Surfski Knowledge Base

Whatcom Tandem Wisdom (WTW)
Drew Biel Jan 9 #33003

Dear all —
It's Drew Biel and Kelley Watson up here in Port Townsend. We have an Epic V8 tandem to play with and thought to ask if you have any tips, guidance, or “Top #10 Musts and Nevers” for paddling an HPK2.

Many thanks,
drew

Reivers Dustin Jan 9 #33004

I'll get in here first, but disclaimer: I'm not the best advice. For me the paddle-partner was more important than anything. Some of this might be just body mechanics pairing. But surprisingly there are some amazing quirks out there. Some of these paddle-monkeys have incredible little mannerisms. Some folks have an amazing amount of lean - they actually ride with the boat tipped to one side or the other. You would not normally notice this until you hop in a boat with someone with the opposite lean. Next thing you know you're in a fight with each other (and probably don't even know what started it). There's a million other things. Some guys have power at the first part of the stroke. Or maybe have a faster stroke rate. There's paddlers that “Hop” once in a while to correct their seating or maybe they favor one side.

I will forever owe Kirk for being so patient with me. I was front seat in a double. Front seat normally steers. So we jump out in the big old San Fran bay on Doubles Day with a horrible beach start (which I mucked up of course). But as the race is going on I found myself fighting the rudder. I was trying to edge into rides and stuff. But I didn't know the back seat foot pedals were connected. I thought the boat was broken. I thought we were going to die. No steering out there is no joke. Kirk just kept saying “It's cool.” “We're ok”. etc. I didn't know he had the rudder. And he's a stout lad. I'm not moving the rudder if he doesn't agree. I had no clue. Glad no one had this crap on camera. Sorry Kirk.

One other thing. The boat matters. The big Fenn double is a rock. Did Length-of-the-lake with LG in that boat and it was huge, nasty, wrong-way monsters. We did great. At one section I'm in front seat and could not reach water with my paddle as we crested waves. It was a long day. Super solid boat. On the other hand, although I love Huki, that last double was hard to remount. It's a fast boat, but if you go out, it's a booger to get both paddlers back in. Me and LG practiced a bunch.

Best memories: my kid and me doing Great Cross Sound race. Shane B. and another stout lad (Mr. Day) in a hot double. We four pounded the livin crap out of each other for every inch of that water. We managed to edge those two and they were not cupcakes. That Was A Good Day. And then all those years LG and Shaun raced that Grey Ghost. And then “Team 205” adventures. ….

Goog god I'm old. I'll shut up now.

Rick Lingbloom Jan 9 #33006

You’re going to have fun!

Must:
-Front person steers and sets the pace.
-Rear person matches the front … no matter what.
-Communicate!
-Have a plan for remounting in case of a ‘dismount’ (shouldn’t be a problem with a V8!)

(BTW … RD & LG + Team 205 = Length of the Lake domination … back in the olden days anyway 😉)

Toby Cooper Jan 9 #33007

For my money, teamboats are totally more fun.

Maybe this is just me, but I have found it helpful when you are in front to focus on the feel of the boat and what your partner is doing. When in the back seat, I find I need to concentrate even harder on the feel and avoid reacting to the visual of the bowperson in front of you. For a drill, the back seat closes their eyes. That works.

There are a million ways to drive your paddle in the water – hard catch vs. soft catch for example. You have to understand what each of you is doing or else you can be working against each other. If you get it right, 1 + 1= 3. If you get it wrong, 1 + 1 = .5.

My double is a Carbonology Blast, fast boat in flat water. I am still looking for a partner for La Conner if anyone is interested, and I could bring the boat to Bellingham on January 28 for a practice.

Good Paddling, All,

Toby

Drew Biel Jan 10 #33015

Dustin - thanks so much. This is all going to help.
Drew