How to Paddle Your Kayak in Waves

I was in my late 20s when I took my first trip to Tofino.  Before that, I had cut my teeth kayaking the lakes and rivers of northern Ontario.  I had never before set a paddle blade into the Pacific Ocean, so I didn’t know how to paddle a kayak in waves.  Well, I learned a lot about wave paddling on that trip. Here are some of those things:

To learn how to effectively paddle your kayak in waves, there are six key items that you should understand to minimize risk of injury and maximize probability of fun. It is important to:

  1. Know where the wind and waves are expected to be,
  2. Choose an appropriate kayak (sit-on-top-is less risky for the novice),
  3. Enter your kayak at the right time with safe technique,
  4. Paddle hard into the face of waves,
  5. Paddle gently and strategically when returning to shore,
  6. Exit your kayak at the right time with safe technique.
How to paddle your kayak in waves

Know where the wind and waves are expected to be

What is the principal cause of waves?  The answer is wind.  If you know where you will find wind, then you know where you will find waves.  This knowledge can help you plan your trip appropriately.

Begin your trip paddling into the wind. If you are embarking on a single-day voyage that will end at the same place as where it began, then begin your trip paddling into the wind. This will also usually place your kayak directly in line with on-coming waves.  Battling waves and wind is a tiring undertaking.  You do not want to be so tired during the back-leg of your voyage that your body (and spirit) can’t get you home.

Or, begin your trip paddling with the wind at your back. If the start and end points of your trip are different, then organize your affairs such that you’ll be able to paddle with the wind at your back.  This is a fun way to voyage.  Consult the local weather reports to inform your decision.

Learn about the wind and wave characteristics of your location.  Which way does the wind blow on a typical day and how hard can it be expected to blow? 

Wind direction and strength can change significantly over the course of a day.  It is typical to expect onshore winds during the first part of the day and offshore winds in the second part. 

With that in mind, It is best to avoid a situation where you find yourself caught in difficult offshore winds at the end of the day.  This can be really taxing on your body (if not slightly panic-inducing as well).

Similarly, you’ll have to navigate onshore winds, too.  Be sure to paddle far enough away from shore so that the onshore winds don’t push your kayak back into the surf zone. This is especially true if that zone is littered with rocks or other marine debris that might put an unwelcome hole in your beloved (or rented) boat.

Surf zone waves and open water waves are different. Waves are created by wind.  The stronger the wind and the greater the distance it has traveled, the bigger the wave. 

When these waves reach the shore, they curl over themselves and break. It is best to be mindful of where the waves are breaking so that you can time your paddling accordingly.

However, in deep, open water, waves don’t curl and break.  Strong winds can create waves with significant swells and deep troughs. While these must be navigated, there is little risk of a wave curling and breaking.

What are the best kayaks to paddle in waves?

It is always best to select the right tool for the right job. A lot of your kayak-selection decision depends on where you want to have your fun.

If waves are new to you, a sit-on-top kayak will treat you well. If you are a recreational kayaker looking to frolick in the waves, then a sit-on-top kayak will likely serve you best.  They have scupper holes that self-bail, are manageable, and allow for a modestly graceful exit should a wave get the best of you. 

If you are coordinated, you can stand up on them while on a wave and treat them like a surf board.  Totally irresponsible, but sick fun!

Whitewater kayaks are a lot of fun, but you need to have some basic skills. Whitewater kayaks are short (some are really short) sit-in kayaks that lock you inside the boat with a spray skirt.  They can be a lot of fun to frolic in. YouTube has some amazing videos of professional kayakers riding big waves while locked into their whitewater kayaks. Check this one out here. 

If you have never heard of an eskimo roll, or have heard of one but can’t perform it, then stick to the sit-on-top kayaks. At some point you will end up under your kayak and will require self-rescue moves to get your head back above water.

Touring kayaks also require skill to safely paddle in waves. Similar to whitewater kayaks, touring kayaks lock you inside your boat with a sprayskirt.  The added complexity with a touring kayak is its length.  Because it is so long, it is much less maneuverable than a true whitewater kayak.  So, the likelihood that your kayak gets turned sideways and flipped over by a wave is pretty significant for the inexperienced kayaker. With practice you’ll learn the skills to avoid flipping, but it’ll take time. 

Again, your eskimo roll skills will need to be proficient to play with a touring kayak in the waves. You will be tested.

How to enter your kayak while in waves.

Entering your sit-on-top kayak. If you are operating a sit-on-top kayak (which is what I first used in the Pacific Ocean), it is most effective to point your boat directly into the waves. Then wade out to water that is between knee and waist deep. Hop on top of your boat, and then paddle steadily but vigorously through the surf zone.

Remember that waves come in sets, so you can time your entry so that you are boarding your kayak on flat water.

**Pro Tip: It can be pretty easy to lose your paddle while trying to enter your kayak as your body is being pummeled by waves.  Using a paddle leash will keep your paddle from floating too far away if you accidentally let go. That’s a whole other can of worms that I discuss in an article here.**

Entering your sit-in kayak. Entering your sit-in kayak can prove a little trickier and, frankly, a little more work, in the surf zone.  For this purpose, my assumption is that you will be launching from some form of beach – be it rock or sand. 

Begin at the water’s edge with your kayak half in and half out of the water. Then, enter the kayak and sit down. Get comfortable inside your hip and thigh pads, and attach your spray skirt. 

Once properly situated, use your hands to walk/push your kayak into water that is high enough to float your hull.  Then begin to steadily but vigorously paddle directly into the waves.  And hang on to your paddle.

Paddling in the ocean waves

How to paddle your kayak through waves to open sea

Face the waves head-on. If you want to remain on top of your kayak while in waves, the key principle to remember is to keep your boat perpendicular to the approaching wave.  In other words, face the front tip of your boat directly into the path of the approaching wave. 

Your kayak is more stable from bow-to-stern than it is from side-to-side. This positioning will allow you to maintain balance as you progress through the waves.

Paddle your kayak through waves with force and velocity. As you make your way through the surf zone it will quickly become clear that your day’s chosen activity will require real strength and determination. 

It’s not too hard to paddle over a green wave because these waves do not throw you back towards the beach.  But the white ones sure do.  A big breaking wave that hits you in the face and chest can actually stop you in your tracks and push you back some distance.

Reach beyond the crest of the wave and keep your paddle in the water. Just as a wave begins to crest on you, lean forward as far as you can and plant your next paddle stroke deep into the back of the wave. Do it with force and conviction.  This will anchor you in place and give you some control as the wave tries to throw you back.  Try to keep a consistent rhythm to your paddle strokes.

**PRO-TIP 1: It is common to see novice kayakers lift their arms and paddles above their head when a wave hits them.  Don’t do this. When your paddle is out of the water, then the wave has complete control over you and your boat.  Keep your paddle in the water and keep your momentum going forward.**

**PRO-TIP 2: When paddling through a wave, keep the shaft of your paddle away from your face.  It’s a bummer to break your nose in the middle of the surf zone.  Also, trails of blood in the open sea tend to not end favorably (for non-predators).**

There are several paddle strokes that, with practice, will really save your bacon when you get tangled up in a wave. (If you want to see these strokes in action, there are many examples on YouTube like this one here.)

Stern Brace. This is an exaggerated stern rudder. When steering during a surf run, place the rear blade far out to the side of the kayak.  This will provide significant turning power.

Low Brace. With your kayak parallel to the wave (which happens to the best of us whether we like it or not) place your flat paddle blade on top of the wave.  The wave will provide more support than you might initially expect.

Steyr Roll. Layback Roll. If you are going to play in the surf zone, you are going to do some rolling.  Do your best to roll in the same direction as the wave so that you come up on the sea side of the wave rather than the beach side. 

The wave is likely going to roll you that way, regardless of whether you try to fight it or not.  If it becomes clear that you are going to roll, just let the wave do the work.  It is likely that the wave will pop you right back up again before you have time to take control, anyway.

Pearl Dive. If you are paddling surf zone waves with a sea kayak, you might find yourself in this situation. When heading down the face of a medium-to-large wave, the tip of the kayak can sometimes bury itself under the surface.  When this happens, lean back.  You may or may not be able to prevent what could happen next. 

If all goes well, the wave will pass and the tip of your kayak will emerge out of the water. And if not, then your kayak will begin to go vertical as your stern points to the sky. 

Should this occur, then one of a couple of things usually happens:

1. The wave pushes your kayak all the way over in what is called a ‘forward loop’ or pitchpole.  You simply roll back up and keep on paddling.

2.  Alternatively, you may be able to execute a quick paddle stroke to twist your kayak 180 degrees and land right side up but facing backwards – the ‘pirouette’ or ‘dry loop’.

The worst case scenario is that your five metre-long kayak digs into the sea floor, your body flies over the vertical kayak like a pole vault gone horribly wrong, and your boat breaks from the sheers stress of it all.

PaddleGeek hitting waves in the ocean

How to paddle your kayak through waves back to shore

When it is finally time to call it a day, you will be required to navigate the surf zone in order to exit your kayak.  The process of returning to the beach with the waves at your back is quite different from paddling through the waves to get to sea.

If you are at the back end of a sea kayak trip, don’t finish at a surf beach.  You will undoubtedly be tired and your kayak will likely be weighed down with a bunch of gear. The last thing you will want to do is navigate an aggressive surf zone with all of the inherent risks.  Perhaps there are alternatives. 

Whenever possible, look for a calm water access that provides a smooth opportunity to disembark. 

Or, perhaps the waves are smaller at one end of the beach, allowing for a slightly smoother exit.

Look for a wave shadow in the lee of a headland which slows waves down to reach the beach more gently.

If the beach has a river that enters the sea, then there may be a wave-free zone in the river channel. 

Last but not least, just wait awhile.  Big waves seldom last more than a few hours – either the swell dies or the changing tide alters the profile of the beach.

There are alternatives and it is best to plan ahead so that game-time decisions are still informed decisions.

Keep control while paddling back to shore. If you are absolutely committed to returning to the shore through a surf zone, the key principle is to maintain control of your kayak. 

Force and maximum velocity are no longer your friends.  The waves will push your kayak towards the shore.  Your job is to keep the tip of your boat pointed towards shore, if not at a slight angle. As the waves push your boat forward, simply use your paddle as a rudder to steer and course-correct.

For maximum control, try to paddle in on the backside of waves.  Paddle very slowly and even backwards if you find your bow pointing down.

If you find yourself in a lull between wave sets, go ahead and pick up your paddling pace. The key is to not accelerate while on the face of a wave.  Just do your best to keep your boat pointed at the beach when those waves do give you a push.

Exiting a sit-on-top kayak. If you have been paddling in a sit-on-top kayak, find a lull between wave sets and exit your boat in water that is knee-to-waist deep.  Then walk your kayak back to shore.  This will allow you to keep maximum control when the water is very shallow.

Exiting a sit-in kayak. To exit your sit-in kayak safely, you will need to ride the back of larger waves all the way to the beach.  When the water gets shallower, this can be tricky as your paddle starts jamming into the rocks and sand.  Do your best.  Once your kayak has mostly run aground, remove the spray skirt and exit quickly.

Parting thoughts about paddling your kayak in waves

Paddling your kayak in waves is both terrifying and exhilarating.  The more skill you have developed, the more fun it can be.

If I have learned anything about setting out to paddle in waves, it is to plan ahead, match the kayak to the conditions and my skill level, and to exercise good judgement with respect to what I can realistically do with my body and my boat.

Finally, if you have the opportunity, practice strokes and rolls in a place where you feel safe.  Find a stretch of beach with small waves and present the side of your kayak to them so that you can feel the force of the ocean and learn how to recover from a roll.  Once you gain skill and comfort in a safe place, you will be able to approach more aggressive surf zones with increased confidence.