Three great downwind instruction videos

I haven't posted here in a long time as I've been off with an injury for a while. When I did some quick Google searches a couple of days ago, I found to my amazement that this blog shows up as the number 1 search result under "downwind SUP instruction" and "SUP downwind instruction". So I figured that maybe I should update the downwind instruction section of my blog. I just added 3 of the best downwind instruction videos made to date. If you practice the tips in these videos, you'll take your downwind paddling to the next level. Thanks very much to Clay Island, Chase Kosterlitz and Robert Stehlik! For a lot more tips, check out the Instruction section of my blog.

From Clay Island:

From Chase Kosterlitz:

From Robert Stehlik:

Early November Toronto Island Upwind-Downwind loop

This is the route I do most often in a SW or NE wind. The reward for the upwind leg through Toronto Island is a downwind run that's almost 4km long. The entire paddle can be done in a little over an hour (a bit longer if the wind is strong since the upwind leg will take longer). And no car shuttle required!

Here's the video:
https://vimeo.com/191245267

The route:

For a detailed breakdown of the route:

http://supdownwind.blogspot.ca/2014/11/the-downwind-run-i-do-most-often-is-out.html

Oct. 22, 2016 Lake Ontario downwinder with Antonio and Tracey

You wouldn't think that there would be a good downwind route in Toronto in a NW wind - well there is! Gibraltar Point on Toronto Island offers an ideal target to shoot for in an offshore downwinder from anywhere from Sunnyside to Ontario Place.

Tracey, Antonio and I launched from Ontario Place and had a fun little downwind session. In offshore winds, the bumps start off small the build gradually until they form nicely groomed consistent waves. They end up easy to catch as a result, although they're also quite closely spaced so you don't build up as much speed as you would on larger waves. You do a lot of gliding though!

After rounding Gibraltar Point, we paddled to TWC in the wind shadow of Toronto Island, passing by Centre Island pier and the Eastern Gap before finishing at Cherry Beach.

Short but very sweet!

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If you want to see a longer version (7 minutes instead of 5) of the paddle showing some of the flat water portion including the Centre Island pier and the Eastern Gap, then here it is. The new content starts just after the 6 minute mark:

Mid Oct. Downwinder - Lakeside Park to Col. Sam Smith

It was a rare October day that was hot, mostly sunny and very windy - an unexpected downwinder gift! Winds were 25-30mph from the SW, perfect for a run from Lakeside Park near Southdown Road to Colonel Samuel Smith Park. Great conditions for a downwinder.

Here's my GPS trace (yes, I did go in too early at the pier before realizing I wasn't done yet):

And the video:

I put a camera on Antonio's board as well and got some video of him (sorry about the video stuttering):

First Downwinder of 2016: Oct. 1 with Tracey and Antonio

There was a solid east wind blowing for a while before we launched, but it died down to 15mph, gusting to 25mph by the time we got on the water. There were still bigger bumps from the stronger wind though. Route was from TWC to Humber Bay. Fun day! Made me realize how much I had missed downwinders. Downwind season is here though, so hoping we get some more in this fall.

Here's a video:

And some pics:

TWC SUP Mammoth Race video

What a great day we had at the Mammoth on Saturday! - Beautiful weather, a bit of wind to make things interesting (it wouldn't be the Mammoth without some wind!), a chance to paddle all the way around the Island, and some of the best folks to race and hang out with on the beach. To top things off, we had the usual nice lunch, amazing prizes from KayakSport, and a smooth running event with the support of all our incredible volunteers.

Here's Peter Penev's great video of the race around Toronto Island. Amazing work as always Peter!




Full details here: Recap, course, results

Police car downwinder Norris Cres - TWC

Wind was blowing WSW 28-35mph. Big waves but they were quartering from the side/rear which made things tricky. Interestingly, at the end of my paddle, I hitched a ride back to my car at Norris Cres. in a police vehicle. I also got taken out by a big open-water breaking wave, which was fun.

Here's the video:

Some pics also:

Launch at Norris Cres.:

Big open water breaking wave:

Aftermath of wave from underwater:

 15 second, 16kph glide:

Another glide:

Finish at TWC:

View from back of the police car:

Nov. 1 Downwinder Jack Darling to Col. Sam Smith Park with Anthony and David

We had some great wind on this paddle, the problem was that it wasn't in the right direction. The forecast was WSW but it ended up shifting west, which was offshore. The best glides happened early on when the wind was sort of in the right direction. Still had a great time. It was blowing 25-30mph with consistent gusts to 35-38mph. The bumps were nicely groomed since it was partially offshore.

Here's a video. By the way, you can add speed and GPS data from any GPX or FIT file to your video by using the free Garmin VIRB Edit software (you don't need a Garmin camera to use it). 

The launch at Jack Darling:

David joined Anthony and I and it was his first ever proper downwinder. He was right at home in the windy conditions and even the offshore conditions didn't faze him. 

Dave:

Anthony:

Some pics showing how windy it was:

The wind shifted offshore and we had to get back to land at Col. Sam Smith, missing our intended target of Humber Bay. The water texture and bumps show what it looks like in gusts in the mid to high 30's.

There were some great bumps and glides to catch with lots of surfing from the tail:

But this is what happens when you don't step back fast enough when you've caught a bump:

How'd you end up grabbing the bottom of your board?

Relaxing - it's like a giant rocking chair lifting you up and down - just watch out for the breaking waves:

Take out at Col. Sam Smith Park:

Downwinder from Meadow Wood to Col. Sam Smith with Tracey and Mike

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, Tracey, Mike and I did a fun downwinder from Meadow Wood Lane to Colonel Sam Smith Park. This route is about 1.5km from the shoreline for most of the run and as a result, we got pretty clean bumps without too much interference from the shore. On this day, we had 18-20mph of SSW wind with gusts to 24mph - not a ton of wind, but it still resulted in some nicely lined up fun waves for us. It was a perfect day to get into downwind paddling.

13km route:

Launch at Meadow Wood:

Getting our bearings and aiming for landmarks:

Mike A:

Tracey:

Michael jumping before a fall:

Bumps got bigger near the end:

Some fun glides:

Checking Google Maps to see where we left our cars at the take out:

Col. Sam Smith Park beach: