oc1 newbie...

So as a long time surfski paddler, I've always viewed oc1s as being a surfski with a training wheel. But there was something about them, I wasn't sure if I was missing somethign or not. And I KNEW that I would never be a complete paddler without paddling them.

Well, Steve Cho recently gave away an oc1 project and I was the new owner. The good news was that Steve did an outstanding job of getting started with refinishing the hull and starting on the ama. The bad news was, it needed EVERYTHING else. So almost three weeks ago I started to resurrect the old girl. It was an OC Arrow (I know, old tech, but a good place for a newbie to start, IMHO). I had never been on an oc1, until tis morning, the maiden voyagoe of the newly restored Arrow.

Okay, first impressions from a surfskier about an oc1: MAN! Do you guys sit HIGH. You can see EVERYTHING going on around you. When I first jumped on, I was sure that I was gonna go swim. Keizo gave me some good advice about where to put the ama, and I did really well for the first half mile. I paddled across our small local lake (very early this morning, too much to do today so I set my alarm for 5:30). After getting to the far side no problem, I figured I'd try to fly the ama. It popped right up and I put it right down. No problem. I'm thinking, "Hey, this oc1 stuff easy and I can do this okay..."

haha...

So I try again. You guessed it. It's 6:05 AM, the sun isn't fully up on the lake yet, and I'm in the water next to the boat. Well, I was going to swim it to shore to remount, but shore was a bit far away AND covered with reeds and weeds. No time like to present to learn how to deep-water remount. I was a little spooked again by the high seat, but no problem. within a minute I was back underway.

I did fly the ama a little twice more on the way back in to the beach.

So as a surfskier, I am a bit more humble at the skills you guys have. And I am looking forward to learning a bit more myself.

Al

Submitted by Al_Bowers on Sat, 06/25/2005 - 6:55pm