blade to do any serious distances since about 2001. So I might be in for a real eye opener there. The traditional paddle is something I have likened to granny gear on a bicycle, high cadence, or high rotation of strokes with continual movement. The paddler does not have to lift their arms very high, and can sink the blade deep with minimal effort repeatedly. I think this is really the benefit of the paddle. You can go all day at high repetition with minimal effort.

I’ve been using a 85” Superior Carbon Fiber for about three years now. I think it is a really excellent paddle. It is scary light, super stiff, and very buoyant. My only complaint is the sound of loose foam rattling around inside from my abuse of the paddle over three years on Lake Michigan and Superior.

I’ve selected a 205 cm Carbon Crank shaft Werner Ikelos for a trial run, it is the big spoon of Werner’s Touring Line and I hope to give it a spin in the near future to see if I can put it through it’s paces. I think the real test will be over distances if the higher angle stroke with more catch can be sustained.

I have not fallen out of love with traditional paddling by any means. But I have had more experience using both now that I have been surfing with one and touring with the other. I would like to give the euro paddle a try again on some longer trips and see which is right for me. Curiosity and continuous discovery are important. Questioning what you know, and what you believe are always good things. These questions lead you somewhere, and for me I think these questions like a lot of searches may only lead to more questions, but that’s ok. Being able to teach effectively with both I think is also crucial. Not having a bias may provide some of my guinea pigs with a little perspective.

Also I’ve been practicing all of my Greenland competition rolls with my surf paddle and I think it works pretty well. Storm rolls, reverse low brace, shotgun, and even spine rolls do work with the modern blade. Zero feather angle is really important.

Had my first sub twenties commute of the year. I felt much warmer than last year. Ninjaclava from Outdoor Research was a plus, as were the Cyclone Booties from Pearl Izumi.

However as I had some new gear on that seems to be working out, I thought I would point out a few losers from last year that I thought would work out well but ended up failing miserably.

The Bad and the Ugly

1. The EKG Base layer from Pearl Izumi
I bought two of these as base layers. They were comfy and next to skin good for about two days. Both of them developed holes in the armpits that grew in size. Either I have acid in my sweat like a Geiger alien, or Pearl Izumi needs some QC/QA.
2. Thermafleece Tights Pearl Izumi discontinued. These started out warm, snug, and terrific. They now have developed a hole in the arse and in the crotch. Again is it acid eating sweat, or poor QC/QA? Do the people that rave about Pearl Izumi all the time actually use their gear at all? For the price, almost double HIND or Sugoi gear; they better last more than a season.
3. Louis Garneau Cycling Gloves-these things suck as cycling gloves. They do not block wind in anything below 45 degrees, and they are not water resistant.

1. Lendal Paddle Kinetic XTI White Water paddle-Previously posted

   Editorial note, they are shipping me a new paddle that has as of yet not arrived.

   The Good

2. CW-X Lite-fit Top
I bought two of these to replace the Pearl Izumi tops. One year on, they are still taking the abuse of my acidic alien armpit sweat. I’ve worn them under drysuits, ski jackets, and cycling jerseys. No rips no runs, still like new.
3. NRS Toaster Mitts

Great 30 dollar investment.

1. Mega Maverick

Great carving machine, many many fun rides in this downwave maniac. I can’t say enough good things about Mega’s surf boats. More fun than I am legally allowed to have.

1. IR Custom Drydeck

Great heavy duty rubber randed sprayskirt custom made to my kayak. No more cold water ejections.

Doug Wiche took these pictures from the Pier on the day I broke my paddle. All I have to say is wow, that’s a lot of foam!