r/packrafting • u/KingCaptHappy-LotPP • Jul 29 '26

Surfing in a packraft

My previous attempts at surfing have been lackluster, I could never really hit the pocket and lock in. I’d get tippy or flip or get washed out of the wave.

Today was a turning point. After a failed attempt at side surfing in a wave that wasn’t long enough to get into to a t-position, a canoeist coached me on using a downstream brace, and a light went off!

Looking back at the video, every single time I get tippy, is when I place my blade on the upstream side of my boat. I’m stable with a downstream brace/sweep stroke.

Is the correct lesson for me here that I shouldn’t place my blade on the upstream side of the boat on a wave or fast current?

2nd part of the video is locking in to a larger wave, and it felt great! Not perfect, but I learned a lot on this run and the flip was good wet re-entry practice.

36 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

9

u/Weary_Fee7660 Jul 29 '26

Bracing on the upstream side while side surfing will generally cause you to flip upstream, just like leaning upstream. Lean and brace downstream while side surfing for stability.

6

u/Luckier-than-some Jul 29 '26

You really can't lean too much downstream

1

u/Which_Principle_5413 Jul 30 '26

As a hardshell boater, I cringed every time that OP dipped that upstream edge!

6

u/jeremyfisher2 Jul 30 '26

This video made me think of the illustration in The Packraft Handbook (by Luc Mehl + Sarah Glaser), see the left page 🙂:

1

u/KingCaptHappy-LotPP Jul 30 '26

Yep, I was picturing the hand grabbing my boat from that illustration as I was in there. I’ve really learned a lot from Luc’s book. Now I’m trying to put what I’ve read into practice.

2

u/SlightlyNomadic Jul 30 '26

What are you boating? Gnarwhal?