Surf Talk Guru

Planning to buy an ocean kayak? You have many options as to where to purchase an ocean kayak. If you are on a tight budget, allocate some time by doing some price comparison shopping. Don’t be surprised to find that some of the kayaks are very expensive. But investing on one will surely be all worth it.

However, if it’s really great deals in ocean kayaks that you are looking for, then the best place to is to check them out online. There are so many excellent deals that can be found on the internet, and that includes used ocean kayaks. You may start by putting the words “ocean kayak” in the search bar of your preferred search engine and you will likely be overwhelmed with the many results it will give you. You may also be amazed with the prices in ocean kayaks being offered at the most reasonable deals.

If you’re looking to buy a new surfboard, a good idea is to take advantage of the demo board option at your local surf shop. Most shops offer certain demo boards for a 24-hour period for around $30. These boards aren’t used, they’re new, only taken out for a day at a time for the express purpose of offering an experience on one brand or another.

You can usually try up to 3 demo boards, then put the cost you’ve paid (up to $90 or so) towards the price of a new surfboard, which you’ll hopefully be happy with since you have tested it out already. It’s a good way to try different styles and brands of boards, and to see which is right for you. Keep in mind that boards ride differently depending on where you’re surfing, the conditions that day, your weight and stature, and your experience level.

Check out this feature on local tow-in team members Dan Hasselschwert and Ollie Richardson: http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2010/02/hail_to_the_reef.html

The photos capturing their superior performance on Scott’s Reef on the Oregon Coast have caused a media sensation. Their epic rides (and epic wipeouts) were featured on Billabong’s XXL Global Big Wave Awards. Everyone knows that Oregon surfing is core, but these locals proved it and showed the world.

The sun is finally starting to show itself through the fog and clouds of this dreary winter. By Spring Break in March, we’ll be ready to spend some quality time outside. If you’re looking for something new and exciting to do, sign up for Surf School that runs through Spring Break.

You can also take a guided kayak lesson or rent kayaks to explore the local waters. And don’t be afraid to drive up or down the coast to search out new surf spots. Sometimes that’s the best way to learn and improve your surfing.

There are many reasons why children should don wetsuits at the beach rather than swimsuits. Even in the summer months, you’d be wise to send your kid splashing in a full or spring suit rather than a pair of trunks or a 2-piece.

For one thing, especially if you want to hang out at our Oregon beaches, it’s cold! A wetsuit will keep your child warm whether they’re in or out of the water and will protect from the wind chill. It will also act as a thicker skin and protect from scrapes and scratches. Your child will be able to hang out and play for a lot longer when warm and comfortable.

Wetsuits also protect the skin from sun exposure much better than sunblock lotions, which wear off quickly in the sand and water. An added bonus: getting your child in the practice of pulling a wetsuit on and off will benefit them in the future if they decide to be active in water sports. People who are comfortable getting in and out of a wetsuit are more likely to spend time and enjoy surfing, kayaking, and diving.

Most manufacturers like O’Neill, Quiksilver, and Xcel wetsuits have a wide variety of childrens’ wetsuits. You can also find used kids’ wetsuits at your local surf shop.

Ocean kayaks have a lot of fans, me included. I love how you can take them anywhere from the waves, the river, the bay, the creek, the sound. They’re easy to carry and travel around with. They’re overall a great toy to have. But I know they’re expensive ($350-$650). Plus, there’s so much gear you can buy to go with it: wet or drysuits, wall racks, seats, paddles, dry bags, it can end up costing a fortune (just like any hobby, I guess).

Some shops that rent and sell Ocean Kayaks, sit-on-tops, and yak boards have a rent-to-own option. You can rent a kayak for a day or 24-hour period, decide if you love it, then put the cost of the rental toward the price of a new or used kayak of your choice. It’s a good deal, like test-driving a car. With spring weather coming, the sun popping out once in awhile, it would be good to have another reason to get outside and enjoy it.

Thinking of buying a yak board? Here are some things to think about before buying:

1. You’re going to get wet!–So you’ll need to have a wetsuit or drysuit to stay comfortable, especially in the ocean.

2. It can be slow-going, especially if you are a big person.–Weight creates drag in these flat boats. Windy conditions will slow you down even more. It doesn’t track that well, so you just keep your strokes nice and easy.

3. They’re stable and easy to steer.–Perfect for novice paddlers.

4. They’re easy yo transport.–At about 8 feet and lightweight, they’re easy to load on and off the top of your car, the back of your truck, or even the inside of your car!

5. It’s a fishing platform!–Yak boards work well as fishing/crabbing boats in the ocean, river, or bay. They’re stable and have extra room for your gear and your catch.

What are yak boards? They’re just about the most fun thing you can do in the water besides surf. The yak board is a surf boat from Ocean Kayak, a flattened version of sit-on-top kayak for use in calm water or surf.

It’s stable and lightweight, perfect for beginning kayakers and children, but also responsive to cuts and turns, making it a fun ride for those with experience. Don’t forget that in a sit-on-top of any kind, you’re going to get wet. In Oregon, you’ll need to go prepared in a 3/2mm wetsuit to ensure a good time.

The latest models offered by Al Merrick of Channel Islands surfboards are the products of years of collaboration between Merrick and pro surfers such as Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, and Dane Reynolds. Slater helped design The Wizard Sleeve, The Whip, and The Tangent, Machado created The Gravy, The Machado Model, and The Robber, and Reynolds came up with The Dumpster Diver. It stands to reason, then, that these new models are made for intermediate to expert surfers.

Other highlights from this series of new models are The Rookie, designed with the Gudauskas’ in mind, and The Fort Knox for Taylor Knox. The Even Keel is a Joe Curren exclusive, The Double Helix is an improved Flyer, The Big Willy (for Willy Morris) is a high-performance gun, and The MBM+ helped Nathaniel Curran win the US Open.

The 2010 catalog from Zap Skimboards is out and it’s kickin’! Zap’s new line of boards, amazing board art, and skimboarding accessories is the best yet. They also have a fair amount of clothing items to check out that are pretty stylin’.

The best thing about their boards, besides the quality, is that they are tailored for the rider, not only by the rider’s size, but also their experience level. They have wide sandsliders for beginners, narrower high-quality core boards for intermediates, and extra-sensitive control sticks for the experts.