Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Has anyone ever tried kayak surfing wind-created waves on a lake? I've heard with 30- 40 mi./h winds like we have today you can actually surf those waves. Just curious.

I've surfed behind a wake boat before, does that count?
Joe

Surfed on some 6 +/- footers in a yak but that was a really big salty lake - the pacific. I would imagine on an inland lake with high wind you might get big enough waves to surf ocean style but dont think it would be retentive hole type surfing and would be real work paddling into a wind you speak of.

Mike_P wrote:Has anyone ever tried kayak surfing wind-created waves on a lake? I've heard with 30- 40 mi./h winds like we have today you can actually surf those waves. Just curious.

We have a forecast for 30mph winds tomorrow. I'll let you know.

Typically, you'll find that the waves are constantly changing size more quickly than you might have a first perceived. So you'll catch a good one, get a good surf on for a short distance, and then that wave will peter out and you'll have to catch the next one.

On the plus side, you can travel a great distance with minimal effort on a series of mini-surfs. But don't expect to cross the entire lake on a single surf lasting several minutes - it generally doesn't work that way.

Yes it works and can be some fun. Need several of the waves to be "white caping". But like Cowper wrote, few waves last all that long. Have to paddle hard and fast until you find the "sweet" spot on each wave but fun while the ride lasts. Plan your launch point at the most downwind area on the lake if you can, as the waves will the biggest there. Pay attention when the are "lake wind advisories" issued. That is when you will want to go. Lake surfing always beats watching TV or yardwork.

I was in the middle of Lake Ouachita near Mt. Harbor this past weekend and the wind was blowing pretty good. It wasn't white capping, but I could feel myself being pushed along rather nicely with the wind at my back. It was mini-surfing at best. I was rather enjoyable until I had to turn around and head back.

I paddle a Stellar surf ski and they are a lot of fun on down wind runs. The boat is 21 ft long and 16 1/2 inches wide so just don`t get caught in a cross wind or you will be swimming !!

You could make a sail, just a thought.