This podcast was an experimental downwind jam session. The idea was to setup a Zoom call open to any and all paddlers to join and share their stories and experiences around downwind paddling. We got off to a rough start when the initial call was highjacked by hackers, but were able to regroup and have […]
Downwind
PPP Episode 36: Downwinding the Carolina Coast with Rod and Barry
In this podcast episode I had a chance to connect with Rod and Barry of ThePaddleChannel. Rod and Barry have progressed from SUP to OC to SURFSKI and their YouTube channel documents, in full transparency, the trials and tribulations of their journey along the way. They are both super passionate about paddling and more so […]
A Brain Dump of Downwind Thoughts and Theories
The volume and quality of downwind video is growing exponentially, but it seems that the amount of detailed writing about the subject remains limited. Sitting down to write this blog, I can see why. It is really hard to articulate the blend of art and science that is downwind paddling. I’ve been blogging for the […]
A Formula for Optimal Downwind: (Wind Speed / Wave Height) + Current
Over the last year, as I’ve spoke with other paddlers and started paying a lot of attention to my own paddles, I’ve started forming a theory for what makes some downwind days harder than others. Ultimately, I’ve found it comes down to a simple formula of: (Wind Speed / Wave Height) + Current. Let me […]
Context is Everything When Interpreting Downwind Paddling Instruction
Mixed Messages As happens from time to time in the surfski world, there are some mixed messages around what paddlers should be striving for to improve their downwind paddling. In this blog I attempt to explain why seemingly opposing views are both correct, and most importantly distill it all into useful guidance for the average […]
