Surfski Knowledge Base

In a group of paddlers, the one simple way to know that everyone has someone looking out for them and to know who you are supposed to look out for is to use the buddy system. Everyone pairs up with another paddler - each buddy looks out for their buddy. In an ideal world each pair of buddies would be evenly matched speedwise making it easier for everyone to paddle in their comfort zone and to keep pace with their buddies. But the reality is that those matches do not always occur. Plus, the paddlers with limited amounts of experience or skill really should be buddied with better paddlers so you are much less likely to wind up with buddy pairings where both paddlers wind up in trouble and unable to help or possibly not even able to call for help for their buddy. At least one paddler in each buddy pair should probably be experienced and competent in the chosen paddling conditions, otherwise it probably isn't wise for either to be on the water.

• Paddle to the side of your buddy - Larry Bussinger “(….) ….when buddied up, it's still hard to keep track of someone if you get ahead and are flying. It also seems to be human nature for the guy behind to tuck in behind the lead guy. However, this makes it extremely hard for the lead guy to keep track of the guy behind. If you stay well off to the side, all I have to do is do a quick glance over my shoulder instead of stopping and turning around into a compromising position to locate you. If you're right there, we can keep paddling hard. If I glance back and I'm too far ahead, I'll take a breather until you catch up. If you disappear, I know you're in trouble, and I know where to look. BUT STAY WELL OFF TO THE SIDE.”
• Having checkpoints - It's not a bad idea to have some designated landmark in a downwind course where you agree to pause and check in with you buddy, close enough to have a conversation about how everything is going and whether any plan or course changes need to be made.
• Practice your buddy paddling skills - If you feel comfortable in the conditions and you are occasionally ahead of your buddy,
  • practice turns, if need be with your feet over the side in the water on really difficult days
    • learn what wind speed and conditions make it improbably or impossible for you to turn upwind with your current skills
  • paddling upwind
  • set aside some outings (probably not the most challenging ones initially - build your skills) for testing and practicing you ability to communicate and locate each other using your chosen tech.
    • phone
    • VHF radio
    • SafeTrx
  • set aside some outings to practice rescue techniques.
    • make sure that your self rescue skills are sharp
      • remount
      • can you deal with a broken rudder cable, broken paddle
    • practice group rescue
      • can you hold another surfski to help your buddy remount
      • can you effectively use the side-by-side