Well, I had my arse handed to me on a plate yesterday in big messy swell and 25 to 35 knots. Caught two of the largest waves I have kited yet, it was breaking so far out you never really could tell where any kind of lineup was. It was everywhere. I ended up getting mowed down by a big set, and while tumbling underwater I kept trying to fly the kite. One dude said I was under for at least a hundred meters. I was hoping I could power the kite to pull me up but it never happened. I came up just in time only to be bombed by another big wave. I ditched my kite as I swam for the bottom.
It took me longer than I wanted to get in, loads of rips and relentless waves. I honestly wondered if I would get in. I did finally, way out of breath and seeing stars. I have not had to go through this punishment in a loooooooong time, and it made me realize how unfit I was for a true beating, the kind you can get in those waves. I have had so many good sessions in large surf that I almost forgot what that was like. So, I need to start swimming more and get my lung capacity working better.
The question I have is this: I know tow in dudes wear pfds, does the flotation help you get rolled onto the beach, meaning you don't dive for the bottom, you just let it roll you in, or does it just keep you on the surface longer. I have never worn one, but would consider it for bigger surf. I know the important aspect is better fitness, that is where I will start, but would the pfds help you get to the beach quicker in one piece?
(this situation was so bad that the first thing I did when I came home was to hug my two girls, it was that kind of serious awaking)
Cheers

Yep pdf work a treat. You just get to relax and enjoy the situation, hook your thumbs in up near your chest and enjoy the ride, don't even try to swim

Love to read my PDF whilst getting smashed

^^ you mean PFD. Not sure if a PDF would much use unless you have a good waterproof reader - but what's the point in reading, we got videos these days.

yeah man. a hard smashing by a big wave is a wake up call alright. I had one a few months back. Well the kite went down right into a pitching face and I did the submarine superman so hard i couldn't reach the release for ages.

Well I guess that was the question, does it roll you in....take a breath and go with it, or do you just pop back up? Good photo of the testing, you know you are going to cop it and you do it anyway!

tow in dudes for sure, but most surfers wear legropes, and after the hold down and beating, you pull your board toward you and ride in on your belly if you need to hit the beach. Having to swim in with a harness, (which I almost was at the point of ditching) was awkward.

I recon a kitesurfer getting washing machined is way worse than a surfer. You have that added danger of the kite and lines.
plus we can and do hit breaks that the surfers can reach because its too far out.

Its bloody great fun but the concequences are high.

I tacked upwind to a break the other day that's about 800m out. in shore is boulder wall for about 1 km down wind. I was riding these awesome waves. the big sets double me. Sweet sweet faces. You know when it gets to the critical size when it doesn't matter how windy it is the suck back of the wave just pulls the wave clean.

It was like that.

So I catch this big one and run down the wave but i'm running straight at the kite and it slack lines and starts to drop. To carve upwind to get line tension ment smacking into the me + white wash rumbling next to me. Not too keen on that. I found myself reaching further up the top stearing line and yanking on it while I dodged the monster. At the last moment my I managed to snap the kite into a loop and avoid a major hammering.

Risky stuff.

Any way I find myself thinking more about a pfd for those sorts of silly sessions. More for floatation if I get stuck a long way out to sea with a stuffed kite and need to spend a while swimming back to shore.

wave6ft said..

Ssurfers go through this all the time in big surf

Just to give this some context. Dafish is a surfer,through and through. He has been riding decent surf all over the world for a long time (not that he would ever say). The sort of beating and size of the waves he is talking about would have been substantial.

I was looking at the possibility of an impact vest with floatation. It's a little more streamlined and I am guessing a bit easier to swim with. Mabye the best of both worlds. I hate the bulk of PFD's.

Anyone had any experience with impact vests? I think I spotted a tow in guy with a Dakine.

The problem we have is, if its windy and from the south. If it not big when we start it is by the time we finish. Fun though!