Getting started in downwinding

Took the words right out of my mouth cSe!

I'd love to have a crack at downwinding, or at least longer ocean paddles on a nice day. (is that a contradiction in terms?)

I'm thinking my 11'6 Nalu might not be specialised enough.

110kg @ 190cm and profoundly uncoordinated...

Cheers, should be a good post.

You can downwind on just about anything. I've downwinded on a 10-6 Naish Nalu for instance. But it tends to be more fun, and easier, on longer boards. But it is perfectly possible to have a good time DWing on a big old cruiser-type surf board in the 11-6 to 12-6 range, especially if you are quite light. There are some boards that you could probably pick up for very little used that make great DW boards. Two examples would be the 2010-11 Mk1 Naish Glide 12, or the Jimmy Lewis 12-6 Albatross of about the same vintage. They are both good pocket DW boards that cost next to nothing now if you can find a battered but seaworthy one.

Mostly what you need is practice.

Downwinding is physically tough, especially if the conditions are messy and short period, where there will be a lot of stopping and starting, and general wobbling about. It takes a while to build up the right skills and physical ability. You might look at DJ's videos and think "that looks easy", but for most people it won't be, at least at the start. Catching bumps and staying on them requires experience in reading the conditions and this is so complex that it can't really be taught off the water.

I'd suggest that you find yourself a course that is within swimming distance of shore; is no longer than 2 miles in distance; and regularly gets over 15 knots of wind. Then just get out there and have a go (with a friend, and a phone and/or PLB). Or you can do upwind/downwind circuits in and out of shore in the range of about 12-18 knots, and this is excellent training too.

At first it may seem almost impossible to catch anything. You will probably fall a lot, and will blame your equipment, thinking that that is why you are not gliding along like you see the experts do. But it will probably be you, not your equipment. Although sometimes conditions can just be very hard to catch bumps for sure, and it can be hard to predict until you are actually out there.

You've just got to keep practicing, and in time it will come. The better you get, the more rewarding it gets. It is very addictive - there's no way that the videos convey even one hundredth of how much fun it is. You just have to be there.

Many flat water racers never progress to being good downwinders because they concentrate on speed rather than relaxing between bumps, and so turn the DW session into a choppy water slog rather than a series of glides. So get your mind right when you are practicing. Concentrate on catching bumps not overall speed. If you are the kind of competitive person who HAS to look at your GPS after every session, then IGNORE your average speed (which is largely dictated by the conditions anyway) and only look at your top speed, and how many clear *peaks* of speed there are. You can usually identify a glide because it will be at least 3 mph faster than the period that just preceded it.

DWing is MUCH more physically demanding than flat water paddling. 2 miles of tough downwinding can be more tiring than 5 miles of perfect flat water paddling even at speed. So take it easy at first.

Good luck!

Hey Unit, been thinking of giving it a crack too, looks like another board has to be added to the quiver I was thinking of leaving Scarborough boat habour across Deception Bay to either Beachmere or boat ramp at mouth of Caboolture River. I'm sure Chico would be in and just a bit of vehicle placement and we're away, and another board of course.

Thanks VERY MUCH for all the information. You sure make it sound like fun.

I think I will need to join SUP Vic to find a DW friend. Are there good places to do it on the Mornington Peninsula (either side)? I imagine you could go out at Flinders on a South-Westerly and get blown down to Pt Leo or Somers.

One question I am curious about - why SUP instead of windsurf in those conditions?

I have a 10' Trigger Brothers SUP - but it is shaped more like a surfboard - lots of rocker. Are downwinding boards normally flatter, or do you need some rocker to avoid nose-diving?

Thanks again!

Did you say....

Did you say.... W......W.......Windsurf!!!

Thanks again for all the tips.

I will connect with SUP Vic.

Came across this vid which seems helpful in case you haven't seen it:

I am always out downwinding around the peninsulla,lots of good places either side. just make sure you know the winds other wise it can be quit uncomfortable.
When I get back in top Melbourne I always post when and where I am setting out from.If you want to try out a downwinder board,I have 4.Im sure I could bring one along for you to try. Downwinding is the best,got to try it.