Kelp mines

jp5 · Joined: 19 May 1998 Posts: 3394 Location: OnUr6

So you're at your favorite ocean sailing spot and you know where all the kelp beds are and the way thru them but storm swells and waves have torn some of it loose and it's now floating around like those old WWII sea mines. Then when you are planing along at full speed you hit a patch and YAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! Over the bars. Embarassed

coolmtnbiker048 · Joined: 01 Jul 2005 Posts: 372 Location: California

Use a smaller fin.

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

Or go faster!

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

I once hit a loose dense kelp knot full speed at Leo a number of years ago, and it was as JP has aptly identified. Total and immediate disaster, and I didn't have any time to avoid it. While there was no real damage to my board or me, the experience was very hardcore, as I was moving full speed when I hit it.

When the kelp is in the area you expect it, that's one thing, but when it's in an area that you don't expect it, the situation can be totally off the top.

dabull1 · Joined: 19 Mar 1997 Posts: 556

No kelp mines at Mammoth,just 24" of new fluff... YEEHAW!!!!! Bull

jp5 · Joined: 19 May 1998 Posts: 3394 Location: OnUr6

Exactly as SW describes it, and if I was going any faster I would no longer have foot straps on the board.

Bull - Who can afford Mammoth? Take a run or two for me buddy, us cheapskates will continue to WS Leo during the cold winter months as it only costs a couple bucks in gas.

dabull1 · Joined: 19 Mar 1997 Posts: 556

$1.94 a gallon at the Vons in Bishop a week ago... "Drill here, drill now, drill here, drill now,ooommm! Keep an eye on the secret [Mitch's] website for an announcement of the First Annual Bill's Bull Memorial Ski Classic and Margarita Festival... bringing skiing back to the masses!!!! Bull

pacspeed · Joined: 14 Sep 2000 Posts: 627

I almost broke my hip (at a ripe old 33) off the point at San Carlos. Going DTL, trying to thread the needle and WHAP! down like a sack of potatoes with the boom head (somehow) nailing me in the right hip.

Goddamn kelp!

theq · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 707

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

I have to admit that the fin I was using was a 34cm Tectonic Goldwing at Leo, so I was a bit out of school. Such disaster using a slalom fin is somewhat more amped on the disaster scale, as the leading edge is more abrupt in shape.

I was admittedly lucky, but one can't always count on that. I had a very similar experience hitting a filled plastic bag at full speed out of nowhere at another location. After such an experience, you've usually got some interesting bruises to show, or extended discomfort from the encounter.