TC Surfski Immersion

All posts tagged TC Surfski Immersion

Drill Sergeant

Posted by 2geeks3knots on June 12, 2017
Posted in: Kayaking, surfski. Tagged: , , , , , . 1 Comment

TC Surfski Immersion 6/2/17: Oscar Chalupsky, coach and Nelo Surfski CEO, teaches us how to practice. Single-minded focus is key, reminding us of an all-time favorite book, The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance by Timothy Gallwey. Life-altering! Like Oscar’s paddling drills…

Click for how-to video series. First up: Moving your legs from one side to the other while teaching yourself to balance:

Next, the one- and two-handed catch, morphing into rotate-bury-and-pull:

“Penguin Man” teaches rotation:

“Penguin Man” at default position gets your legs into the equation:

The exit drill teaches you to simply lift your hand to return to “default” position:

Finally, Oscar puts it all together:

A gazillion thanks to Nick Murray, Chief Surfing Addict of TC Surfski for organizing the 5th Annual TC Surfski Immersion Weekend. And hats off to the generous Oscar Chalupsky and all the coaches and new friends Jean met in Traverse City, Michigan. More pics here…double click for fullsize slideshow:

Jean and Oscar practice toasting with Macedonian wine (Vranec)
Jim and Tish defy gravity
Oscar and Marcus tandem
Marcus the “paddle on the water” cop
Paul braces with his paddle on the water
Jean tests a new Nelo 550
Elena and Oscar look for surf

Surf’s Up!

Posted by 2geeks3knots on June 12, 2017
Posted in: Kayaking, surfski. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

TC Surfski Immersion (Day 3): Surfskis are born to surf. But if wind and waves aren’t cooperating, just make your own! All you need is a waterski boat, half a dozen friends (i.e., ballast) and full-throated enthusiasm. We took turns surfing the boat wake, newbies “in tandem” with TC Surfski’s Chief Surfing Addict, Nick Murray, and Oscar Chalupsky. Click for video (Ok, the continuity’s terrible, but we’re in a hurry at 11.3 mph/ 9.8 knots.) BTW, Jean shows up behind Oscar at about :42. 🙂 🙂

More pix from the day are here. Click for slideshow:

Waterski boat
Can’t stop laughing! Glenn and Trevor
Rob (center), Jean and Oscar tandem in Vaikobi gear and ski
Rob and Sue chase the wake
Elena
Glenn and Joe serve as ballast

 

Farewell, John Wayne

Posted by 2geeks3knots on June 12, 2017
Posted in: Kayaking, surfski. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

TC Immersion weekend (Day 2 cont’d): The first day they met, Oscar Chalupsky told Jean she was unladylike. Well! Of course he was right… She’d heard that surfskier adage, “When in doubt, feet out!” to help stabilize things, so she’d taken a rather “cowboy” approach to paddling in to shore. Oscar demonstrates why Elizabeth II would’ve beaten the “Duke” at surfski paddling. 🙂 🙂 Click for video:

 

 

Stand and Deliver

Posted by 2geeks3knots on June 12, 2017
Posted in: Kayaking, surfski. Tagged: , , , . 1 Comment

TC Surfski Immersion (Day 2, 6/2): Why complicate your paddling technique drills with a boat? Crazy. In this post, we’ve moved to the park and beach to practice Oscar Chalupsky’s “shoulder drill” (above) and the ever-popular “couple fighting for paddle” (kidding!)…

Both emphasize short, powerful rotation. And a great relationship 🙂 🙂 Jim and Tish (above) and the other two dozen of us TC Surfski Immersion participants really got into it (up to our kneecaps!). Click for video:

For more technique minus the H2O, see previous posts here and here.

 

Locked Elbow

Posted by 2geeks3knots on June 11, 2017
Posted in: Kayaking, surfski. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

TC Surfski Immersion, (Day 2 cont’d): Now that we’ve determined that our forward stroke needs fixing, what better place to do that than the garage? Jean gives the new Ivan Lawler erg a try (click for video):

Oscar Chalupsky offers a tune-up. First on the erg, then on water:

In by your toes, out by your knees… in by your toes, out by your knees… Lock it in 🙂 🙂

 

Fireside Chat

Posted by 2geeks3knots on June 11, 2017
Posted in: Kayaking, surfski. Tagged: , , , , . 2 Comments

TC Surfski Immersion, Day 1 (6/2): Just when you thought your forward stroke was solid… Oscar Chalupsky, 12x Molokai Champion and CEO of Nelo Surfski takes the ultra-light composite stage at Hilltop Lodge’s living room.   Click video for tips on catch, power, and take-out. (Just add water):

More photos from TC Surfski weekend are here. Click for slideshow:

Coaches L to R: Nick Murray, Rob Hartman, Erik Borgnes, Oscar Chalupsky, Greg Greene
Paul, Marcus, and their surfski fleet
Paul couldn’t decide which of his skis to bring, so he brought them all!
Grand Traverse Bay, seen from Hilltop Lodge
A study of water, fog, clouds: Grand Traverse Bay