paddling tips for us all

Lowcountry Paddlers Club Newsletter
July 2015
Visit us on the Web at www.lowcountrypaddlers.net
Message from the Prez...
PADDLING TIPS FOR US ALL
Thank you everyone who came out
for the LCP picnic! We had a great
time, even though it was extremely
warm. Thank you to Valerie for
coordinating the picnic for us.
I was doing some research recently
and found a few safety items I
thought were interesting, and
wanted to share them with you.
your wrists straight, with all of your fingers on the shaft.
With a straight-shaft paddle you should only apply all
your fingers to the shaft when you truly need a stronger
grip such as breaking through waves or in a whitewater
rapid. Try to hold the straight-shaft paddle with just your
thumbs and first two fingers. This position will give you
straight wrists. A Greenland paddle inherently holds your
wrists straight. No matter what paddle you use, keep a
loose grip, rather than a “death grip.”
Sunburn: Wear sunscreen, hats, and appropriate clothing.
Don’t forget to put sunscreen on your ears and the tops of
your toes! I was paddle boarding last year and forgot to
put sunscreen on my feet, and they got burned.
Sea Sickness: Keep your eyes on the horizon, and not on
your lap or your kayak. Carry ginger in any form, and
take some at the first sign of seasickness. I have gotten
seasick in my kayak and the ginger works for me.
Repetitive Wrist Injury: Wrist problems most often occur
due to having too tight a grip on the paddle. If you use a
bent-shaft paddle it is ergonomically designed to keep
Be safe while out on the water so we can
paddle together again,
Michael
Valerie Larson and Michael Struve at the LCP Picnic - Photo by Michele Powell
- Page 1 -
“Making the most of our beautiful coast!”
LCP Club Business Page
LCP Minutes - June 15, 2015
The June meeting of the Lowcountry Paddlers was called to order by President Mike
Struve, at 7:00 pm, with 20 members and 5 visitors in attendance.
SPEAKERS
We are a socially and
economically di verse
organization with one common
link… a love of paddling.
Whether kayak, canoe or
paddleboard, expert or
beginner, we all enjoy the
camaraderie and the beauty of
South Carolina's waterways.
Our meetings are held on the
third Monday of each month
(except December), with club
paddles scheduled throughout
the year. Please join us and
share in the fun!
Mary Pringle and Barbara Bergwerf, from the Island Turtle Team, gave us a very interesting presentation about sea turtles in general, and the Loggerhead Turtle, which we see
nesting here on our beaches. The Turtle Team members are called out, and report to DNR,
to locate and mark turtle nests with the familiar orange signs. They asked that any turtle
activity, or anyone seen interfering with turtle activity, be reported to the DNR. You can
report via the Operation Game Thief toll free 24 hour line: 1-800-922-5431.
BUSINESS
Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as published in the newsletter without
correction.
ELECTIONS
The time has come to elect club officers for the coming year. The current Secretary,
Treasurer, and President have agreed to continue to serve for another year unless anyone
wants to challenge them. Michele has decided to take a break from serving as Vice President, so Ken McDowell has been nominated as her replacement. Anyone wishing to
nominate or volunteer needs to do so prior to the July meeting, when voting will occur as
necessary.
TREASURERS REPORT
Lowcountry Paddlers meet at:
Providence Baptist Church
294 Seven Farms Drive
Daniel Island
Join us at our next meeting on
July 20, at 7 p.m.
- Club Officers -
David Goad provided the following treasury report:
Beginning Bank Balance
$1921.58
Deposits: Memberships & Dues
$0.00
Disbursements:
$0.00
Bank Available Balance
$1921.58
Outstanding Checks #1302
Club Balance
President
Michael Struve
Vice-President
Michele Powell
Treasurer
David Goad
Secretary
Rick Leinster
$110.53
$1811.05
UPCOMING PADDLES
Sunday, Jun 28: Sunrise Park to Cummings Point with a stop at Ft Sumter on way back. An
L2 loop trip of about 8 miles, Trip leader Dan Hoke.
July 4th weekend: no scheduled paddles.
Saturday, Jul 11: Shem Creek to front side of Sullivan’s Island (to Fort Moultrie). An L2
loop trip of about 8 miles. Trip Leader Leslie Maple.
Saturday, Jul 18: Jehossee Island circumnavigation. An L3 trip of about 17 miles. Trip
Leader: Ralph Earhart
Respectfully submitted by
Rick Leinster, Secretary
- Page 2 -
“Making the most of our beautiful coast!”
from the editors...
June was a hot month! Our club president, Michael
Struve, provided some good tips for us all to remember
when paddling, no matter the weather.
Earlier in June, Carol and I joined the LCP trip led by
Suzette on the Abbapoola Creek. Now that I know where
it is, I’ll probably paddle there again. It was a very nice
place for a paddle. I took my fishing rod for fun. Didn’t
catch anything, but somehow managed to snag my lure,
and had to cut it loose.
We also paddled the upper Ashley River on Father’s Day
with our oldest daughter and her boyfriend. It was a little
hot for paddling, but we did good with timing the tides.
Scotty and I were also casting out a line now and again,
but didn’t catch anything. Fishing is still enjoyable (though
catching is even more enjoyable). My youngest
daughter’s boyfriend caught a nice flounder the day
before, fishing at the end of Folly Beach. No kayaking
that day, cuz the grandsons are still a little too young for
that.
Carol also tried to drum up a paddleboard show-n-go with
a few of the girls in June, but it was a no-show-n-go
instead. Unfortunately, I had to go to work (had to make
money to pay for that paddleboard). She went out by
herself, which is great. That is a big kudos to the
LowCountry Paddlers Club for helping us learn paddling
skills, and instilling confidence to go out and paddle on
our own free time. There are just too many nice places to
enjoy on the water, to not take advantage of. She
definitely has her favorite spot on Sullivan’s Island. All
told, she actually had her paddleboard out there a total of
three times in June. Maybe she should start looking at
the race circuit.
Martha Beck just came back from the Paddle Georgia trip
and said she had a great time. We look forward to
reading about it in the August newsletter. Tara Harney
has also had some kayaking adventures, but her stories
have not yet found their way into my inbox (trying to guilt
her into submitting one!). Any one of you six others
reading this newsletter are also invited to send us some
stories of your paddling experiences.
I’ll sign off for now, but one last question, who is this
Ginger chic that Michael Struve has been running around
with?!
See you where the rudder meets the road!
Randy (and Carol)
Upcoming Club Paddles!
Sat, Jul 11
2
L
Sat, Jul 18
3
L
Sun, Jul 26
1
L
Shem Creek to front side
of Sullivan’s Island (to
Fort Moultrie) loop trip.
About 8 miles.
Rating: L2 (Because of
harbor). Open water,
moderate pace
Jehossee Island
circumnavigation. About
17 miles.
Rating : L3, semi sheltered,
moderate pace
Low tide is at 10:30. Meet at
the ramp at the public boat
landing on Shem Creek at 9,
Launch at 9:15.
Leslie: lesmaple@comcast.net
Leslie Maple
High tide is about 11. Meet at
Dawho Boat Landing at 8 and
launch at 8:15.
Ralph: kayakcharleston@
comcast.net
Ralph Earhart
Isle of Palms Marina, to
Dewees Island loop trip.
About 9 miles.
Rating: L1, Sheltered,
smooth pace.
It is low tide at Dewees at 9:40.
Meet at Isle of Palms marina at
8:15 and launch at 8:30. Cars
and trailers must pay to park in
lot. Make sure you arrive in
time to pay for parking and
launch on time.
Ken McDowell
- Page 3 -
“Making the most of our beautiful coast!”
Paddle Fest 2015
- FOR SALE 1992 - Wilderness Systems Sealution Fiberglass Kayak
with rudder system. 16 feet, 24 inches wide,
approximately 6 inch draft, weighs approximately 50
pounds. Includes: cockpit cover, spray skirt, pump,
throw bag, pump, deck bag. Missing rear hatch cover
1992 - Ocean Kayak – Scupper Pro – sit on top
(polyethylene) with back rest. 15 feet, 26 inches wide, 4
inch draft, weighs approximately 55 pounds. Selfbailing, paddle included.
2003 - 15 foot boat trailer, manufactured by Long Trailer
Co., Inc., Tarboro, NC. Series/model 600 WCSG,
Certificate of Origin available. Purchased from Henry’s
Sporting Goods, 1662 HWY. 17, N., Mt. Pleasant, SC
29464. Includes trailer mounted Thule double kayak
saddles – purchased from Time Out in 1992
Asking $600.00 for all. All documents available
Contact: Bill Overton or Lori Klein at: 843-884-2106
Spartanburg Water will be
hosting the fourth annual
Paddle Fest which will be
held on Saturday, July 18,
2015 at Lake Blalock Park from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30
p.m. Paddle Fest is a free annual event, held to
connect the community to our reservoirs and increase the stewardship of our water resources.
During the event, Spartanburg Water will be hosting tour-guided and self-guided educational paddle
tours, kayak/canoe/SUP races, beginner paddle
classes, seminars, safety classes, and a paddle
demo area.
Along with these activities, Spartanburg Water has
invited local organizations and businesses to set
up booths at the event to show how they are contributing to the world of paddling and our environment.
Access onto Lake Blalock will be granted for the
day of the event. Non-powered permits good for
Lake Bowen and Lake Blalock will be available for
only $5
Check out www.spartanburgwater.org/spartanburg
-events/53/Paddle+Fest
For more information on Paddle Fest, please contact John Moore with Spartanburg Water via phone
at (864) 592-2240 or via email:
jmoore@spartanburgwater.org
Reminder!
A few of the Lowcountry
Paddlers are kayamping at
Lake Jocassee/Devil’s
Fork State Park in
September.
Dan and Julie will be at
campsite 42, September
10 thru 12. Always a great
place to camp and paddle,
even when it rains and
floods your tent!
- Page 4 -
“Making the most of our beautiful coast!”
[June 2013 reprint from Dan Hoke’s series of articles for
area paddlers]
LCP Elections to be held in July!
Here is the job descriptions of the
elected officers, as written in the LCP
Club bylaws:
What if…
You forgot to check one last time??
Yesterday, we took a friend out on Morgan Creek with
the paddleboards. She had been out a handful of times,
and was comfortable being out on the water. The
weather was gorgeous, we hit the tide just fine, and a
good time was had by all.
After a visit to the IOP beach at Dewees Inlet we started
back via the straight and shorter path along the ICW. I
remember the winds were forecasted to be 5-10, at least
I thought so. We ended up having a good 12-15 mph
wind in our face all the way home. On paddleboards your
body acts like a sail up there, so to us it felt like 15-20 or
even 25 and making for a long slog back to the landing.
The moral of the story, is look carefully at the wind forecast, tide forecast, and weather forecast one last time
before going out; especially if the area you’re visiting is
exposed. Luckily our friend truly was one of those folks
that just never gets down when things go wrong, and we
all still had a great day on the water.
I remember once I carefully checked the tides and
planned a trip to Bulls Bay at 45 minutes past low tide, or
at least I thought it was, when we found ourselves high
and dry on the pluff mud, as the water disappeared beneath us. Luckily it was only about 20 minutes before it
started to return.
ARTICLE V
CLUB REPRESENTATIVES
A.
President: The President shall conduct Club meetings, appoint committees, represent the Club to the media and other organizations, and
shall present the Secretary reports for Club files.
B.
Vice President: The Vice President shall ascertain the interests and
desires of the membership in order to suggest activities for consideration. The Vice President shall present the Secretary with relevant
information for newsletters and club files and shall assume all duties
of the President in the President’s absence.
C. Secretary: The Secretary shall record minutes of Club meetings, and
maintain Club files. The Secretary shall assume all duties of the Vice
President in the Vice President’s absence.
D. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect dues and money gained from
fund-raisers, maintain the Club checking account and issue approved
payments for Club debts. All Club expenditures shall be approved in
advance by a quorum at the Club meeting. The Treasurer shall report
on Club finances at every Club meeting and give the Secretary a
report on checking account activities for Club files. The Treasurer
shall assume all duties of the Secretary in the Secretary’s absence.
July 4th
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!
Planning is the name of the game, whether it’s the wind,
tides or weather. Remember also to bring some form of
communication to call for help, or to say I’ll be a bit late
getting back. Don’t forget some extra water and energy
bars, and even a rain shell if the weather turns cold.
Yesterday’s paddle should have lasted 3-4 hours and we
were out a good 5. We still had a good time, but the guys
she rented her board from were thinking about calling in
the Coast Guard, till we called them to say we’re running
late. Can you believe they say they never had a customer go all the way to Dewees. What’s wrong with people around here?
See you on the water,
Dan
- Newsletter Submissions If you have an article or announcement for us to include in next month’s
issue, please e-mail it to lowcountrypaddlers@yahoo.com no later than
July 25th. Also be aware that copyright laws prevent us from printing
published items without permission.
Celebrate your freedoms every day!
NOTE: Articles submitted anonymously will not be accepted for publication.
- Page 5 -
“Making the most of our beautiful coast!”
More Fun Paddling Shots from Past Activities
Photos by Michele Powell, Don and Leslie Maple, and Randy Smith
- Page 6 -
“Making the most of our beautiful coast!”
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Instructional Classes: Intro to SUP Level 1. This fun and relaxed class will get you started with instruction
on safety and the proper paddling technique that will allow you to progress comfortably at your own pace. Pre-registration required. July 5,
Sun, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Course # 37927. Meets at: James Island County
Park Age: 16 & up. Fee: $24/$20 CCR Discount
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Instructional Classes: Intermediate
SUP - Level 2. Take the next step in SUPing. We'll practice some very
fun balance drills, improve stroke technique, and learn safety skills. Pre
-registration required. July 5, Sun, 1 -3 p.m. Course # 37935. Meets at:
James Island County Park Age: 16 & up. Fee: $24/$20 CCR Discount
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Fitness: yoSUP. Stand-up paddleboarding meets yoga on the lake, a beginner-friendly setting with no
current or tide. Calm water allows participants to focus on the workout
and have more fun. Pre-registration required. July 6-Aug. 5, Mon &
Wed, 6:30 -7:30 a.m. Course # 37404. Meets at: James Island County
Park Age: 16 & up. Fee: $99/$82 CCR Discount
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) One Design Race Series. Join us for
this friendly SUP competition in the race series: the BIC SUP One Design Challenge. All competitors will use the same board design and
gear. All competitors will be entered into a national drawing for a stand
up paddleboard. On-site registration available. July 9, Thu, 5:30 -6:30
p.m. Course # 37869. Meets at: James Island County Park Age: 10 &
up. Fee: $6/$5 CCR Discount
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Instructional Classes: Intro to SUP Level 1. This relaxed class starts with safety instruction and paddling
technique. You’ll progress comfortably at your own pace. Preregistration required. July 11, Sat, 9 -11 a.m. Course # 37928. Meets
at: James Island County Park Age: 16 & up. Fee: $24/$20 CCR Discount
Sea Kayak Instructional Classes: ACA Introduction to Kayaking Level 1. Using a variety of boats, this entry-level course teaches you
the basic strokes and skills to have fun on the water! Pre-registration
required. July 11, Sat, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Course # 37919. Meets at:
James Island County Park Age: 16 & up. Fee: $42/$35 CCR Discount
Canoeing At Caw Caw: Habitat to Heritage. Travel back to the age of
rice with this interpretive canoe trip. Paddle through rice fields and canals that now serve as one of the richest wildlife habitats in the Lowcountry. Registered and paid chaperone required for ages 15 and under. Pre-registration required. July 18, Sat, 9 -11:30 a.m. Course #
37563. Meets at: Caw Caw Interpretive Center Age: 9 & up. Fee: $15/
$12 CCR Discount
SUP the Surf Zone
Surf SUP! Enjoy the sun, sand, and surf in this popular and historic
pastime. Join a trained professional and learn fundamental surfing
skills, important wave/ocean dynamics, board/paddle design,
etiquette and safety. You'll come away with a basic understand-
ing of surfing that will give you the confidence to continue catching
waves and growing as a SUP surfer anywhere you choose to go. Preregistration required. July 19, Sun, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Course # 37911.
Meets at: Folly Beach County Park Age: 16 & up. Fee: $36/$30 CCR
Discount
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Instructional Classes: Intro to SUP Level 1. This fun and relaxed class will get you started with instruction
on safety and the proper paddling technique that will allow you to progress comfortably at your own pace. Pre-registration required. July 19,
Sun, 1 -3 p.m. Course # 37929. Meets at: James Island County Park
Age: 16 & up. Fee: $24/$20 CCR Discount
Photography Series: Sunset Session. Awaken your senses to the
natural and cultural world while stretching your photographic eye. Bring
your camera and let a park naturalist lead you to inspirational locations.
A registered and paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15
and under. Pre-registration required. July 21, Tue, 6:30 -8:30 p.m.
Course # 37561. Meets at: McLeod Plantation Historic Site Age: 12 &
up. Fee: $9/$7 CCR Discount
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Instructional Classes: Intro to SUP Level 1. This fun and relaxed class will get you started with instruction
on safety and the proper paddling technique that will allow you to progress comfortably at your own pace. Pre-registration required. July 25,
Sat, 9 -11 a.m. Course # 37930. Meets at: James Island County Park
Age: 16 & up. Fee: $24/$20 CCR Discount
Kayak the Surf Zone: Beginner Short Boat Surf Kayaking. Have a
blast learning the sport of surf kayaking! Our experienced instructors
will guide you through fun and exciting times in the surf of our beloved
Folly Beach. Treat yourself to some summer fun by learning to ride the
waves in a kayak. We'll provide whitewater (short boats) and sit-on-top
kayaks, along with instruction in safety and technique. Pre-registration
required. July 25, Sat, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Course # 37955. Meets at: Folly
Beach County Park Age: 16 & up. Fee: $36/$30 CCR Discount
Kayak Rolling and Rescues: Intro to Kayak Rolling. Now is the time
to learn how to roll a kayak! Small pool classes ensure your comfort
and allow you to progress at your own pace. A registered and paid
chaperone is required for participants age 15 and under. Preregistration required. July 28-31, Tue & Thu-Fri 6:30 -8:30 p.m. Course
# 37875. Meets at: Splash Zone Age: 13 & up. Fee: $54/$45 CCR Discount
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Trips: Sunset by SUP Marsh Paddle.
Cruise our rivers and marshes and see the Lowcountry from a completely new perspective. This is the perfect after work adventure! Paddle out toward the Stono River with a beautiful sun setting and a full
moon rising. Pre-registration required. July 29, Wed, 6:30 -9 p.m.
Course # 37913. Meets at: James Island County Park Age: 16 & up.
Fee: $36/$30 CCR Discount
- Page 7 -
Listed events are just a sampling of the great activities provided by
CCPRC. For a complete listing of CCPR events and activities, call
795-4386 or visit : http://www.ccprc.org. Remember, LCP members
get a 20% discount!!